What is the proper way to load a full magazine with a +1 in the chamber, in a semiautomatic gun? Say, a magazine has a capacity of 6 and I want to have 7 rounds in the gun.

Insert a loaded magazine, rack slide to chamber a round,
remove magazine, replace that round, reinsert.

If you carry a reload magazine, you can save a move by
insert spare magazine, chamber a round,
replace with loaded magazine and holster.
add a round back to the spare.

Most IDPA and USPSA competitors will have an old magazine for a "Barney Bullet". Insert Barney, chamber a round, replace Barney with loaded magazine.

Note that all methods chamber that +1 out of a magazine, dropping a cartridge in the chamber and slamming the slide to snap the extractor over the rim is hard on the parts.

Three ways of doing it.

1. Put one round in the magazine, insert the magazine into the pistol, rack the slide to chamber the round, remove the magazine, fully load the magazine and reinsert.

2. Fully load the magazine, insert the magazine into the pistol, rack the slide to chamber the round, remove the magazine, add one round to the magazine and reinsert.

3. With an empty pistol and magazine removed, lock the slide open, place a round in the chamber, release the slide and the extractor will bash into the cartridge rim and eventually break, so do not use method number 3.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

As Stan said, #3 is a no-go. I tend toward #1, because that way I only have to fully load the mag once. As I get older, more and more mags are a pain in the neck to fully load.

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NHI, 10-8.

The way I learned it is called an "Administrative Reload."

1) Place loaded magazine in pistol.
2) Cycle slide to load chamber.
3) Holster pistol.
4) Remove magazine.
5) Top off magazine and replace in pistol.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

With my S&W Model 411 in 40 cal there has been through the years some concern with crimp jump resulting from what is referred to as "administrative handling". The 40S&W caliber is susceptible to increased pressures from this especially with the 180 grain loading. I do not notice it in the recoil or blast, no expecting the gun to explode or anything, but I do see it in the inconsistent accuracy.

Some shooters will keep the round in the snout to avoid this. So have I learned from the late contributor here 18DAI and I imitate him in this. Others will keep track of how many times a round has been chambered and when the limit is reached, they drop that round in the range bag to be shot and chambered only that one last time. I do not know how many times is acceptable or how they decide this.

Another technique that I use involves what is called the Barney mag. So named after Barney Fife who was allowed only one round by Sherrif Andy Taylor on the Andy Griffith Show. This extra mag is used to charge the chamber, then it is removed and the full mag inserted. I find this very efficient because my 11 round mags are very hard to top off especially since replacing the springs recently.

Thanks for your contribution here!
BrianD

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696-6906-457-38-3913-CS40-411

I do mine the same way. Insert magazine, rack one in the pipe. Engage the thumb safety/slide safety. Remove magazine and top it off, reinsert and holster the pistol. Works for my 1911's and BHP.

I use the Barney Mag protocol when ever possible.

how do you remove the mag when the gun is in the holster?

It's Like ... Skinning Cats !
'There is ...'More than one way to skin a cat "...
Pick a way you like and roll with it ...
Different guns may require different Techniques ...
Don't get all hung up on " One Way " being the only way... It Isn't !
Gary

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Certified Cajun
NRA Member