loading a semi-automatic pistol ????????

[longhornmike]

i'm new at this , and my manual did not address this issues.

let's say your gun has a 14 round capacity , 13 + 1.

my manual say load the magazine {which holds 13 rounds} and pull and release. to get that extra round in should i then eject the magazine and load that 14th round?

or should that be put into the chamber manually before the magazine is put in ?

[Mike from Texas]

You should always load from the magazine. I personally load 1 round in the magazine the operate the slide to chamber and then fill the magazine to capacity and reinsert.

[longhornmike]

that makes sense , thanks for the tip.

i have a springfield armory xd .45 and a taurus 9mm and neither manual addressed that issue. thanks for your help.

maybe they assumed that everyone should know this but being brand new at this , i am being super careful.

[arod757]

Insert loaded magazine, pull and release the slide to charge the weapon. With your finger away from the trigger, remove the magazine, top it off, and reinsert the magazine into the charged weapon.

This is the safest way to load your pistol to capacity without risking damage to the pistol. In some pistols, like some Berettas, I think, it's okay to load a round directly into the chamber and charge the weapon. But doing that with most others will most likely result in damage to your extractor if you load the pistol to capacity this way.

[longhornmike]

great advice , thanks from a rookie.

[G.C.Montgomery]

Mike,

I'm in the Katy area and we have a training forum that meets at Top Gun every Tuesday evening around 7pm. I'd be more than happy to get you up to speed with all the basics and more. We might even tickle your noodle into asking some questions that seem way outside the box right now. PM me for details.

GM

[longtooth]

Take GC up on this offer. He is good.

[buck000]

(longhornmike, thanks for asking this question, it's been on my n00b mind, too )

[.45mac.40]

Hey guys ...
Great site to learn from !! .... even if N, some of us, think.... we know it all
Not to hijack tha' post .... But ... have ya' ever noticed, ... paid attention to Kahr ... AND, how they instruct on loading their pieces !?
Inquiring minds ..
Mac .45 >>>> .45 >>> <$>

[killerfly128]

Hey guys ...
Great site to learn from !! .... even if N, some of us, think.... we know it all
Not to hijack tha' post .... But ... have ya' ever noticed, ... paid attention to Kahr ... AND, how they instruct on loading their pieces !?
Inquiring minds ..
Mac .45 >>>> .45 >>> <$>

Holy hell ... you trying to make my brain liquify? Not to be rude or anything but it looks like you had a drunk cat bang out that post.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

Semi-automatic pistols have their ammo quantities described as "n +1".

I've heard conflicting opinions about whether loading the weapon with the
"+1" overloads the magazine's spring or not.

My Taurus PT111 is described as having "10+1" capacity. I've just been
loading the 10. But an 11 shot pistol would be better.

What's the opinions out there on loading your pistol out with that last
round?

[Skiprr]

Semi-automatic pistols have their ammo quantities described as "n +1".

I've heard conflicting opinions about whether loading the weapon with the "+1" overloads the magazine's spring or not.

My Taurus PT111 is described as having "10+1" capacity. I've just been loading the 10. But an 11 shot pistol would be better.

What's the opinions out there on loading your pistol out with that last round?

The "+1" means one in the pipe, not an extra round in the magazine. The magazine capacity should always be clearly stated, and may not be directly related to the model of the gun. For example, with a Glock 17 you can use factory magazines with a capacity of 17 (the G17 standard), 19, or 33.

But even if you're physically able to shove an 18th round into a 17-round mag, it's a very bad idea. When you need your gun to strip off that top round after you fire your first shot, it may very well refuse to do so. The old-school shooter in me has me charge my hi-cap mags to one less than spec. Old habit that's not really necessary with today's higher quality mags, but it's a habit nonetheless. For my single-stack 1911 mags, I use only Wilson and fill those to advertised capacity.

Your Taurus's capacity means 10 in the mag plus one in the chamber. Don't try to force an 11th round into the mag.

BTW, putting cartridges into the magazine is "charging" it; you "load" your pistol when you cycle a cartridge into the chamber. Likewise, when you remove the cartridges from a magazine you are not unloading it, but "voiding" it. Same terminology applies whether you're dealing with a pistol, rifle, or shotgun. I know it sounds nitpicky, but not only will it help you talk the talk, it's important. For example, releasing a magazine from your pistol does not mean the gun is unloaded. There may very well be a cartridge in the chamber. So separating the terms "loaded" and "charged" has a purpose.

Shoot straight, practice often, and have fun!

[arod757]

BTW, putting cartridges into the magazine is "charging" it; you "load" your pistol when you cycle a cartridge into the chamber.

I didn't know that. Thanks for the education!

[longhornmike]

thanks for the great tips , info , and definitions.

G.C. , i too live in katy and i sent you a p.m.

thanks again

[.45mac.40]

Killerfly128
Sorry about the post
No drunk cat here, I did have a glass or two of Merlot.
I have only an 8th grade education, but I did get my GED in the Military. I never had the oportunity to study English, Grammar nor proper Spelling.
Presumed all the Emotions ( at the far right ) where there to be used. I was thinking, using afew, would enlighten my post. ( Guess not )
I proberly over do it with the "...." I use those while I'm pausing, changing sentence struture, or thought.
Thanks for reading my post and making a remark about it. Sorry I liquidfied your Brain.
Again, thanks for reminding me not to have to much fun, being creative and adding to this forum.
From now on, when posting here, I will remember your remarks, promptly go and put on my Sunday shirt with tie, and act accordingly.
Thanks.
Mac .45 >>