Clearing the chamber

[cracker57]

O.K. this was mentioned in a different thread so I thought I would take a poll, that is if I can figure out how to do a poll.
Here's the question. when you clear the chamber do you let the round fall to the ground then pick it up?
or do you catch the round in your hand by placing your hand over the ejection port?
I have been told by more then one instructor that you should let the round hit the ground then pick it up. The reason is that the round may go off during the eject.
thoughts? This is for the auto loader.

 

[gdnagle]

I have been told by more then one instructor that you should let the round hit the ground then pick it up. The reason is that the round may go off during the eject.
thoughts?

Your talking about a revolver I assume?

I don't see how a round could go off unless you hand had a point and hits the primer, or your hands are several hundred degrees hot. I have picked up rounds with static on me and discharge from static didn't set them off and pocket full of rounds rubbing together doesn't set them of either. So what are they saying would cause it to go off, or did one say it and others just decided to pick up on it. There would have to be a case where it happened for them to say that.

If you are talking about a autoloader I rack the slide and as I don't have three hands eject said cartridge on to something soft so as not to damage said round. Unless I am out where nothing is available then I will get close to the ground and eject.

Unless I am realy missing something I should Know, been doing it since a kid and I'm 64 now, still have all my fingers and toes and damaged very few rounds.

Now if you are talking about a combat situation then who cares it goes on the ground.

So for me revolver, B) Catch the round in your hand

For autoloader, C) eject onto something soft.

 

[OKFC05]

There is no specific rule on clearing the chamber in ICORE, USPSA, or IDPA, and one fellow at our club ejcts the cartridge straight up, then catches it in his hand. He is very careful to keep a firm grip on the gun with strong hand, and if he misses the cartridge, he lets it go.

However, I would watch very closely anyone who put their off hand over the ejection port, because there are several bad things that could happen, including a DQ for unsafe gun handling if the muzzle points the wrong place. Although unlikely, a faulty gun could fire the round, or the slide could be mishandled, firing the cartridge on the ejector if you pushed the cartridge back into the gun.

I teach students to get in the habit of letting magazines and speedloaders go on reloads, and to generally let dropped stuff lie until the gun is holstered. For revolvers, I teach to let the empties hit the ground and not catch in the hand. Back in the day when revolvers were the standard, too many officers were found dead with the empties in their hand after a gunfight.

Most clever innovations to the standard manual of arms aren't usually all that clever.

 

[yeti]

Pull back the slide in a smooth/controlled manner and I let it drop. It can't hurt, plus I just think that it is a safe habit to observe.
The odds of an ejector tip detonating a round is extremely low, but it could happen with a perfect scenario.
I would like to keep both hands working as long as possible.

 

[AZ115]

I usually will let "Live" rounds drop on something soft like a towel. At the range I'll eject live rounds to a table, as always keeping my gun pointed in the safest direction possible.

The times that I have let live rounds eject to hard floor, a few have not survivived. I remember a few rifle rounds that have bent out of shape and were discarded. The same for a few handgun rounds here and there. So, as a rule I try not to eject a live round to the floor (3' to 4' foot drops).

Of course in a life or death situation, Rack the slide and let em fly!

 

[Willie B]

One thing that repeatedly came up in every armorer's course I've attended is not to clear the chamber with your hand over the ejection port. There have obviously been numerous folks that have suffered gunshot wounds to their hands from doing so. Although I have never witnessed this myself firsthand it obviously occurs and I have seen numerous photos of supposed injuries from someone having done this.

 

[bearfoot]

have a towel on top of the dresser to unload a pistol. dropping rounds on a hard surface, the 40 espically, to make sure the bullet hasn't been pushed past it safe overall length into the shell caseing. if at the range, most ledges / shelves are wood, if it falls to the ground. it just needs cleaned, but still checked.