One in the pipe - do you do it?

[Scott in Houston]

Why do some say they carry with the spare mag less one round?
Why not to full capacity?

[G26ster]

I'm not advocating carrying on an empty chamber. However, the "It won't happen to me" syndrome is a cause of many unpleasant outcomes. I don't think there's an adult on this planet that can truthfully say they have never injured themselves in any way due to their own negligence. It might have been a minor injury, or a major one, but it happens to all of us. It's just part of life. Speaking for myself, I've cut myself, banged many fingers, tripped over objects, burned my finger(s), etc., etc, etc. all the while going though life believing I am a "careful" person. I don't think I'm alone.

While we should all be vigilant, there will always be times when we are distracted enough, whether through our own complacency, or distraction, etc., that bad stuff can happen. To believe otherwise is delusional. MHO.

[gigag04]

Why do some say they carry with the spare mag less one round?
Why not to full capacity?

I could make the argument for mag life and reliability but I'm not sure that it really holds any water with a large enough sample size. The physics are behind it being easier on mags, and pushing less drag force against the slide, so maybe that's why I do it? Many HSLD types in MIL started doing it per Iraq/Afghanistan and it has carried over into LE training classes, and even civilian class over the last 5 years.

[Wes]

Some mags will not properly seat in the mag well if it is full and one is in the pipe. My girlfriends Beretta Nano for instance, you can't load a mag to full capacity and have one in the pipe as well. My Ruger and my xdm otoh will accept a full mag with one in the pipe. The idea being with extra mags at one less is that you can do a tactical reload if necessary (ie you are engaged in a fire fight and take cover to reload while a round is still chambered).

As to whether we carry with one in the chamber, absolutely. Anyone who has their chl should have reviewed the 21 foot scenario, and if one is not ready to go that distance gets even larger. The concern abut potentially dropping it and having to get over the instinct to reach for it as it falls is a very valid concern though (always let it fall!). I am curious though as to why some think people would come on an anonymous forum and lie about something like this.

[Sniper John]

I don't feel safe without carrying one in the chamber.

[Vol Texan]

What is a safety? My Sig2022 doesn't have one!

Always one in the pipe, and since mine is a SA/DA, I don't have any fear of ND. Of course I also have 17 more in the mag, ready to go.

[TexasCajun]

Some mags will not properly seat in the mag well if it is full and one is in the pipe. My girlfriends Beretta Nano for instance, you can't load a mag to full capacity and have one in the pipe as well. My Ruger and my xdm otoh will accept a full mag with one in the pipe. The idea being with extra mags at one less is that you can do a tactical reload if necessary (ie you are engaged in a fire fight and take cover to reload while a round is still chambered).

As to whether we carry with one in the chamber, absolutely. Anyone who has their chl should have reviewed the 21 foot scenario, and if one is not ready to go that distance gets even larger. The concern abut potentially dropping it and having to get over the instinct to reach for it as it falls is a very valid concern though (always let it fall!). I am curious though as to why some think people would come on an anonymous forum and lie about something like this.

My mileage varies. My Beretta Nano will seat my original 6 rounders as well as my 8 rounders with a round chambered. I've never had a problem with it.

[Cedar Park Dad]

I started with with an empty chamber, because I was paranoid of children getting a hold of it or dropping it. After frankly too long period of time I switched to cocked and locked with a .45 and after a short period of time felt just fine with it. Now I have an M&P with a very tight retention holster and am just fine. I'd prefer a grip safety or safety I could engage when pulling the firearm from the holster until emptying it/putting it in safe (in case I accidentally drop it which I did with the other pistol once), but am just fine other wise.

OT but to test the holster I turned the holster/pistol upside down and did 100 jumping jacks plus jumped in the air 20 times. The wife came in during the middle of it and literally fell to the floor laughing.

[Deltaboy]

I always keep one in the pipe.

[Jaguar]

My carry guns all have one in the pipe, but I must make a confession – my Mossberg 500 home defense shotgun does not have one in the chamber. I know, I’ve sinned, but please hear me out. For the record, I do not believe the sound a 12 gauge pump being racked is some sort of magical talisman that will send an intruder fleeing with waste in their undergarments.

This is the same shotgun I use for skeet shooting. When on the skeet field the action is open at all times unless on the firing position, where you load and call for the targets, shoot, then open the action again before stepping off the firing position. I never put it on safe while shooting skeet because when I do I inevitable forget to take it off safe, call for a target and look like a fool without going bang. So when I get home from skeet, I clean Miss Mossy, drop the hammer, and load up 5 rounds of 00 Buck in the magazine. We react as we train so I know I will forget the safety if I put one in the chamber – and not having it on safe with one in the chamber is not an option for a bedside shotgun, but I can rack the slide and be ready if ever required in a defensive situation.

I’ve thought about how I would best deal with a home intruder using the shotgun and “the same way you use it at the range” is the best solution. I would rather the only sound be the safety clicked off, but I know in a stressful situation I would forget. Shooting skeet isn’t stressful – it is a stress reliever for me, but I still forget the safety when I do use it.

[RogueUSMC]

Some mags will not properly seat in the mag well if it is full and one is in the pipe. My girlfriends Beretta Nano for instance, you can't load a mag to full capacity and have one in the pipe as well. My Ruger and my xdm otoh will accept a full mag with one in the pipe. The idea being with extra mags at one less is that you can do a tactical reload if necessary (ie you are engaged in a fire fight and take cover to reload while a round is still chambered).

I fail to understand how having one in the chamber makes the slightest difference when loading the magazine. I have never came across a weapon where the available space in the mag well was any different with the slide closed on an empty chamber vs a loaded chamber??

[Cedar Park Dad]

My carry guns all have one in the pipe, but I must make a confession – my Mossberg 500 home defense shotgun does not have one in the chamber. I know, I’ve sinned, but please hear me out. For the record, I do not believe the sound a 12 gauge pump being racked is some sort of magical talisman that will send an intruder fleeing with waste in their undergarments.

This is the same shotgun I use for skeet shooting. When on the skeet field the action is open at all times unless on the firing position, where you load and call for the targets, shoot, then open the action again before stepping off the firing position. I never put it on safe while shooting skeet because when I do I inevitable forget to take it off safe, call for a target and look like a fool without going bang. So when I get home from skeet, I clean Miss Mossy, drop the hammer, and load up 5 rounds of 00 Buck in the magazine. We react as we train so I know I will forget the safety if I put one in the chamber – and not having it on safe with one in the chamber is not an option for a bedside shotgun, but I can rack the slide and be ready if ever required in a defensive situation.

I’ve thought about how I would best deal with a home intruder using the shotgun and “the same way you use it at the range” is the best solution. I would rather the only sound be the safety clicked off, but I know in a stressful situation I would forget. Shooting skeet isn’t stressful – it is a stress reliever for me, but I still forget the safety when I do use it.

Miss Mossy - Jaguar wins the thread.
But ayah you play like you train. Its a good idea.

[Jaguar]

Miss Mossy - Jaguar wins the thread.
But ayah you play like you train. Its a good idea.

[gigag04]

All long guns I keep "patrol ready" - mag seated, chamber empty, bolt closed, safety off.

[JALLEN]

I load a magazine, chamber a round, drop the magazine, add a round to that and reinsert the magazine. On the P7M8 that gives 8+1, and on the Sig 226, now that I have proper magazines, 18+1. I did this for some years in CA with 10 round magazines without the slightest worry or problem.

One of the "features" of the P7M8 is that most people who have never fired one have no idea how to do it, which might be handy if the bad guy gets your gun away from you.