Who carries their gun with a full mag +1?

[Excaliber]

To add a different slant on the original question, how many of us that do carry 17+1 capacity, carry all 18 rounds defensive (Critical Duty, etc). I will load mine with the first 10 rounds are self defense followed by fmj.Just an idiosyncrasy, but I figure after ten rounds they are running away or hiding behind something that I would just be wasting the SD rounds. Does any one else split their load?

No.

My carry rounds aren't magazine fillers - they're potentially lifesaving tools. I carry only the highest quality defensive ammunition in every magazine position.

If I need to use my ammo getting a failure to stop, or a "shoot through" or ricochet hit on a bystander because I wanted to save twenty cents on the cost of the round doesn't sound like a bargain to me.

I know that the odds a citizen would have to fire more than 10 rounds in a defensive encounter are extremely low, but low is not zero. That's why I carry spare magazines (yes, that's plural). My approach is if you're going to do something important, it's worth taking the trouble to do it right.

[chocolate bayou]

Well, I guess that's why I am on these forums - to learn how wrong my thinking is. Thanks for setting me straight. I'll try not to walk out any more idiotic ideas. Here to learn!

[RogueUSMC]

Don't take anything said here too hard...some of the folks here go into 'instructor mode' when answering questions...lol. I respect the fact that they have been carrying longer, put themselves through more training and gained knowledge and that I am behind them on the learning curve but...lol

I saw your reasoning in regards to loading the FMJs in the bottom of the mags but...if they are retreating behind hardened cover, they cease to be a threat. My military training would say to push the action through, but in our current position of armed citizen, once the threat isn't a threat, we find cover, wait and observe.

Welcome to the forums by the way. There is a gold mine of info here for those interested.

Semper Fi,
Lee

[Excaliber]

Well, I guess that's why I am on these forums - to learn how wrong my thinking is. Thanks for setting me straight. I'll try not to walk out any more idiotic ideas. Here to learn!

My reply below was intended to be succinct - I hope it didn't come across as abrupt.

As RogueUSMC said, we're all here to learn and share what we know (or think we know) and let everyone else chime in so we can refine our knowledge and thinking.

Don't worry about the "silly question" issue. The only ones in that category are the ones you don't ask, and newbie questions are more than welcome.

Even questions that have been answered many times before bring out new nuances when they're asked again and we reexamine them.

So - ask away!

[myntalfloss]

To add a different slant on the original question, how many of us that do carry 17+1 capacity, carry all 18 rounds defensive (Critical Duty, etc). I will load mine with the first 10 rounds are self defense followed by fmj.Just an idiosyncrasy, but I figure after ten rounds they are running away or hiding behind something that I would just be wasting the SD rounds. Does any one else split their load?

That's not a bad idea. Or, carry one mag with SD and one with FMJ, if you've a mind to. I also agree that usually by the time 10 rounds(or less) have been expended, the situation has probably been resolved (hopefully in your favor). I also agree with rogueUSMC's comment that a fleeing suspect is no longer a threat and shooting him might bring legal problems. Plus, shooting at a hidden suspect is a low return shot, depletes your ammo and may have unintended consequences.

Due to my low expectations of actually using my firearms in a defensive situation, and my innate laziness, all my carry guns just have defensive ammo, usually one of the Hornady's. I use FMJ at the range and shoot and replace the defensive ammo with new every year.

[TexasCajun]

As I've already said; I top off the mag, load the top round into the chamber, then add another round into the magazine for a full mag +1 in the pipe. And all are commercially available self-defense rounds.

[ghostrider]

As I've already said; I top off the mag, load the top round into the chamber, then add another round into the magazine for a full mag +1 in the pipe. And all are commercially available self-defense rounds.

same here, though I generally use a mag with 1 round in it to load the chamber and then replace it with a fully loaded mag.

[slowrey]

I always have a full mag +1.

[Oldgringo]

Well, I guess that's why I am on these forums - to learn how wrong my thinking is. Thanks for setting me straight. I'll try not to walk out any more idiotic ideas. Here to learn!

Be not dismayed. Unless you're some sort of LEO, drug dealer or something, the odds of you getting into any sort of defensive shooting incident beyond a half dozen rounds are astronomical. Should that ever happen, heaven forbid, you'll have enough problems without adding collateral damage to your burden.

BTW, welcome to the forum.

EDIT: But what do I know? I may be shot full of holes by the time you read this.

[myntalfloss]

Be not dismayed. Unless you're some sort of LEO, drug dealer or something, the odds of you getting into any sort of defensive shooting incident beyond a half dozen rounds are astronomical. Should that ever happen, heaven forbid, you'll have enough problems without adding collateral damage to your burden.

[carlson1]

I find when carrying my Glock 30S that I have to load the 10 rounder down 1. If not you have to practically stand on the thing to load the last round and it feels as if the slide barely wants to retract. So when carrying the G30S it is not +1, but rather -1.

[Jose_in_Dallas]

Just curious but why would someone load the chamber of a gun from a magazine and than remove the magazine and top it off? Why not open the slide and chamber the round from there?

[Jumping Frog]

Just curious but why would someone load the chamber of a gun from a magazine and than remove the magazine and top it off? Why not open the slide and chamber the round from there?

Depending on the gun, that is a good way to damage the extractor.

Guns are designed so that the case slides up from the magazine with the case rim slipping under the extractor. The extractors are not meant to slam over the case rim as the slide closes.

Proper procedure is to rack or drop the slide on a loaded magazine, thereby chambering a round. Then drop that magazine and replace with a full magazine. Obviously, you can top off one round on the magazine you just removed for a full magazine replacement.

[TexasCajun]

Just curious but why would someone load the chamber of a gun from a magazine and than remove the magazine and top it off? Why not open the slide and chamber the round from there?

You might be thinking in terms of a rifle or a shotgun where you can easily drop a round into the open chamber. Semi-automatic pistols (generally) don't work that way.