Do you like "loaded chamber indicators" on your pistols?
- Thread starter usmarine0352_2005
- Start date
- Status
Alec
Member
I don't care for them, especially if they involve extra parts. The LCI on my Springfield 1911 is just a notch cut in the barrel hood, so it's actually easier for me to press check than looking in a tiny hole for the faint glimmer of brass. Seems pointless to me. My only other pistol does not have one.
easyg
Member
I look at LCI's as one of those "couldn't hurt" features.
chicharrones
needs more ammo
MaterDei
Member
I'm with easyg and others. I'll take them or leave them. They are 'nice to haves'.
carbuncle
Member
I don't reference loaded chamber indicators, I know if my weapon is loaded or not. If there is a question, I'll clear it safely and visually and manually inspect the chamber. That being said, the presence of a loaded chamber indicator is a neutral factor in my gun buying decisions, but I don't think there is anything inherently wrong with them.
usmarine0352_2005
member
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2005
- Messages
- 2,796
I'm a police officer and leave my duty gun in my locker, locked up.
I still do a press check everyday before work and check the mag.
.
I'm not a fan. When I verify that a pistol is empty, I drop the mag, lock the slide, verify no mag in pistol, look in chamber, stick finger in chamber, drop slide, then hammer/striker. A little nubbin on the side of the pistol cannot do that.
Its a mechanical device, and mechanical devices can fail.
I like what someone said above about using to verify loaded status, but not empty. Makes sense, but for me its just as easy to peek in the chamber.
Its a mechanical device, and mechanical devices can fail.
I like what someone said above about using to verify loaded status, but not empty. Makes sense, but for me its just as easy to peek in the chamber.
sixgunner455
Member
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2006
- Messages
- 3,052
I do not like them. They are anathema to me, and I do not intend to own a gun that has one. I am fully capable of properly checking loaded status on a pistol, rifle, or shotgun, and do not need an extra doohickey sticking out the side or top of my gun to show me that I did actually succeed in loading it.
Sometimes yea, sometimes nay!
I like the LCI extractor on my Glocks. I use it, and it doesn't change the aesthetics or add extra parts. It's in easy reach for a finger sweep without looking.
I don't like the LCI on my MkIII. I have never used it, and it adds 4 extra parts. A MkIII isn't the kind of gun I would ever keep loaded, anyway.
I like the LCI on my P64. It's right above the hammer. You can feel it with your thumb, which is automatic if you cock the hammer, manually.
I wish my Cougar HAD an LCI. Whenever I do a chamber check, the hammer goes to the halfcock notch. Then I have to use the clunky decocker.
Chamber checks are the only way to clear a gun. But to make sure a leprechaun didn't unload my HD gun while I wasn't looking, an LCI is good enough for me.
I like the Glock LCI best. You can sweep it from a shooting grip. You don't have to look at the gun. You don't even have to remove the gun from some holsters (if you're a righty, using something like a Serpa, for instance). And there's no extra parts. It's also very intuitive, being in the spot where you normally do a chamber check, anyway.
The best ambi LCI would have to be the kind that pops out the back of the slide, IMO.
I like the LCI extractor on my Glocks. I use it, and it doesn't change the aesthetics or add extra parts. It's in easy reach for a finger sweep without looking.
I don't like the LCI on my MkIII. I have never used it, and it adds 4 extra parts. A MkIII isn't the kind of gun I would ever keep loaded, anyway.
I like the LCI on my P64. It's right above the hammer. You can feel it with your thumb, which is automatic if you cock the hammer, manually.
I wish my Cougar HAD an LCI. Whenever I do a chamber check, the hammer goes to the halfcock notch. Then I have to use the clunky decocker.
Chamber checks are the only way to clear a gun. But to make sure a leprechaun didn't unload my HD gun while I wasn't looking, an LCI is good enough for me.
I like the Glock LCI best. You can sweep it from a shooting grip. You don't have to look at the gun. You don't even have to remove the gun from some holsters (if you're a righty, using something like a Serpa, for instance). And there's no extra parts. It's also very intuitive, being in the spot where you normally do a chamber check, anyway.
The best ambi LCI would have to be the kind that pops out the back of the slide, IMO.
Last edited:
clutch
Contributing Member
I don't understand the reason for these things. A firearm should always be treated as loaded.
The only time I'm concerned if there is real ammo in my gun is when I'm checking to see if there is a snap cap in there. In this case, the LCI on my M&P shows me the brass rim of some plastic and brass snap caps and my XDm just tells me something is in there.
So it comes down to pulling the slide back part way and looking inside anyway.
Clutch
The only time I'm concerned if there is real ammo in my gun is when I'm checking to see if there is a snap cap in there. In this case, the LCI on my M&P shows me the brass rim of some plastic and brass snap caps and my XDm just tells me something is in there.
So it comes down to pulling the slide back part way and looking inside anyway.
Clutch
BADUNAME37
Member
- Joined
- Aug 10, 2008
- Messages
- 4,434
No....
I treat every gun as if it is loaded and when I pick up a gun, I assume the gun is in fact loaded (especially a pistol). So, any indicators really do not do anything for me.
Now, if I happen to pick up a firearm which has the action open, and I can clearly see in there that the gun is not loaded, all the better - still, I don't need the indicator in that scenario either.
Whether it would influence my purchase either way, the answer is No.
I treat every gun as if it is loaded and when I pick up a gun, I assume the gun is in fact loaded (especially a pistol). So, any indicators really do not do anything for me.
Now, if I happen to pick up a firearm which has the action open, and I can clearly see in there that the gun is not loaded, all the better - still, I don't need the indicator in that scenario either.
Whether it would influence my purchase either way, the answer is No.
BADUNAME37
Member
- Joined
- Aug 10, 2008
- Messages
- 4,434
As for a reason why I would not want one nor trust in one would be, suppose I look at the space and I do not happen to notice that there is a brass casing in the chamber. The reason for this indicator is to show someone whether the gun is loaded or not. If the lighting is just the right way and one looks and doesn't happen to notice a brass casing in there, does that mean the gun is absolutely Not-Chambered?
I would not rely on that one little visual cue as to whether the gun is in fact loaded or it is not in fact loaded. I would err on the side of safety and presume that every gun I pick up or is handed to me is in fact loaded.
I would not rely on that one little visual cue as to whether the gun is in fact loaded or it is not in fact loaded. I would err on the side of safety and presume that every gun I pick up or is handed to me is in fact loaded.
rocinante
Member
I don't care one way or the other but the load indicator I like best is on my old Walther P38. It is just a simple pin by the hammer that pops up. Very easy to feel.
db_tanker
Member
count me in with the take it or leave it crowd but I do like my Beretta 92...slide my index and feel the extractor raised and its all good.
Its not a requirement but I think its kinda nice, if it was dark or something the loaded chamber and cocked indicators might be pretty helpful in determining if your gun is ready to go. I personally prefer to check the chamber manually though and have never relied on the indicator for anything.
Its a nice feature but not entirely necessary.
Its a nice feature but not entirely necessary.
doc.lonestar
Member
They serve a purpose and are useful esp to those who are not comfortable to press check.
I do not care for the one on a SR9 I shot recently. Thought it was overkill.
I do not care for the one on a SR9 I shot recently. Thought it was overkill.
I like hammers and I think they are better than a loaded chamber indicator. A cocked hammer is very visible and people tend take a cocked hammer more seriously than a small pin sticking out the side.
The P38 had an external hammer and a loaded chamber indicator, so maybe having both is not a bad idea.
The P38 had an external hammer and a loaded chamber indicator, so maybe having both is not a bad idea.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Absolutely not! I reject anything pushed on us by morons who have zero knowledge of how a firearm is supposed to operate but unnecessarily complicate functioning firearms in a misguided effort to "save the children".
rocinante
Member
CraigC I understand your point but I guarantee the Germans didn't design a load indicator in the P38 in a misguided effort to "save the children". Now if you go off on the damn complicated safety locks I am joining in your chorus.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Doesn't matter what the Germans did or why. It is simple fact that the only reason we have them on current production guns is by the efforts of anti-gunners. Not because we, as shooters, needed them. We lend credibility to their efforts by pretending like we do.
pockets
Member
Some of my pistols have them. They have always struck me as more of a CYA for the manufacturers than a real asset.
Personally, I always do a visual check and never rely on a loaded chamber indicator.
.
Personally, I always do a visual check and never rely on a loaded chamber indicator.
.
I agree with Clutch, I view all guns as loaded all the time. If I need to know I take a peek. I suppose if it were dark and I wanted to make sure my gun was loaded and did not want to make any noise a loaded chamber indicator might be of some use.
- Status
