I agree with YVK and markm on this topic.
More bullets are always better. So yes, I top off my magazines.
Actually I usually put a found in the chamber with the slide back, and send the slide home, before I put the magazine in.
I’ve never had a magazine not seated so I must be doing something right.
This is what I do to. I do remember one of my manuals stating not to do this as it can damage the extractor. Not sure which manual it was. I will give a look at the last few I purchased (guns, not manuals) and get back…
I remember hearing that people should stay away from doing that because of the chance of slam fire. When in reality it wasn’t good to do because it can cause wear on the extractor claw since the rim of the round was designed to slide underneath/behind the extractor and not having the extractor go over the round/rim to grab it.
To the OP I absolutely top off, never know when that extra round might make a difference when it counts.
Page 16 of the manual for my Kahr PM45
“NOTE: Do not load an individual round into the chamber and then close the slide. This can damage the extractor. Only chamber rounds from the magazine as described above”
However, my LCP manual describes how to load one round and closing the slide. So I guess it might be different for different pistols.
As has been said, only load a pistol from a magazine and never drop one in the chamber and then close the slide. It will always lead to premature wear and chipping of the extractor and worst case you’ll find out you’re carrying a single shot pistol when you really need it.
I used to do this too… until I found out that it was hard on my extractor. Most handguns have the rim slip under the extractor… not snap over it.
And I was given examples of Glock extractors breaking prematurely from people doing this.
me three… so now i just ride the slide home, gently chambering a round, and top off.
Count me in on this, too. Hand chamber a round, ride the slide home gently, insert full magazine.
Oh, looks like I have a new protocol happening now.
Thanks for the warning guys.
Will check my extractor for signs of wear, possible replacement inbound.
I’ve broken extractors this way, before I stopped doing that. FYI…
My agency teaches to top off. Even have a name for that round, it’s referred to as your “Barney Bullet” in honor of Barney Fife.
The logic is for accountability. If all guns and magazines are loaded to their maximum capacity, then after a shooting, all the CSI types have to do is to count remaining rounds in the magazines, plus the one in the chamber. This could become an issue if more than one person firing, and a stray round hits something unintended.
I do it out of habit. I carry a Glock 19 off duty, and have never had an issue loading 15 rounds in the magazine, or with inserting a fully loaded magazine with the slide forward.
Yes, especially now that the gun that I carry most often only has a 7 round magazine.
I’d recommend that all of you guys who are loading your +1 manually into the chamber invest in a cheapo 10 round mag for your pistol and load the chambered round via magazine.
By letting the slide slam home, or by gently letting the slide go and easing the extractor over the rim? Or both? I’ve been doing it this way (gently, not slamming home) since my 1st pistol (a S & W 439 back in 1984). Never a problem for me but I am a sample size of just 1.
Quote:
I top off my single stacks, but do not do it with Glock. I treat G-19 mags as 14 rounders.I agree with YVK and markm on this topic.
Third. With external extractors I drop one in the chamber first. With internal I chamber from magazine, then top off.
It’s always topped off but my carry gun is only empty when I am at the range or cleaning it. Not like it’s a huge deal. If I were loading and unloading every day, I’d maybe consider not doing it just to keep my hands off the gun more.
When I carried a 1911 I did top off, but now that I carry a high cap I usually don’t. I drive through states where I can’t carry so unloading is often necessary. The handgun goes in a locked case with no magazines near it and the magazines get stuffed in my luggage so I comply with the federal Interstate transportation of firearms law. I don’t like having loose single rounds lying around and haven’t been convinced that one extra round in a high cap handgun is going to make that much of a difference. I just don’t worry about it.
LAV says this on his Magazine Tactical Tips:
2.) On tough to seat mags, download at least 1 round. If a fully loaded mag is difficult to seat with the slide or bolt assembly in battery then download the mag by at least 1 round as a matter of habit. USGI aluminum M16 magazines are a good example of this as they are really only properly designed to take 28 rounds, not 30 as advertised. Glock pistol mags as a general rule should always be downloaded 1 round as a fully loaded mag is difficult to seat with the slide forward.
After experiencing this phenomenon and receiving a Moosecock for my efforts, I now download my Glock magazines by one.
I guess I will change my ways of loading a loose round into the chamber. Looks like I need to get an Apex extractor too…now that I may have caused damage to my gun.
That info from Mr. Vickers is very interesting, I recall that it does require more force to insert a fully loaded mag into my G17 with the slide forward than most of my other pistols.
What got me thinking about this was the other day when I decided to wear my G17 for the weekend. Since 2 seventeen round mags amount to only three rounds less than my standard duty carry I started thinking about the feasibility of having that extra round. And it is nice to be able to stow the chambered round back in the magazine if you have to unload for some reason.
But then: “You can never have too much ammo unless you are drowning or on fire.”