So I've been thinking, I've read a lot about bullet setback (I think that's what it's called) where after few times of the slide slamming home on a bullet and not being fired it pushes the bullet back into the case, which can be unsafe. I've also read it is more prone to happen in .40...since illinois has finally joined the rest of the country, I'll soon be the owner of a shiny new carry license. I'll be mostly carrying my shield in .40. I was thinking to avoid the bullet setback problem I could just fully load the magazine and then lock the slide back and put one in the chamber with my fingers, then just ride the slide forward so it doesn't slam. When I unload at the end of the day I can just put everything in the safe and continue to use the bullet that was in the chamber over and over without worrying..would this work to avoid the problem or is it just stupid? Is there any other way to prevent it? I know I could just throw the chambered round into a box and use a new one each time I'd just rather not go through that much defensive ammo as we all know it's not the cheapest thing. Thanks in advance for any help and sorry if it's not as smart of an idea as I thought lol
Would this work?
- Thread starter Kach33
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One of the problems you may run into by "walking" the slide down is that the extractor has to ride up and over the rim of the cartridge which can break it over time - this has happened to several of my older guns. You don't have to worry about the slide "slamming" as you put it, it does this every time you pull the trigger anyway.
I personally don't use a new round every time I strap on my carry gun. About once a week or so I will switch out the rounds. Coincidentally, I also go to the range about once a week and the "old" ammo in the mag often (but not always) ends up being shot. YMMV
I personally don't use a new round every time I strap on my carry gun. About once a week or so I will switch out the rounds. Coincidentally, I also go to the range about once a week and the "old" ammo in the mag often (but not always) ends up being shot. YMMV
johncantiusgarand
Member
Why do you think you need to unload at the end of the day? If is out of a concern for safety, I submit that it is safer to just leave it loaded; it is during loading and unloading of firearms that many--if not most negligent discharges occur. Are you worried about kids finding it?
MedWheeler
Member
I also do not routinely unload a defense-duty gun. When I do, which is rare outside of the range, I'll also unload and reload the magazine (at least partially), placing that previously-chambered round somewhere else in the lineup.
TRX
Member
I clean my little .380 CCW every two weeks. The chambered cartridge goes into a ziplock and I pull a fresh one out of the ammo box. The previously-chambered cartridges go for practice at the range.
I've never had a problem attributable to bullet setback, but a CCW falls into the category of "MUST go bang!"
It may be excessive caution, but it doesn't actually cost anything, other than keeping ammunition separated.
I've never had a problem attributable to bullet setback, but a CCW falls into the category of "MUST go bang!"
It may be excessive caution, but it doesn't actually cost anything, other than keeping ammunition separated.
I am not a fan of constantly loading and unloading handguns, especially semi autos.
It seems like unnecessary gun handling to me.
One of the problems is that many times there is not a truly safe direction to point the muzzle in when doing so.
It seems like unnecessary gun handling to me.
One of the problems is that many times there is not a truly safe direction to point the muzzle in when doing so.
moxie
Member
Which is why the military has "clearing barrels."
Yeah I guess maybe leaving it loaded would be my best option then. The reason I thought of unloading was safety, but it will be going from my person to the safe so it shouldn't be an issue. I do have 2 kids otherwise I wouldn't worry as much. One is plenty old enough and knows the rules and the other is just a toddler, but either way the guns are always locked up. I'll just leave it loaded and if I need to unload for cleaning or any other reason I'll just put the old round aside for practice and grab a new one. Thanks for the help guys
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MikeJackmin
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Setback only happens when the slide is allowed to forcefully chamber a round. You can avoid it by simply locking the slide back, inserting your loaded mag, and easing the slide forward.
As others have pointed out, it's good practice to never close the slide onto an already-chambered round. Some guns are more forgiving of this than others, but it does stress the extractor.
As others have pointed out, it's good practice to never close the slide onto an already-chambered round. Some guns are more forgiving of this than others, but it does stress the extractor.
paramedic70002
Member
If you store the firearm in the holster, bad things 'might' happen. Moisture prone rust is the most common as both leather and nylon retain moisture as well as chemicals in the leather being a problem. I also would refrain from donning/doffing a full holster, as NDs have occurred this way. I actually ran an EMS call a few weeks ago where the guy was removing a holster with a contained firearm and shot himself in the leg (Springfield XD(M) 9mm). Many years ago Massad Ayoob wrote a few articles detailing the perils of holster-stored firearms. Everything from a rusty locked up revolver to corroded ammo to failure of the holster to release the firearm.
I think that holster storing is getting a little less critical with Kydex holsters. I switched over to Kydex a few months ago and have been quite impressed, since they don't absorb moisture then there really isn't any reason to un-holster the weapon when putting it away. As far as donning/doffing a loaded holster, depending upon the type of holster it could be asking for a hole somewhere that you don't want.
Regarding the Set-Back: I've had factory ammo do it, I've had my reloads do it, there just isn't any out there that I would trust NOT to set-back. Therefore I have the habit of easing the slide back into battery (1911's) and this seems to work as I haven't had the problem since I started doing it. Why do I unload it in the first place? I have specific self defense loads that I do not shoot for practice simply because they are expensive. The gun gets fired on average at least once per week and shoot my SD rounds would be a little cost prohibitive.
I will say that unloading to "safely" store a gun in the safe isn't something that I would do. In the event of a "Nasty Situation" it would be bad enough to have to get the safe open let alone re-load a gun.
Regarding the Set-Back: I've had factory ammo do it, I've had my reloads do it, there just isn't any out there that I would trust NOT to set-back. Therefore I have the habit of easing the slide back into battery (1911's) and this seems to work as I haven't had the problem since I started doing it. Why do I unload it in the first place? I have specific self defense loads that I do not shoot for practice simply because they are expensive. The gun gets fired on average at least once per week and shoot my SD rounds would be a little cost prohibitive.
I will say that unloading to "safely" store a gun in the safe isn't something that I would do. In the event of a "Nasty Situation" it would be bad enough to have to get the safe open let alone re-load a gun.
moxie
Member
Agree that long term storage in a holster is definitely a bad idea. But overnight for a while is fine, assuming the gun gets used periodically for practice.
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