Magazine Top Off

[ken158]

An agency I worked for back in the days of transition from revolvers to autos the rule was not to have a full magazine with a round in the chamber. Reason given was it was too much stress on the extractor.
Was this valid ?

What we instructed was to install mag with slide open, drop slide and you are ready to roll. IF you dropped the mag and inserted one more round and re-inserted the mag, it might not fully seat and could either drop out or if round in chamber is fired, the top round in the mag might not chamber. Remember - as an instructor you need to train to the weakest link…

 

[stansdds]

What we instructed was to install mag with slide open, drop slide and you are ready to roll. IF you dropped the mag and inserted one more round and re-inserted the mag, it might not fully seat and could either drop out or if round in chamber is fired, the top round in the mag might not chamber. Remember - as an instructor you need to train to the weakest link…

That is the strongest argument for not topping off the magazine.

 

[murphydog]

Jimmy, if you are about my age, the transition from revolvers to autos was around 1911. Before that we carried 5 rounds in our 6 shot, single action Colts. If we fell off our horse, there was not a round in the chamber to go off.

Let's see the twist draw demonstration, while mounted, please!

 

[THE PILGRIM]

After giving this a little thought,
Mag Capacity could be a factor.
SIG 365, 17 Round Mag. Probably not that interested in topping off.
Runt Kahr, 6+1 with Flush Mag.
Might want to load that 7th Round.

 

[Baxter6551]

As a Firearms Instructor I was part of the transition team when we switched from S&W 65 to Sig P226. (We were allowed to buy our 65s for $100).
We had Sig representatives give us an abbreviated armorers class and I later attended the full armorers school in NH. I don't recall this issue ever being mentioned. I loaded my Sig by inserting full mag and releasing slide then topping off mag with one round. There was never an issue. As I recall most guys loaded this way and never an issue. BUT…
I have experienced difficulties seating full mags on AR15s and a couple 1911s so it makes sense to download those.
With our state's restrictions on 10 round magazines I still top off whenever possible.

 

[yeti]

Agreed that someone confused dropping a round into the chamber (not magazine fed) and letting the extractor snap over the chambered round with generally topping off the mag. Nothing wrong with inserting the mag, dropping the slide, removing the mag, adding one more round.

As far as full capacity magazines go. Reloads with the slide forward (speed or tactical reload) may sometimes present a problem for some mags, thus one less than capacity is sometimes prudent. Ask me how I know