Administrative Loading

[Muss Muggins]

We always called that a "tactical reload," with an "emergency reload" occurring when your slide locked back on an empty mag (hence the emergency). I sometimes add a round, sometimes not. Usually, it's when I was training and knew I needed one more to avoid a reload in the fire string. As for carry, eh. Sometimes I'll do what others have suggested and replace the mag with a full mag, usually with a 1911 or my Glock 43. Not so much with the 19X . . .

I have always thought an administrative reload involved replacing a partially empty magazine with a fresh full magazine while retaining the partial magazine in case you need it. Usually done while behind cover in a gunfight. I've generally considered a tactical reload to mean you've run the gun dry, drop the empty mag, insert a full mag, cycle the gun and continue shooting. But maybe my labels are wrong.

 

[ScottS]

Mike Seeklander, for one.
He and I come from the same school in Tulsa, run by the same trainer that trains the Tulsa police swat team. No topping off is allowed in the training, which uses blind stages and surprise targets. Each reload is expected to be when needed, as needed, and as fast as you can do it.
You may be standing with an empty gun in your holster getting a briefing and the range goes hot and you get a surprise target. Shoot it ASAP.

Good point, and I certainly respect Mike Seeklander, but that's a specific training point, for a specific objective, at a specific training class. It's like downloading a mag for a specific course of fire. But that's not what's being discussed.

Does Mike recommend going around in normal life with a partially loaded gun? My guess is no. And that's what the original poster does, and what I questioned.

BTW, in discussing competition, IDPA requires a topped off gun, unless the course of fire specifies a specific round count in the mag.

 

[OKFC05]

in discussing competition, IDPA requires a topped off gun, unless the course of fire specifies a specific round count in the mag.

IDPA ALLOWS topping off, but does not require it. 10+1 in the gun is easily (and legally) achieved in an M&P (SSP) by putting 11 rounds in the initial 17-round magazine. Then at the start signalthere will be the prescribed 10 in the magazine and one in the chamber.

IDPA Rules:
8.1.3 Magazine Loading: All magazines must be loaded to division capacity at the start signal throughout the match
except in the following cases:
A. If a magazine is used that holds less than division capacity, the shooter will load all magazines to the capacity of
the lowest magazine throughout the match.
B. The stage description may require reduced magazine loading.
C. In the Revolver division, the shooter must load the revolver and all loading devices with the same number of
rounds throughout the match unless the above loading exceptions apply.
8.1.4 Division Capacity
SSP, ESP, SPD............. 10 rounds
CDP, CCP.................... 8 rounds
REV, BUG-S................ 6 rounds
BUG-R........................ 5 rounds total
In all semi-auto divisions except BUG-S, the shooter will also start with one additional round in the chamber, unless the
stage description requires otherwise.

https://www.idpa.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/IDPA-Rulebook-2017.pdf

 

[banger]

Honestly, in my years, I just left the pistol down loaded by one.

One benefit was when taking a prisoner to the county jail, you had to completely clear the pistol.

The space gave you a spot to place the single round from the chamber.

It never mattered to me if I was carrying a six round magazine in a .40 cal. Shield, a seven round mag. in a 1911, or a 15 round mag. in a Sig P-226. I never felt the need to cram in that one extra round.

 

[kbm6893]

Honestly, in my years, I just left the pistol down loaded by one.

One benefit was when taking a prisoner to the county jail, you had to completely clear the pistol.

The space gave you a spot to place the single round from the chamber.

It never mattered to me if I was carrying a six round magazine in a .40 cal. Shield, a seven round mag. in a 1911, or a 15 round mag. in a Sig P-226. I never felt the need to cram in that one extra round.

Neither have I, other than when I was still on the Job. We were told we were to have 16 rounds in the gun, one in the chamber with a 15 round mag. If we were ever in a shooting the shots and recovered brass is counted and it better add up.

Now I never top off. 7 round mag or 17. I just don't feel like it.

 

[lhump1961]

I'm with BAM BAM. Most full mags are tight to seat on a closed slide. I don't top off my high cap double stack mags carry duty or range. But if I carry an 8 round single stack I most likely will. Notice I said "carry". I never top off anything at the range. But that's just me. Others may do as they please.

 

[CBStuard]

IDPA etc is one thing. We always start w/ 11 in the first mag. If the gun doesn't hold 11, guys always top up w/ a full mag after using their 'Barney' mag to load the first round. So they have whatever their max mag holds + one in the chamber. For personal defense at maybe 14 rnds I might not go through the effort. But I usually do. Any of my pistols that hold 7 or 8 rnds in the mag always get the barney mag process. If one is happy w/ 7 when one could have 8, more power to you. Not me. I want all 8.

 

[vista461]

Honestly, in my years, I just left the pistol down loaded by one.

One benefit was when taking a prisoner to the county jail, you had to completely clear the pistol.
.

I'm glad our jail isn't like that. I just put the gun in the lock box, and then grab the prisoner out of the squad.

 

[vista461]

What do you do with the loaded gun while you top off the mag?

Put it in my holster.