first gun with loaded chamber indicator ????

[97guns]

im used to press checking my gun, do you guys just look at the loaded chamber indicator and call it GTG or do you still press check?

 

[Sport45]

I check. The loaded chamber indicator on my XD sticks up all the time. I used to soak and clean it, but it takes more solvent and time than its worth... If I ever take it out for any reason it's not going back in as long as I own the gun.

 

[john5036]

Check it no matter what the indicator indicates. There are no shortcuts to "the gun is always loaded".

 

[bigfatdave]

I ignore LCI as a habit, and if they come out, they don't go back in.
Extractor-indicator or "peek" type are OK, but adding mechanical parts to the most delicate part of the extracting/chambering cycle is just bad engineering.

As not all guns have a LCI and all guns DO let you peek in the chamber to some degree, I just look. Using a LCI to check loaded might be OK with an exceptionally reliable device or a peek style, it just doesn't work on every gun. Using a LCI to check unloaded is NEVER acceptable, however, with any type.

 

[wyocarp]

Why not keep your firearm in the same condition all the time? I don't have to check any of the firearms that I carry, they are never left unloaded.

 

[Eric F]

Why not keep your firearm in the same condition all the time?

I use to think like this too, but a very curious little monkey living in my house keeps that from being an on going thing these days. I can not always be home and I can not always have my pistol with me.

 

[miles1]

I recently bought a XD45.I always check regardless of a loaded gun indicator.

 

[Loosedhorse]

Some of my guns have a very positive (you can easily tell if the indicator is at "loaded" or "unloaded"), tactile, extractor-type indicator; I use that to check if the gun is loaded (before holstering or in preparing to shoot).

The only thing I trust to verify the gun is unloaded is a visual and tactile check of the chamber while the slide is locked open and magazine out. If someone else is close-by, I have them check my gun visually, too.

 

[mgmorden]

I visually check the chamber - open the action, remove the magazine - visually ensure that the mag is empty and that the chamber is clear. Some people advocate physically sticking your finger into the chamber to "make sure", but realistically until the Romulans invent invisible cloaking bullets then a visually empty chamber is empty, so I don't bother (I also don't trust fiddling with my fingers too much in there with a steel slide ready to snap shut on them if the slide stop gets bumped).

Overall though I usually don't MIND a loaded chamber indicator - as long as it's unobtrusive. I just don't really use them. The mechanical ones are prone to failure and all of them in a best case scenario only tell you that there's a piece of brass in the chamber. I could well be a spent casing that didn't eject.

My LCP and M&P just have little holes in the barrel hood where you can see the brass through. I have a P1 that just has a little piece of metal sticking out the back as an indicator (I question the usefulness of that - I had the gun for months before I even figured out what that was). The overly in your face ones though like on the Ruger SR9 are definitely annoying. If I had one I'd likely disable that one.

 

[97guns]

im asking about using the lci for confirmation of a loaded chamber for concealed carry, do you still press check when loading to carry?

i will always physically look and make sure for an empty chamber

 

[tuj]

ALWAYS check. LCI's can get stuck. LCI's are good quick visual indicators if a round has loaded, very useful if you are shooting competition and want to make sure the gun picked up the next round. But for safety, always look.

 

[Sport45]

All the LCI tells you for sure is that the gun might be loaded.

 

[Skribs]

I've not had any problems with the reliability on my LCI. I keep my pistols in the same condition 99% of the time anyway (chamber loaded), so it's not much of an issue for me.

I always follow rules 2 and 3, and with those I'm comfortable with the LCI.

 

[Sulaco]

The only ones I own with LCI's are my newer Glocks and I just ignore them. All of my guns are loaded all of the time so it's second nature for me to press check if needs be.

 

[rcmodel]

All the LCI tells you for sure is that the gun might be loaded.

Thats all a press check tells you too.

It will tell you there is brass in the chamber.
But is it a loaded round, or did the extractor leave an empty case in the chamber?

The only gun I have with a LCI that I completely trust is a SIG P232 SL.
If it's sticking out, I can see it, or feel it in the dark.

If it isn't sticking out the gun is unloaded, or the extractor is gone.

It's hard little bugger to press check anyway.

rc

 

[Dnaltrop]

I take no small satisfaction seeing that folks ignore the indicator that was the only reason I went with an M&P instead.

That said, the lint-trap they carved into the barrel on mine only works in bright light for me, and I take extra time when I'm unsure. I'd rather have the hole gone entirely.

No mag safety, no thumb safety, nice and clean.

 

[David E]

I check. The loaded chamber indicator on my XD sticks up all the time. I used to soak and clean it, but it takes more solvent and time than its worth... If I ever take it out for any reason it's not going back in as long as I own the gun.

That's silly. It takes less than 2 minutes to punch out the pin, clean and replace.

Be careful not to lose the spring, but it's no big deal.

 

[Formula94]

My FNP 45 has an LCI but it doesn't seem to work so. I think this is a good thing since it makes me check in the only way that is 100% if its loaded.

 

[indyandy]

Always check. Whether you're in a situation where you need it loaded or unloaded, you don't want to be wrong.

 

[BigN]

I've never seen a gun with a "loaded indicator." Sounds like just one more mechanical thing that can fail and cause an accident. Keep it simple, check and make sure it's unloaded. I think that's the ONLY way you can be sure.