Yep; that's the way it's designed. And it's not really a problem because it uses a European-style latch-on-the-bottom magazine release. There's no questions about whether or not a magazine is fully inserted: the latch is either flipped closed over the base of the magazine, or it's not. To field strip the pistol for cleaning, you insert an empty mag....which is what I do 99% of the time I clear mine.TexasCajun wrote:Is the gun actually designed to work that way?? Even having to partially insert a loaded magazine into the grip in order to eject the chambered round is completely counter-intuitive. If it is actually designed that way, I'd rethink carrying that one if not for the safety factor alone.
With a loaded mag in place, the slide can be moved about a half inch--enough to check for a loaded chamber, but nothing else. It would require some impressive finger strength to grip that tiny slide hard enough to force it to cycle with the magazine out, breaking one or more of the elements of the pistol, as knotquiteawake said. But it's more likely that a LEO unfamiliar with the Seecamp just wouldn't be able to clear it; if he can actually crack macadamia nuts between his thumb and forefinger, maybe he could tear the slide free...
I've never been disarmed by a LEO, but if I were I would work into my statement--probably when asked where the gun is located--the type of gun it is if a model for which a LEO is less likely to have manual-of-arms familiarity, like the Seecamp. Don't think I'd say more than that unless asked; then just ask him how he wants me to proceed once told I'm being disarmed.
Those of us who commonly carry BUGs, or carry in atypical positions, must be less than popular if a LEO decides we need to be disarmed. I know if I were conducting a traffic stop and decided disarming was necessary, I wouldn't be thrilled to learn the subject had one in a SmartCarry and another in an ankle holster...