Shooting at the Range and Counting Rounds When Firing

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D-Man

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Is it normal for people to count the rounds they are firing as they are firing?

For example, if you load a gun with 15 rounds, do you count along when firing them? Obviously the standard will be to fire until the slide locks back and the magazine is empty, but I don't know if making this count could be a bad idea and should try to stop myself from doing it.
 
I find that if I'm really 'in the zone' focusing on the fundamentals of my shooting, I quickly lose count of how many rounds I've fired. It just becomes a steady repetition of font sight, squeeze, SURPRISE!, recover, repeat.

Also, I've heard of quite a few accidents happening when people thought they had kept an accurate count a fired all the rounds in the gun. Of course obeying the four rules correctly would mitigate this.
 
I can't do it. I don't usually try to keep track much, but even shooting my revolvers I lose my count.
 
I count. As a tecnician I count things by habit, such as turns of a screw on adjustments etc, so it's ingrained in my nature to count as I do things - shooting is no different.

I suppose that bank scene in Dirty Harry had a great impact on me as a kid too. :)
 
Is it normal for people to count the rounds they are firing as they are firing?
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It is for me...Just a habit when loading mags & shooting alternate targets...It disciplines my mind to think about the next reload.:)
 
I try to keep track and make it part of my routine. That way if I am ever in a defensive situation, I have an idea of how many rounds are in the gun without thinking too much.

As JesseL said though, I never rely on or consider my counting as truth. Mistakes always happen. I always treat the gun as if it is loaded even though my counting says otherwise.
 
Last time I checked...My slide locks back letting me know it's time to remove the empty tank and put a full tank in...5 autos in the house and they all lock back on the last round...Why count. That only applies to revolvers...
 
Autoloaders, I shoot until I don't feel the slide ride forward... and seldom keep count.
With my revolver, I intentionally don't. So, come round #7 (which is #1 again) I see if I'm doing anything funny with my grip (jerking, heeling, the like.)
 
As a training tool, when at the range I usually load up my mags with random numbers of rounds. My rationale is that it keeps me from getting in the pattern squeeze 13 times, drop mag, reload.

When faced with a real defensive situations you'll never know what sort of problem will occur forcing a reload.

So the long-winded answer to the question is no, I don't count.

However, I always count went loading. I try not to, but I always end up 1....2...3...4...5...
 
I keep a logbook for most of my centerfire rifles but what I have put through pistols is an estimate.

ps If you're talking abot counting rounds while shooting I was taught to do this as an leo when qualifying and in PPC revolver competition to know when to reload.

Speaking from personal experience anyone who thinks they will count their rounds in a gunfight is fooling themselves.
 
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The only pistol I count rounds with is my P3AT because it is harmful to dry fire it and it does not have a slide lock of any kind.
 
if you're counting, you aren't paying attention to the things you need to be paying attention too
 
In an actual defensive shooting situation, you will not be counting rounds. You may think now that you will, but you won't, and it's one area where "training" will not carry through.
This has been borne out in countless debriefings over several decades.
Denis
 
I haven't really thought about it but I do count rounds. I don't really make a point to do it, it just happens.
 
i don't count while i shoot, but i do account for every round that i fire in every gun and what weight and make and type of ammo it is. i know that some people thik i amwierd for doing this, but i know exactly what and how many rds and when have been through my guns. this lets me tally them up at the end of th year, and see trends and such. also if i have any issues with any type of ammo it is logged in there.
 
I don't.

I've been "trained" to (read: they tried to make me but couldn't), but have a much faster method. If you've got time for a "tactical" reload, simply drop the mag and look at it. If you're running low, swap out. If not, lock it back in place. I ran a 1/8" endmill through my AR mags for this reason. Find out where the "halfway" point is, make your own witness hole. If I see daylight, swap it out. No daylight? I've got at least half a mag left.
 
I hate loosing count on my rimfire
.22's the ones that don't lock the slide back 'cause they dimple the edge of the chamber and it causes problems!

The centerfires it really make that much difference, but it does tell you when you snatch that trigger, on an empty chamber, and FLIIINCH!
 
I don't. I may count rounds in a group I am shooting, but not beyond that. I never saw the point. I was trying to concentrate on accuracy and control more. If I need to know what I shot that day, I will count empty casings or based on how many boxes I emptied.
 
If you don't count and your slide does not lock back on the final round, what do you do, treat everything like a hang fire?

Everybody counts. If not consciously then unconsciously, at least to some extent.
 
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