3rd Gen Neal
Member
I was curious if you carry your S-W autos with full mag+1, or if you load mag, chamber round, leave mag less 1 round. I carry +1, but some say you get more mag spring life if the mag is minus the round in the chamber.
Carrying full mag+1
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3rd Gen Neal
Member
I was curious if you carry your S-W autos with full mag+1, or if you load mag, chamber round, leave mag less 1 round. I carry +1, but some say you get more mag spring life if the mag is minus the round in the chamber.
t3chnoid
Member
Don't know about anyone else, but I carry full mag +1. I'm not worried about spring life. If ever I need one more shot to stay alive I won't be worrying about the cost of a mag spring.
It's a valid question for all autos, really. Some people have said that full+1 sometimes doesn't chamber the first round in the mag as well, but I've never seen an issue with my 1911. As soon as my Bersa gets out of detention I'll be testing that out.
I have a feeling if I couldn't carry full+1 I'd not be carrying that gun...
I have a feeling if I couldn't carry full+1 I'd not be carrying that gun...
briarjumper12
Member
Full +1 for me.
Spotteddog
Member
Handguns +1
Shotguns -1
Shotguns -1
Larry from Bend
Member
I carry my 3913 7+1 (1 less than a completely full mag). I can barely force the full mag to seat with the slide closed. The spring is REALLY compressed. I'm not worried about spring failure --- but that much pressure required to seat a mag bothers me.
+1 for +1.
armadillo66
Member
I started carrying my 1076 because it always seemed to me that 10rnds of 10mm was just good math
CG2
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+ 1
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Depends on the gun and magazine. If seating a full magazine with the slide closed is only accomplished by slamming the mag home because the fit is too tight, then I typically do not top off.
Some pistols don't like a full mag under a round in the chamber. British SAS personnel carry their BHPs loaded with one in the chamber and 12 in the 13 round mag.
I have never had a problem with a Smith carrying it with one round over a fully loaded mag. That includes my 3914 which is hard to seat a fully loaded mag in locked action position-but it always works that way.
I have never had a problem with a Smith carrying it with one round over a fully loaded mag. That includes my 3914 which is hard to seat a fully loaded mag in locked action position-but it always works that way.
WoodyUSSLUCE
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Full mag 14+1 in the chamber and a spare mag too!
10mm Sonny
Member
I guess i'm in the minority. Because I don't.
anchors
US Veteran
That's how I carry my 915.
I used to do the full mag +1, but I don't top off anymore for three reasons:
1. I don't like having to squeeze that mag in there so tightly. My 457 came with the plastic mag release tab, and I upgraded it to the metal one, but still...I'm not fond of that much extra pressure on the catch. My 908 already had the metal one in it when I got it. My GLOCK 27 was a BEAR to top off. Man, I just about had to put that bugger in a vise to top it off until the mags broke in. And even then it wasn't easy. I've had mags drop out when I thought they were seated, too. I wouldn't want that to happen when I needed more than one "boom."
2. I seem to have had more feed malfunctions in ALL semis (not just S&W's) when I top off, as opposed to just filling the gun with 1 full magazine worth of cartridges. Not that it has happened often...but often enough to give me pause. I'd rather have 7 at 99% than 8 at 95%. But that's just me.
3. This may sound odd, but I have found it to be one more tier of safety. If I make it a practice to not have more cartridges out than will fit in the mag(s), I am further reassured that there are none in the chamber when the mag(s) I have out are out are visably full. This is OBVIOUSLY not part of standard gun safety procedures and should not be used by anyone as such. It's just an ADDITIONAL visual aid.
Topping off is a subjective thing though, so to each their own. What I do works for me. Good topic, though. Thanks!
1. I don't like having to squeeze that mag in there so tightly. My 457 came with the plastic mag release tab, and I upgraded it to the metal one, but still...I'm not fond of that much extra pressure on the catch. My 908 already had the metal one in it when I got it. My GLOCK 27 was a BEAR to top off. Man, I just about had to put that bugger in a vise to top it off until the mags broke in. And even then it wasn't easy. I've had mags drop out when I thought they were seated, too. I wouldn't want that to happen when I needed more than one "boom."
2. I seem to have had more feed malfunctions in ALL semis (not just S&W's) when I top off, as opposed to just filling the gun with 1 full magazine worth of cartridges. Not that it has happened often...but often enough to give me pause. I'd rather have 7 at 99% than 8 at 95%. But that's just me.
3. This may sound odd, but I have found it to be one more tier of safety. If I make it a practice to not have more cartridges out than will fit in the mag(s), I am further reassured that there are none in the chamber when the mag(s) I have out are out are visably full. This is OBVIOUSLY not part of standard gun safety procedures and should not be used by anyone as such. It's just an ADDITIONAL visual aid.
Topping off is a subjective thing though, so to each their own. What I do works for me. Good topic, though. Thanks!
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The two digit Smiths were notorious for not liking to have a full mag + 1 in the chamber. Redesigned mags fixed that-but when I carry a 3914, the magazine is down one, just in case.
I carry an issued M&P40 at work and am happy with 15 total rounds in the weapon(plus my spare mags). I figure that if the slide had to be specially machined to allow acceptance of a 15 round loaded mag under a closed slide, mechanical reliability suggests that going one down in the mag is a good idea. Mind you, I've never seen or experienced a malfunction where 15+1 has been the load.
I simply feel that if you have the capability to carry all those rounds, going one down doesn't hurt anything and may improve mechanical reliability.
I carry an issued M&P40 at work and am happy with 15 total rounds in the weapon(plus my spare mags). I figure that if the slide had to be specially machined to allow acceptance of a 15 round loaded mag under a closed slide, mechanical reliability suggests that going one down in the mag is a good idea. Mind you, I've never seen or experienced a malfunction where 15+1 has been the load.
I simply feel that if you have the capability to carry all those rounds, going one down doesn't hurt anything and may improve mechanical reliability.
