The Press Check a disscusion

[ohio shooter]

My friend recently (a year ago) went through a weapons class and got his Ccw. As we were getting ready to leave my house I loaded my Glock, released the slide removed the mag and holstered the pistol. Then pressed another round into the mag and inserted it securely bad in the pistol. He then asked me why I didn't press check it. I explained to me it was pointless because the lose round wouldn't fit the mag if it fail to chamber one. He proceeded to explain his case because that's how he was taught. I told him to do what was familiar to him and not to change his style, but as for me I prefer my method. Anyone have thought on either side of the ball?

 

[Bonesinium]

As you are well aware of, there are other ways besides a press check to determine if a round is chambered. In fact, I think a press check is largely unnecessary in the vast majority of situations. With that said, I don't see anything wrong with the technique, it just isn't something I feel I need to do generally.

 

[David E]

You can confirm chamber status on a Glock by feeling the extractor. No need to press check.

 

[Drail]

Glocks have extractors???

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

If you load one round from the magazine, rack the slide, pull the magazine and there is no round in it, it is a pretty safe bet the round chambered. But my protocol is to always chamber check anyway.

 

[Loosedhorse]

Some pistols (from Lugers forward) have extractors that allow a visual and tactile confirmation that the chamber is loaded. I see no reason to chamber-check them, just feel the indicator.

I was taught to load-check ARs by noting which side of the mag had the next cartridge ready to feed, inserting the mag and charging the rifle, and then checking the mag to see if the opposite side of the mag was now presenting the next cartridge. I was taught that doing an actual open-the chamber-a-bit chamber-check for ARs might leave the bolt out of battery, and that even if the gun had a forward bolt-assist, using that to close the bolt afterward might be dangerous. (I invite any corrections.)

If that's a suitable technique for ARs, it's suitable for all mag-fed guns: check the mag, insert, work the action, check if there's one less in the mag. Done.

I like to do chamber-checks if I haven't freshly loaded my firearm. For instance, investigating a bump in the night that I do NOT think is an intruder, but I'm bringing a pistol along just in case? I do a chamber-check before leaving the bedroom (unless the gun has a palpable loaded-chamber indicator; then I just check that).

"Press check" implies to me bringing the fingers foward of the muzzle (even if not actually covering it); I don't do chamber-checks that way, and don't recommend it.

 

[NavyLCDR]

I press check mine when I load it. I do it to second check that the extractor is properly engaged and extracting the round. Then, after closing the slide, I check that the back of the slide is flush with the top of the frame to ensure the slide is returned to full battery.

I also don't load the chambered round from a magazine, I drop it in the chamber. The extractor on my gun pivots on a pin so there is next to no danger of breaking the extractor hopping over the rim of the round. I would rather do that than go to the bother of loading a single round from a magazine and then reloading the magazine.

 

[easyg]

He proceeded to explain his case because that's how he was taught.

I wonder who taught him.



I don't see the need to "press check" weapons that have a loaded-chamber-indicator.

I also don't see the need to "press check" when one is topping off the magazine immediately after chambering one round.

 

[Zerodefect]

I press check just beacause it's good practice. Different guns require slightly different press checks. So to keep up I press check as often as I can. I also try to do it from my reloading index position for muscle memory.

-load magazines, put magazine in it's holster.
-load mag into pistol
-rack, press check, wack back of slide to make sure it's closed (or in the 1911's case just turn the safety on)
-tac reload
-reholster
-load another round to fill up my reload magazine

You can use your carry routines as a little drill. Hey, it seems stupid, but every little bit counts.

 

[Robert101]

I don't think I've ever press checked a gun after loading a round (via slide release). I don't doubt that in some situation a round failed to chamber on a good slide close - I've never seen it happen. If the slide fully closes it has always (unless FTF like a stove pipe happens and can be seen), in my experience, chambered a round. I mean - where else would it go? Yep, I'm saying that my slide (on any of my guns) has never closed on top of a loaded mag without taking a round with it.

I find the act of press checking a live round more dangerous than the risk of my fire arms not chambering a round.

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

I've had an improperly seated magazine fail to chamber a round before. things happen.

 

[Zerodefect]

A metal 1911 magazine follower can stick in place after you slam the mag in with a closed slide. Then when you rack the pistol the mag deosn't push a round up and the slide grabs nothing.

Allthough it sounds and feels alot different than normal which should be a good 1st clue somethings wrong.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

I perform a "battle readiness check" by feel after I load my pistols. I retract the slide slightly, using the overhand method, and feel for the presence of a chambered cartridge with my pinky finger. I exercise this tactile "battle readiness check" in case I wish to use it during a gunfight.

 

[Derek Zeanah]

I perform a "battle readiness check" by feel after I load my pistols. I retract the slide slightly, using the overhand method, and feel for the presence of a chambered cartridge with my pinky finger. I exercise this tactile "battle readiness check" in case I wish to use it during a gunfight.

Yep. Feels weird when you learn it, but it's faster than a visual check and can be done in the dark without thought.

 

[NavyLCDR]

I exercise this tactile "battle readiness check" in case I wish to use it during a gunfight.

I'm thinking that if someone is shooting at me, or about to shoot at me, a press check is just about the last thing that I am going to do. Pulling the trigger all the way to the rear with the gun pointed at the perp will tell me quick enough if there was a round in the chamber, which I will have double-checked before leaving the house.

You go ahead and do your press check during a gunfight, I'll do a trigger pull and we'll see who wins.

 

[Zerodefect]

I'm thinking that if someone is shooting at me, or about to shoot at me, a press check is just about the last thing that I am going to do. Pulling the trigger all the way to the rear with the gun pointed at the perp will tell me quick enough if there was a round in the chamber, which I will have double-checked before leaving the house.

You go ahead and do your press check during a gunfight, I'll do a trigger pull and we'll see who wins.

If you plan on moving from your spot of cover, you press check before doing so. That's when you're most vunerable. It stinks trying to tap rack bang and run at the same time.

If you've allready been shooting, and are trying to bug out, that's when it is the most useful. There is a reason why a press check and tac reload go together in some drills. It's under the assumtion that you have time to do so. Not while your in a stand up fight taking fire.

 

[KenW.]

Get into the habit of performing the SAME routine, the SAME way everytime; regardless.

Mistakes are made when routines are interupted.

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

You go ahead and do your press check during a gunfight, I'll do a trigger pull and we'll see who wins.

I will win.

Anyways, press checks. If you think they're dangerous, I'd like to hear why. If you think they're useless, I think your wrong. I have been trained to check the chamber, regardless of how sure you are that a round chambered. Don't know who said it earlier, but a simple press check is a much better option than a tap, rack, bang when you only want a bang.

Anyone with proper training should have no issues with a press check. That said, when civilians carry weapons, I'm a firm believer in remaining in your own comfort zone.



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[ohio shooter]

one with proper training should have no issues with a press check. That said, when civilians carry weapons, I'm a firm believer in remaining in your own comfort zone.

I agree wight the comfort zone but with reloading the mag and extractor comfrimation. If the slide is seated then round is hot I feel no need to check for a round(with my Glock) if I were carrying a different pistol I might feel differently it really is all preference. And that's why I started this thread, to get both sides of the discussion. Please if anyone else has an opinion post it I love reading what everybody thinks on a topic

 

[Robert101]

Agreed. I don't perform the press check but it is good to know the other side. I'm not opposed to learning something of benefit.

 

[ny32182]

I never unload my carry gun, no one else handles it or has access to it, so there is no need for constant checking for me, as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Derek Zeanah]

I never unload my carry gun, no one else handles it or has access to it, so there is no need for constant checking for me, as far as I'm concerned.

And I check mine when I put it on, or take it off, or pick it up, or put it down. All guns are always loaded (unless you might need it to be) unless recently checked is my default position (assume the worst.)

Different strokes, I suppose.

 

[bluecollar]

Empty pistol. Loaded magazine. Insert magazine smartly. Charge chamber by riding the slide (to avoid any chance of setback). Press check. Assure slide is in battery. Top off magazine and holster. Every time........

 

[easyg]

And I check mine when I put it on, or take it off, or pick it up, or put it down.

Why?

Do you have other people in your home who mess around with your pistol whenever you take it off and put it down?

Gremlins perhaps?

Doing a press check every time you pick up your pistol, or put down your pistol, or take off your pistol, or put on your pistol just seems kind of neurotic.



I load the magazine, chamber a round, top off the magazine, and place the loaded pistol on the nightstand.
I know that there is a round in the chamber because I was able to top off the magazine after chamber a round (and my Glock has a "loaded chamber indicator").
The next morning I wake up, get dressed, clip on my holster, and then holster my pistol.
I don't need to press check because I know I loaded it the night before.
The only other person in my home is my wife, and she doesn't mess around with my pistols.
Nor does my dog.

 

[Derek Zeanah]

Why?

Because the consequences of answering the question "is my weapon loaded" incorrectly are quite high.

Because from a young age I was taught that a weapon should be considered loaded until checked.

Because I'm fallible.

Because it takes only a second to be sure.

Do you have other people in your home who mess around with your pistol whenever you take it off and put it down?

Gremlins perhaps?

I have a maid. Am I certain she hasn't touched them? Am I certain my wife hasn't?

Am I 100% that the last time I ran some dry-fire drills with my carry pistol I loaded it back?

I've got a gun in my hand. I'm pretty sure I unloaded it, but I got distracted. It hasn't left my hand. Do I proceed to run some dry-fire drills, or should I be certain?

Doing a press check every time you pick up your pistol, or put down your pistol, or take off your pistol, or put on your pistol just seems kind of neurotic.

To each his own. To my credit, I've never had a negligent discharge, not have I holstered and carried an unloaded weapon*.

I've never locked my keys in my car either, but back when it was possible to do so I had the same kind of "be certain" attitude.

Guns are dangerous. They should be treated with a great deal of respect. What's the first rule of gun safety again?

* as a civilian, I mean.