I purchased a SW 686P last January and generally shoot revolvers. However on Sunday, I bought a new SW1911E, #108432. My first pistol, 2nd if you count my .22 Colt Jr. The 1911 capacity says its 8+1 rounds. Does that mean the magazine holds 8 rounds and one in the chamber? If that's what it means then how do you load 9 rounds into a 1911 for maximum capacity? Do you have to manually chamber round #9? Is there a 1911 shooter out there that can explain this to me. Also, I think I'm gonna invest in a speed loader cause its a killer on the hands loading magazines.

Ox

If you want to have 9 rounds available, with an 8 round magazine, chamber one round from you fully loaded mag, engage the safety, and then drop the mag and top it off with one round. Now you have 9 rounds.

You always want to chamber a round from the magazine. Don't just drop one in the barrel and slam the slide shut. This causes the extractor to jump over the rim of the chambered round and is hard on the extractor, instead allowing the rim to slide up under from behind it. And yes semi-autos usually note mag capacity plus one in the chamber.

What I do is just stick the loaded mag into the gun, chamber a round, remove the magazine and load a round back into it. That's the safest way for both you and your gun's extractor. Enjoy your new 1911! While some need a bit of time and love to get to that perfect spot in terms of reliability, you can't beat the comfort and overall pleasure of 'em!