The Press Check a disscusion

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

You ought to try shooting an IPSC or IDPA competition sometimes. People like you are always surprised how much difference a little adrenaline makes!

I've been in competitions before, nothing new.

 

[easyg]

There have been police officers who were killed because they left their service pistol loaded. Their wife came along and found it loaded, and kindly unloaded it. The officer went to work the next day without checking it.

Do you have any links of such occurances that you could share?

Otherwise it's just internet myth.

 

[David E]

You're joking right? Maybe we have different ideas of what the title "professional" means.

No, I'm not and maybe we do.

Let's call a dedicated police officer a professional. Thinking that they load their gun immediately prior to leaving for their shift and then unloading it immediately upon returning home (or sooner) fails to understand the professional mindset.

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

No, I'm not and maybe we do.

Let's call a dedicated police officer a professional. Thinking that they load their gun immediately prior to leaving for their shift and then unloading it immediately upon returning home (or sooner) fails to understand the professional mindset.

I'm not a police officer and I have no opinion of what they do or do not do.

I do know that I use a weapon in my profession, and it's not loaded 100% of the time.

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[smitty704]

I press check because it makes me feel more comfortable. Even though I know its loaded, the visual of it makes me that much more confident. And I ALWAYS make sure it completely return to battery. Very simple, and no reason not to do it, IMO.

 

[45_auto]

it never gets reholstered unloaded either

I've been in competitions before, nothing new.

Which particular pistol competitions have you been in where they don't require you to show clear before you re-holster?

Maybe you're so good they just let you keep competing even when you ignore them and keep your weapon loaded?

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

Haven't done one with my XD-40 yet.

 

[easyg]

I think that we can all agree that one needs to know whether their pistol has one in the chamber or not.
But press checking a weapon that you already know to be loaded is simply irrational.
If you load your weapon, chamber a round, press check to verify that it's chambered, and holster the loaded weapon....it makes no sense whatsoever to then, hours later, unholster the weapon and press check again.

 

[FAS1]

My HD gun stays holstered and chambered in the bedside safe so no need to check it regularly. It's always chambered.
My CCW stays in CBST holster chambered and goes into RSC when not on me. No need to check regularly. It's always chambered.

I always visually check the chamber and squeeze the trigger when cleaning or unloading my handguns. I can then see by the trigger position (G17 & G26) that they are not loaded. Consistency in what you do will lead to fewer errors. This works for me.

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

I think that we can all agree that one needs to know whether their pistol has one in the chamber or not.
But press checking a weapon that you already know to be loaded is simply irrational.
If you load your weapon, chamber a round, press check to verify that it's chambered, and holster the loaded weapon....it makes no sense whatsoever to then, hours later, unholster the weapon and press check again.

It's very obvious that everyone knows this. Where people are going wrong is assuming that a press check is always or never needed. If you fall into one of those categories, I'm sorry but that's crazy talk. Assuming you always know whether your weapon is loaded or not is not only stupid, it's dangerous. Any way you look at it.

 

[1911Tuner]

I press/pinch check...not to insure that the chamber is hot...but rather to insure that it's still empty whenever I'm handling a gun...alone or with other people present. I check every time the gun changes hands and comes back to me. I check before I hand it off to somebody else. Always.

Whenever I cycle the slide to chamber a round, I can see, hear, and feel that the round has chambered. No need to check it. No need to keep fiddling with it. I know it's hot, and I handle it accordingly. I know it's loaded until I clear it. Negligent/unintentional discharges don't happen until somebody picks it up and gets careless.

Another good dialogue from a movie comes to mind.

"Have you checked it already?"

"Yes"

"Then leave it alone."

Sean Connery--The Untouchables

 

[David E]

I do know that I use a weapon in my profession, and it's not loaded 100% of the time.

Why not?

What is your profession?

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

Why not?

What is your profession?

Several reasons.

Marine.

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[Skribs]

My Mom got upset with my friend for not doing a press check on my new XDm compact, but his attitude was that there's a chamber indicator for that.

My handguns are always loaded with 1 in the chamber (except when cleaning). My shotgun is loaded with the chamber empty and safety off (I would rather pump once in the dark than verify the safety's condition in the dark). Any time I show my gun to someone, drop the mag, drop the bullet into my hand, and then while they're looking at the gun I put the bullet back in the magazine. As soon as I'm ready to reholster it, rack the slide.

That's my ritual. I always know which of my guns is loaded and which isn't, because unless I'm at the range, I am the only person who handles them. Rule #1 is very accurate for me - they ARE loaded.

 

[JDGray]

Can we get a guy beating a dead horse, smilie for this thread?

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

Here ya go.

 

[JDGray]

Where you get that?

 

[FAS1]

Here ya go.

Nice! We could use that a lot around here.

 

[David E]

Several reasons.

Marine.

As a former Marine myself, outside of the boot camp rifle range, I can attest to the fact that they (and all military, really) aren't exactly cutting edge when it comes to weapon handling skills.

Is one of your "several reasons" that you aren't allowed to take your M-9 back to your living quarters when off duty, and must check it out prior to each shift, load it before taking your post, then unload it before turning it back in?

Do they allow you to carry chamber loaded?

 

[RevDerb]

Never even heard of "press checking" until this thread. Now there is at least one other thread on the same subject. If I insert a full magazine into my Ruger SR9C and then chamber a round, drop the magazine and refill it to capacity and reinsert the magazine, I know that there is a round chambered because if there wasn't I wouldn't be able to get another round into the magazine. Don't understand the "press check" phenomenon. Sorry.

 

[Bonesinium]

So after reading this thread, I've come to some conclusions.

1. Almost everybody has a different way of doing things. Doing things differently doesn't mean somebody is wrong.

2. If you have a system, procedure, technique or routine that you are comfortable with, then use it.

3. The only times there are problems are when
a) you deviate from a standard
b) there is an actual mechanical issue
c) you are stupid (related to a deviation usually)

So in conclusion, don't deviate from your standard! That is what causes issues, because when you deviate, you think you have (or haven't) done something that you haven't (or have). For example, I already cleared my firearm (you didn't). I already loaded my firearm (magazine inserted, round not chambered). It doesn't matter at all what your technique is if you deviate from that. So saying "well had you press checked you would have known it was/wasn't loaded" is moot. If a press check is or is not part of your technique and you don't follow it, what is the difference?

Don't deviate!!!

 

[Skribs]

Eh, Bonesinium, just having a standard doesn't mean it's a good standard. But you are right, once you have a routine, you should stick with it.

I've learned from working IT that there are usually multiple ways to do stuff, and unless there is a specific reason to use one method (i.e. all officers in a department must use the same method so there is never any confusion when you pick up a gun from the armory), as long as its a safe method - use it.

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

As a former Marine myself, outside of the boot camp rifle range, I can attest to the fact that they (and all military, really) aren't exactly cutting edge when it comes to weapon handling skills.

Is one of your "several reasons" that you aren't allowed to take your M-9 back to your living quarters when off duty, and must check it out prior to each shift, load it before taking your post, then unload it before turning it back in?

Do they allow you to carry chamber loaded?

Not sure how former you are, but within the last few years there has been a vast improvement in weapons training across the board. That comes from a CMT (PMI). Our current training program is worlds ahead of every other branch of the military, probably all police departments and anything a civilian will receive.

When I was in Iraq/Afghanistan I carried my weapon loaded everywhere I went. Before I went on patrol, I checked the chamber. I "knew" it was loaded, but I wasn't willing to bet my life on it. More importantly, I wasn't willing to bet the lives of my Marines on it. I'm still not willing to bet my life on it when I carry out in town, and I'm damn sure not going to bet my wife's life on it. I'm comfortable with the way I do things, and I've never had any issues with the way I do things.

Never even heard of "press checking" until this thread. Now there is at least one other thread on the same subject. If I insert a full magazine into my Ruger SR9C and then chamber a round, drop the magazine and refill it to capacity and reinsert the magazine, I know that there is a round chambered because if there wasn't I wouldn't be able to get another round into the magazine. Don't understand the "press check" phenomenon. Sorry.

It's not anymore of a phenomenon than keeping your finger straight and off the trigger. Maybe calling it a press check and doing fancy things with the weapon is, but checking your chamber for a round is nothing new.

It's just amazing to me that so many know for a fact their weapon is loaded. I sure hope none of you guys knows for a fact your weapon is unloaded too. I get if you just loaded it, no need to verify, but if the weapon leaves your hand/body/sight, why would you assume it's still exactly the way you left it? If that works for you, great, but please stop telling me that it should work for me as well.

 

[Bonesinium]

Eh, Bonesinium, just having a standard doesn't mean it's a good standard. But you are right, once you have a routine, you should stick with it.

I've learned from working IT that there are usually multiple ways to do stuff, and unless there is a specific reason to use one method (i.e. all officers in a department must use the same method so there is never any confusion when you pick up a gun from the armory), as long as its a safe method - use it.

You are correct. Thank you for pointing that out. I knew I had another thing for my third point, but forgot what it was when I was typing. It goes with being stupid. When your routine or standard is flawed to begin with.

However I think my point(s) stand. The biggest issue is generally still when you deviate from your routine.

 

[ohio shooter]

Blazer I do have to say that I did not cover if I left it loaded then definatley check when I come back. And I always double check even cripple check the unload. Of that I am fanatical. If I even remotely touch a firearm in my house it is always cleared first. I don't believe I posted that step in my original post and that's my fault. Just goes with rule 1. Its always treated as its loaded and I do work the action first thing upon picking it up or unloading. That is one thing I think every one can say. And I took for granted and assumed that clearing prior to loading was standard to everyone.