Charging The Magazines on Auto Loaders

["DoubleAction"]

We are talking about "Tactical Reloads", where one might be in the heat of battle or training scenarios.

["DoubleAction"]

When I load a full magazine, into empty pistol & empty chamber, this how I perform the task.

# 1 - I lock the slide back and engage the slide lock

# 2 - I insert the full magazine

# 3 - I release the slide lock and let the Slide chamber the first round on it's own power.

# 4 - I do not remove the magazine to cap off another round, because some magazine springs will not stand the extra pressure of being compressed by the center rail of the slide.

Let me explain :The top round of the magazine might be compressed by the center rail of the slide. This excessive pressure could cause the magazine to be unlocked by the magazine lock or result in the magazine's base pad being dislodged; The factory welded base pads are infamous for this, if caught of some things like the retractable seat belts.

If I am using a 7 round magazine, I insert it, load it, and leave with 6 rounds in the magazine, I feel confident. Over time, you do otherwise, and leave the full magazine pressing on the center rail, this might result in premature mature magazine spring failure.

That is my take on this subject ;D

[MLB]

Hmm. I often drop the mag and top it off with the ppk/s. I wonder if that is an issue with the pp mags.

The standard mag construction for these is a folded metal floorplate that slides over lips on the mag base. I'll have to take a look at them.

[TBT]

I've never heard of the issue with the mag springs DA. I might have to look into that with my M&P carry weapon.

Two things:

When I'm loading at home I always learned to insert the mag with the slide closed, rack the slide, drop the mag, top it, reinsert. I had always heard that dropping the slide on a round wasn't ideal.

But... when I'm at the range training I always drop the slide on the first round with the magazine. When practicing tactical reloads this seems to be the only option because in the heat of actually using my firearm in defense I'm not going to bother racking the slide.

["DoubleAction"]

When I'm loading at home I always learned to insert the mag with the slide closed

TBT; I am not telling you that you doing something wrong; I am only saying that the pistol is designed to chamber to the rounds with the slide opened. When you first load the magazine, and fire the pistol at The Range, how does the pistol chamber the second round and every round in the magazine ?

Some magazine springs are already compressed beyond their limits, and when the slide is closed, this causes the top round in the magazine to push against the center rail in the slide.

It all depends on the pistol and the magazines.

[TBT]

DA I'm an idiot with my wording. I didn't mean to say that I was taught it was bad to "drop the slide" on a "loaded magazine" but rather I was taught that it was bad to insert the round into the chamber and the drop the slide on that. Something with the extractor.

What I meant to say was that out of habit I usually rack the slide when loading (not for any other reason than just being used to doing it that way) but that at the range I drop it on the magazine.

It is interesting that loading "plus one" could be bad for the weapon. I wonder if my owners manuals state what the companies recommend with this since most seem to be advertised as plus one.

Good info DA, and sorry about the brain fart.

["DoubleAction"]

"it was bad to insert the round into the chamber and the drop the slide on that. Something with the extractor."


TBT; You are right, the rim of the cartridge slides under the extractor. Inserting the round in a empty chamber, with a opened slide, is one sure way to screw up the extractor hook. The Extractor is not made to go over the rim of the cartridge, just to capture it until the empty case hits the ejector to aid in the extraction.

By loading a fresh magazine into the pistol, with the slide opened, this prevents undue stress on the fully loaded magazine spring. There are some who prefers to load the first round, then remove the magazine, and insert another round; Which called "Capping Off The Magazine". I don't do this, because I once had a factory Colt magazine, with the welded metal base plate, broke on me, while I was standing in line at a fast food place.

Maybe you misunderstood me, which is understandable with my aphasia.