Plus 1 (as in 15 +1)

[Smoke]

Simple question assuming a magazine fed pistol, you load the magazine, insert it into the pistol and chamber a round. Do you go to the hassle of dropping the magazine and loading another round?

I don't just because it seems like an awful lot of bother for 1 extra round.

Clarification: for the purposes of this thread it is assumed that you are carrying a round in the chamber. What I'm asking is do you top of after chambering that round

 

[vito]

Depends on the pistol. In my 8-round magazine of my 45acp, and in the 6-round magazine of my 380acp I add the extra round. In my 13 round magazine of my 40S&W I don't bother.

 

[Waywatcher]

I do not.

Sort of. My Glock magazines are downloaded one round from capacity but I do keep one in the chamber. So my Glock 23 could technically hold 13+1 and 13 in the spares, but I load 12+1 and 12 in the spares. Insertion on a closed slide is much easier (and that last round can be a chore to load anyway.) I've heard anecdotal evidence that it might be slightly better in the long run for reliability to keep the spring less than fully-completely compressed.

 

[SMSgt]

I fill my mag and carry what the mag holds. +1 is not a necessity for me.

 

[2ndAmendmentNut]

I rarely carry an automatic, but when I do I have a chambered round and I go through the trouble of loading the magazine again with one extra round.

 

[Maze 686]

Yes, I load the mag into weapon, chamber a round, then holster.

Once the weapon is holstered I take out the magazine and insert a full one. Then I top off my now spare mag.

This assures me that a round chambered from the first mag.


As far as magazines down loaded and wearing out. The magazine will wearout from use over time and not from being compressed. There is no reason to download unless you physically can't load it. There are loading tools to make it easier for those people.

 

[Smoke]

To each his own but I have never really understood double stack mags. Spay and Pray?

There is no mention of double stack magazines in the OP. The question deals with one round

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

There is no mention of double stack magazines in the OP. The question deals with one round

Right.

No need to veer off into tangents about gun fights, spray and pray... on and on and on. There's plenty of threads for that.

Will clean up the off topic stuff. Stay focused.

 

[P&R Fan]

When I load one of my Glocks I have an empty mag sitting next to the place I keep them. I load a round in the empty mag, insert it into the gun and chamber a round. Then I eject that mag and insert a fully loaded one.
Jim

 

[RobertJ.]

I've always been a revolver guy. My EDC is a Detective Special, 3rd Gen. However, I do have 3 autos that I carry on a once in a while basis, a BHP, a model 39, and a Russian Makarov. I always top off the 39 and the Mak.

 

[Hodgin]

Depends on what I'm carrying. I normally go (6+1) in my BG 380 but (11+1, 1 in chamber and 11 in mag) in my 9c. I'd probably go 12+1 in the 9c but it's usually difficult to get the 12 round in the 9c's mag.

 

[Smoke]

When I load one of my Glocks I have an empty mag sitting next to the place I keep them. I load a round in the empty mag, insert it into the gun and chamber a round. Then I eject that mag and insert a fully loaded one.
Jim

See now to me that seems like even more trouble to go to for one round.

However I do understand it's your life and your choice

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

See now to me that seems like even more trouble to go to for one round.

The method P&R Fan describes eliminates having to load the last round in a mag, twice. It addresses comments like-- I'd probably go 12+1 in the 9c but it's usually difficult to get the 12 round in the 9c's mag.

I carry an autoloader to capacity as designed. I don't consider it a hassle.

 

[Hodgin]

The method P&R Fan describes eliminates having to load the last round in a mag, twice. It addresses comments like-- I'd probably go 12+1 in the 9c but it's usually difficult to get the 12 round in the 9c's mag.

I carry an autoloader to capacity as designed. I don't consider it a hassle.

ChattanoogaPhil,
The difficulty I'm referring to is getting the 12th round in my magazine. My 9c mag springs are extremely tight. They've loosened a bit with use but it's still difficulty to get the 12th rd in even with my Uplula loader, forget it by hand.

Although I don't carry it, I keep 15+1 in my Sig 226. It's my night table gun. I don't consider dropping the mag and adding a round as too big of a hassle. I just have a 12th round problem with my 9c mag. Even when I put the 12th in I don't like the fact that it's so tight. I guess I could see if S&W would replace the two mags but it's not that big of a deal to me.

Generally, I prefer more rounds to less. You never know what'll come up.

 

[Smoke]

I carry an autoloader to capacity as designed. I don't consider it a hassle.

I assume this means +1 right?

I'm not necessarily saying you shouldn't I'm saying I don't

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

ChattanoogaPhil,
The difficulty I'm referring to is getting the 12th round in my magazine. My 9c mag springs are extremely tight. They've loosened a bit with use but it's still difficulty to get the 12th rd in even with my Uplula loader, forget it by hand.

Right. And by using the method described by PR Fan you'll only have to load that 12th round once. And won't have to fool with it again until you shoot your gun, service the magazine or otherwise find a need to unload the mag.

I assume this means +1 right?

Yes, one in the pipe along with a mag loaded to capacity.

I'm not necessarily saying you shouldn't I'm saying I don't

Right. I kinda figured you don't because you already said that you don't in the OP . ----> "I don't just because it seems like an awful lot of bother for 1 extra round."

 

[66Park]

I've always topped off the magazine. It really isn't any big deal to do it. In fact, I've never even thought of not doing it. Why be one round short if you need it? On the other hand, if it's a big bother to someone, it's no skin off my back if they don't care to top off their magazine.

 

[Rastoff]

I never load +1.

Here's my process:

• Take gun out of safe
• Check chamber
• Insert fully loaded mag
• Rack slide
• Check chamber to insure a round chambered
• Holster gun
• Put full mag in mag pouch

The only way to know for certain that a round whet in the chamber is a chamber check.

I see no value in loading +1. Neither do I see a detriment. I have seen guns have trouble cycling when loaded to +1, but I can't be certain that it was caused by the +1 condition so, that is only anecdotal.

There is value to down loading one round in a spare mag though. When doing a tactical reload, it is easier to insert a down loaded mag than a full one. This reduces the chance of not fully seating a mag which will cause feeding problems.

 

[Ransom]

I carry a Shield 9 with the 7-round mag, or sometimes a BG 380 with a 6-round mag. The extra round is significant for these two guns so I always carry a full mag. I chamber the first round from an empty mag so I'm not topping off the magazine twice.

 

[Ransom]

I see no value in loading +1.

How about the value of having one more round if it's ever needed? For my Shield, that's a 14% increase.