Carrying plus 1

[Hectocotylus]

How many folks carry +1, that is to say topping off the mag after putting one in the chamber?

 

[Stealth]

(raises his hand)

i do sir. in every handgun.

 

[tazbeatz1]

(raise if the hand). I think it's dumb not to

 

[TX_CHL]

I found that the gun works at its best when there is a round in the chamber. You most likely won't have time to cock it when you really need it.

 

[pmb61]

Always in everything I carry!

 

[CharonPDX]

Yup, always in carry weapons. I mean, I'm leaving one in the chamber, so why not take advantage of that +1, rather than leaving the magazine one-down?

 

[crowsnake]

What about a 1911 the hammer is back with one in the chamber. Do you slowly lower your hammer or just & trust the safety? I have always wondered what most if you do.

Now a regular semi auto like my LCP & Tauris I always have a round chambered +1.

 

[Firefighterchen]

I found that the gun works at its best when there is a round in the chamber. You most likely won't have time to cock it when you really need it.

I believe he is asking if we top off the magazine after we chamber a round.

What about a 1911 the hammer is back with one in the chamber. Do you slowly lower your hammer or just & trust the safety? I have always wondered what most if you do.

Now a regular semi auto like my LCP & Tauris I always have a round chambered +1.

99 out of 100 here carry cocked and locked if its a 1911.

To the OP, I also carry +1, and since I have no kids I don't cycle my sd ammo unless I go to the range.

 

[creatism]

+1 here to!!
I have kids and a safe so I rarely cycle my ammo unless it's put rounds down range!!

 

[TX_CHL]

Oh ok I'm sorry. I misunderstood the question. Yes I fill the magazine to its full capacity. A Glock 23 13+1 means 13 rounds in the magazine and 1 in the chamber. Why wouldn't you fill it up?

 

[2u23]

I carry +1 and 2 more magazines 46 rounds all together.

Two things you never have enough of in a gun battle, one is time, the other is ammo.

 

[jg1967]

And another +1 from me. I'd do +2 if that was possible. ;-)

 

[Arc Angel]

Wow! Every single person who's answered this question, up to now, has said that he carries to full magazine capacity + 1. Now, I'd like to ask another question: (Ready?) How many of the people who've, so far, answered this question have also survived a CQB pistol gunfight?

You’re talking about loading your pistol to full magazine capacity plus one - Right! OK, this topic comes up frequently on internet gun forums; and, it is always a contentious subject. Let me tell you what this pistolero does AND why:

I was, originally, trained to use firearms by four of my uncles. All of them were United States Marine Corps combat veterans of either the South Pacific during WWII, or else in Korea. (God rest their souls; they’ve all passed on now.) In the 1940’s and 50’s Marine Corps 1911 pattern pistol magazines were never loaded to full capacity. Why? Because the Corps found that too many, ‘malfs’ occurred when their pistols were loaded this way.

My uncles trained me in exactly the same way that they had been trained. As a result I have had the lifelong habit of loading my pistol magazines down by one round in order to absolutely, positively, avoid any sort of, 'user induced problems' with either: the magazine, or cartridge feeding, or extraction. Every once in awhile, and while I’m at the range, I’ll screw around and load up one of my Glocks to +1 capacity. Know what? Often it works; and, occasionally, it doesn’t. It’s the, ‘occasionally part’ that I worry about!

Needless to say I, personally, NEVER carry a self-defense pistol that’s been loaded to +1 capacity. As far as what the next guy on the internet likes to do? I don’t care. The choice is entirely his own; I’m only telling you how I’ve been trained, why, and what I do.

My own idea of a, 'bad day at Black Rock' is to suddenly find myself in a pistol gunfight while I'm loaded to full magazine capacity + one. Furthermore, I strongly suspect that those pistol manufacturers who recommend their pistols can be loaded to +1 capacity must certainly realize that pistol users would be guaranteed more reliable performance IF they simply loaded to full magazine capacity and left it at that. (In a way, it's common sense; but, hey, who uses that anymore?)

 

[Firefighterchen]

Wow! Every single person who's answered this question, up to now, has said that he carries to full magazine capacity + 1. Now, I'd like to ask another question: (Ready?) How many of the people who've, so far, answered this question have also survived a CQB pistol gunfight?

You’re talking about loading your pistol to full magazine capacity plus one - Right! OK, this topic comes up frequently on internet gun forums; and, it is always a contentious subject. Let me tell you what this pistolero does AND why:

I was, originally, trained to use firearms by four of my uncles. All of them were United States Marine Corps combat veterans of either the South Pacific during WWII, or else in Korea. (God rest their souls; they’ve all passed on now.) In the 1940’s and 50’s Marine Corps 1911 pattern pistol magazines were never loaded to full capacity. Why? Because the Corps found that too many, ‘malfs’ occurred when their pistols were loaded this way.

My uncles trained me in exactly the same way that they had been trained. As a result I have had the lifelong habit of loading my pistol magazines down by one round in order to absolutely, positively, avoid any sort of, 'user induced problems' with either: the magazine, or cartridge feeding, or extraction. Every once in awhile, and while I’m at the range, I’ll screw around and load up one of my Glocks to +1 capacity. Know what? Often it works; and, occasionally, it doesn’t. It’s the, ‘occasionally part’ that I worry about!

Needless to say I, personally, NEVER carry a self-defense pistol that’s been loaded to +1 capacity. As far as what the next guy on the internet likes to do? I don’t care. The choice is entirely his own; I’m only telling you how I’ve been trained, why, and what I do.

My own idea of a, 'bad day at Black Rock' is to suddenly find myself in a pistol gunfight while I'm loaded to full magazine capacity + one. Furthermore, I strongly suspect that those pistol manufacturers who recommend their pistols can be loaded to +1 capacity must certainly known that pistol users would be guaranteed more reliable performance IF they simply loaded to full magazine capacity and left it at that. (In a way, it's common sense; but, hey, who uses that anymore?)

Like you said, you do what you do, and everyone else does what they do.

Most of us will never be involved in a gun fight, close quarters or not. That doesn't mean we don't have valid viewpoints.

Every single manufacturer specifies x+1 for their firearms. I have never come across a company that doesn't recommend that.

Personally, I have always trained with +1, and have had only a single failure (FTE) out of a few thousand rounds.

My question to you angel, if you have time for a tactical reload, do you push out the top round of a full magazine? Or do you carry all your spares -1?

 

[arkie45]

Definitely...10 +1 in my M&P 40c. Hope I never need them all, but never want my last thought to be "I wish I just had 1 more round".

 

[Treo]

I occasionally have to clear my weapon and "show clear" the extra round then becomes a hassle.

If I need that extra round that bad I'm screwed anyway.

 

[DmZ]

Condition one

Condition one always. Makes no sense to carry otherwise, imho.

DmZ

 

[chiefpropellerhead]

Yes, I do this as well. I also carry two spare magazines and a tactical flashlight with me at all times.

 

[Bighouse Doc]

What about a 1911 the hammer is back with one in the chamber. Do you slowly lower your hammer or just & trust the safety? I have always wondered what most if you do....

The 1911 was DESIGNED to be carried "Cocked & Locked" SAFELY.

-Doc

 

[Bighouse Doc]

Wow! Every single person who's answered this question, up to now, has said that he carries to full magazine capacity + 1. Now, I'd like to ask another question: (Ready?) How many of the people who've, so far, answered this question have also survived a CQB pistol gunfight?

You’re talking about loading your pistol to full magazine capacity plus one - Right! OK, this topic comes up frequently on internet gun forums; and, it is always a contentious subject. Let me tell you what this pistolero does AND why:

I was, originally, trained to use firearms by four of my uncles. All of them were United States Marine Corps combat veterans of either the South Pacific during WWII, or else in Korea. (God rest their souls; they’ve all passed on now.) In the 1940’s and 50’s Marine Corps 1911 pattern pistol magazines were never loaded to full capacity. Why? Because the Corps found that too many, ‘malfs’ occurred when their pistols were loaded this way.

...

In the military, myths become established through regulations.

They become self-perpetuating until someone higher up is dragged kicking and screaming into reality.

Most people in the military were prohibited by regulations from ever keeping a round chambered. All sorts of nutty reasons evolved to justify the regulation. The military operates by backward logic!

All these stories about malfunctions due to full magazines have been long disproved by clear evidence!

-Doc