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Liberty wrote:

E10 wrote:The definitive answer: IT DEPENDS...

...on the extractor. Pistols with an internal extractor (like the 1911 and its clones) should NEVER be loaded directly into the tube. You'll damage the extractor. However, pistols with an external extractor (e.g., Berettas) are made for it. The owners manuals for both my Berettas (Model 9000S 9mm and Model 84 .380) give instructions to lock open the slide and load the round directly into the tube, then insert the loaded magazine. I have noticed that the 9000S has trouble going fully into battery when I do it. I allow the slide to go forward a bit, then point the barrel skyward. The round falls partially out of the chamber, then the slide easily moves up into battery, carrying the round with it. The Model 84 just glides shut, no problem at all. Saves my fingers, not having to add another round to the magazine every time.

Some folks seem to believe that there are only Glocks or 1911s in this world.

Ruger also includes instructions in their P95 manual on loading the gun from the top directly into the chamber to use in single shot mode. Ruger happens to have a lifetime warranty, I really don't believe Ruger would be giving out this advice if it would break their guns.

Beretta makes several .22 through .380 caliber pistols with barrels that tip up specifically to allow a round to be loaded directly into the chamber. These are the exception and not the rule. Most guns can be loaded by dropping a round into the chamber and closing the slide behind that round. Some manuals even suggest doing so but, I generally don't advise it unless I'm dealing specifically with the Beretta pistols mentioned above. Your statement implied all pistols with external extractors are made for this practice. That is simply not true.

Glocks, Sigs and Smith M&P pistols all external extractors as do many 1911's these days. Now, I have spent enough time repairing failed extractors guns from every major manufacturer to recognize excess wear from the practice of dropping around in the chamber and letting the slide slam home. I've also put more than 1million rounds down range at this point in my life and retired more than a few handguns for everything from cracked frames and slides to shot out barrels. I am under no illusion that Glocks and 1911's are the only guns around. Still, as an instructor I continue to teach people to load from their magazines because it works on nearly all pistols. Whether or not they want to top off the magazine with a "Barney bullet," is entirely up to them. I've given up on the practice but, I also routinely carry two spare magazines so I'm not going to miss one cartridge.

CHLSteve wrote:Just wondering if there's a correct (safest) way to do this.

Slide lock open, drop a round directly into the chamber, drop the slide and insert the magazine?

Or insert the magazine, rack the slide, remove the magazine, load one more round, and the replace the magazine?

Does it even matter?

It does matter, and the second option is preferred. I can think of a half-dozen thoroughly valid mechanical, safety or tactical reasons not to use the first option but, as a competive shooter I also have a since of vanity. So, part of me boils this down to the vainest of all reasons...It's something only an amateur or dweeb would do and it doesn't look cool!