On loaded chamber indicators.

[TimboKhan]

I know some people dislike tactile loaded chamber indicators such as the "shark fin" my Springfield XD has. I have always been ambivalent. No more.

Tonight I had to clear my garage. It was no big deal, and honestly I guessed what the sound was before I even walked out into the garage (pallet fell over). I took my pistol with me because I have been robbed in the last few months, and better safe than sorry. Still, I got up in a pitch black house. I grabbed my pistol and immediately brushed my thumb across the top of the slide AND the back, to ensure it was cocked. It was.

Again, it was no big deal to begin with, and as I said, I kind of had already figured out what the sound was. I used it as tactical practice more than anything. When I thought about it though, I realized that two super quick, tactile touches told me everything I needed to know at that moment and were tremendously reassuring. I knew I was loaded and I knew I was cocked, and that friends was extraordinarily good information to have in a dark house. Thus, ambivalence is gone in favor of being pro-chamber indicator.

Now, I obviously assumed I was loaded and ready to go. My XD is my house gun, and it's ALWAYS loaded and, I assume, cocked. Still, stranger things have happened, and better to double check than not. Also, I keep a weapon light on it, and coincidentally had just changed the battery last week, as I schedule battery changes on my iPhone. All in all, a successful and thankfully non-eventful excursion into the garage!

I would also add that this is a good example of gun as specialized tool. I have shot my XD a ton, know it like the back of my hand, and have faith in it. That it's not the coolest gun in the world and that it's essentially worthless since I stippled it myself mean zip to me. That gun has one job: home defense. I have other 9mm's I carrry and/or shoot for fun. If I am shooting it at the range, I am literally training, not just punching holes and having fun. I firmly believe that shooting should be fun and enjoyable, but I have plenty of other guns for that.

 

[Eugen]

Interesting story and opinion. Thanks for sharing. When I think of LCI's I am reminded of the very practical approach taken by the oldest pistol in my collection. That being a 1918 Luger P.08. What a classic and what a functional, easy to see and easy feel LCI with its dorsal location on the extractor. Also it does not interfere with the guns performance, as with my Ruger MKIII 22lr. The LCI is just an add-on and levered to protrude when a round is chambered. That design can frequently cause a FTF and earns its bad reputation.

LCI'S can be very informative and an added safety feature. But, its value is all dependent on the design and execution.

 

[armoredman]

The CZ-PCR has an LCI, and it's a simple raised pin on top of the slide. Easy to find in the dark and see in the light.

 

[FL-NC]

For me, it a matter of Know The Condition Of Your Firearm(s) at all times. As far as the feature, I don't care 1 way or another.

 

[CZ9shooter]

LCI, sure, I can see the appeal. But the striker position indicator is just pointless. Nothing more than marketing tool if you ask me. An imaginary "safety" feature.

If the gun is loaded, as indicated by the LCI, the striker IS cocked. There is no way to decock a striker after chambering a round.

 

[chicharrones]

I do like the LCI on XDs, Glocks, Beretta 92s, etc. I don't like the oversized Ruger LCIs.

The LCI on my PCR is nice for tactile feel and lack of aesthetic intrusion, but it's not as simple in construction as the others. I really do like the cocked indicator on my PCR as it is quite robust.

 

[Shaq]

I don't mind the LCI's that consist of simply a protruding extractor or a little nub added to the extractor like the Glocks. I also don't mind the LCI's that are simply a small hole in the top of the chamber. Those designs don't compromise reliability. But I would never own a gun with a spring lever that the cartridge rim has to engage. That can compromise reliability.
I know that any gun in a lockbox is chambered & ready to go, so a check is not needed. But when I do want to check, I can easily do it without touching the slide.
Simply point the gun & a flashlight at a mirror & move the light around until it illuminates the barrel & you'll clearly see a chambered round.
Just keep your finger off the trigger or you'll get seven years of bad luck.

 

[I6turbo]

The CZ-PCR has an LCI, and it's a simple raised pin on top of the slide. Easy to find in the dark and see in the light.

I've had a couple different types of LCI and IMO the CZ way of doing it is the best because it leaves no doubt whatsoever if there's a round in the chamber, even in the dark. The 97 B also has this type of LCI. The other type that I've had - the type with the little sliver of red paint on the extractor - is near useless in many cases, IMO. On a lot of guns you can still see a bit of red even if there's no round in the chamber, so I end up wondering if the amount of red that I see is indicating a loaded chamber, or not. Plus, it's not easy and reliable to go by feel (on the gun's I've owned, anyway).

Here's the 97 B with a round in the chamber. If the chamber is empty, the pin is flush and doesn't protrude at all. The PCR works the same way.

 

[Pipe Smoker]

My CA SIG P238 has a shark fin LCI. Not real great - if I can't see it (in the dark), I have to use my free hand to feel it. Also, the slot milled into the slide for the LCI slightly interferes with cleaning the breech face.

But the LCI of my Interarms Walther PPK/S is excellent. It's a small pin that protrudes out of the back of the slide, just above the hammer, if a round is chambered. I can feel it with my thumb, without shifting my grip. And the BG can't see it.

 

[Hanzo581]

My only issue with them is on some guns they are ugly.

 

[mljdeckard]

I think they are helpful innovations, and I like the one on my wife's XD. I am just annoyed that they are used as political leverage by the opposition.

 

[GBExpat]

I am just annoyed that they are used as political leverage by the opposition.

"political leverage"?

I got spoiled early-on by the LCI on one of my carry pieces, a Walther PPK/s. Ever since then, out of ingrained habit, I always finger the LCI prior to slipping the pistol in its holster. I find it comforting, even though I already know before touching it that I have one in the chamber.

 

[Hokie_PhD]

I like the indicator on my XDs
As OP said it's a way of knowing a round is chambered
I won't trust it given time but it's a nice way to double check in a case like described.

 

[Jim NE]

My Ruger SR9c and SR40c both have one, and I like them. My Taurus pistols have them too, but they aren't big enough to be a visual cue in a panic situation, even though they are painted red. They're mostly tactile, practically speaking, but still of value. My CZ 50 and Walther P1 also have them, again tactile in a SD scenario.

My later Sigma, my SD (both S&W's) and my Ruger LCP have view ports. They're unobstructive and helpful, but worthless at night.

I've put many thousands of rounds through these all of these guns collectively, and have never had one LCI related malfunction. Exactly how many LCI related malfunctions are other people getting? Just curious.

 

[JR24]

Im pretty indifferent to them, I only keep specific guns loaded in my house and lnow for sure their status at all times, but if the gun has an LCI I don't mind even if it is a little ugly.

My bump in the night 1911 is even easier, if the gun is cocked and locked, its loaded. If it isn't loaded, it ain't cocked and locked. I never lower the hammer on live rounds, so there's that.

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

LCI, sure, I can see the appeal. But the striker position indicator is just pointless. Nothing more than marketing tool if you ask me. An imaginary "safety" feature.

If the gun is loaded, as indicated by the LCI, the striker IS cocked. There is no way to decock a striker after chambering a round.

For most striker autos you are correct. However there are a couple that have a de-cocking feature. My TP9SA is one example and I believe Walther has a model with the same feature.

 

[RPZ]

I know some people dislike tactile loaded chamber indicators such as the "shark fin" my Springfield XD has. I have always been ambivalent. No more.

Tonight I had to clear my garage. It was no big deal, and honestly I guessed what the sound was before I even walked out into the garage (pallet fell over). I took my pistol with me because I have been robbed in the last few months, and better safe than sorry. Still, I got up in a pitch black house. I grabbed my pistol and immediately brushed my thumb across the top of the slide AND the back, to ensure it was cocked. It was.

Again, it was no big deal to begin with, and as I said, I kind of had already figured out what the sound was. I used it as tactical practice more than anything. When I thought about it though, I realized that two super quick, tactile touches told me everything I needed to know at that moment and were tremendously reassuring. I knew I was loaded and I knew I was cocked, and that friends was extraordinarily good information to have in a dark house. Thus, ambivalence is gone in favor of being pro-chamber indicator.

Now, I obviously assumed I was loaded and ready to go. My XD is my house gun, and it's ALWAYS loaded and, I assume, cocked. Still, stranger things have happened, and better to double check than not. Also, I keep a weapon light on it, and coincidentally had just changed the battery last week, as I schedule battery changes on my iPhone. All in all, a successful and thankfully non-eventful excursion into the garage!

I would also add that this is a good example of gun as specialized tool. I have shot my XD a ton, know it like the back of my hand, and have faith in it. That it's not the coolest gun in the world and that it's essentially worthless since I stippled it myself mean zip to me. That gun has one job: home defense. I have other 9mm's I carrry and/or shoot for fun. If I am shooting it at the range, I am literally training, not just punching holes and having fun. I firmly believe that shooting should be fun and enjoyable, but I have plenty of other guns for that.

I still don't like them. I keep my pistols, rifles, shotguns in one of two conditions only: unloaded - or loaded ready to GO. If they are not ready to go, they are not going to be grabbed in a potential confrontation.

 

[valor1]

The manufacturers just can't help providing us with LCIs. Still, personally I consider all guns loaded and always do a chamber check and finger off the trigger till I'm ready to fire.

 

[herrwalther]

For most striker autos you are correct. However there are a couple that have a de-cocking feature. My TP9SA is one example and I believe Walther has a model with the same feature.

The Walther P99AS specifically. Of which the Canik TP9 is a copy of. That being said I wish there were more examples of DA/SA striker guns.

I am incredibly picky on LCIs. Or can be. The aforementioned P99 uses a red paint marker underneath the rear point of the extractor. A round in the chamber moves the extractor to expose the mark. The only problem, I see, with this type of LCI is you have to be rather accustomed to your weapon to notice the change in extractor position when loaded when feeling for it at night or in the dark. But this kind is also the least intrusive.

The XD type, a very small piece of metal on the top of the chamber is a good middle ground. Easy to use and unobtrusive. The worst kind of LCI is the ones on the Ruger SR pistols. Much larger piece of metal and a very bright red. To add insult to injury they stamp "LOADED WHEN UP" on top of the thing. I had a Ruger SR9c. Great gun, shot great. But the obnoxious LCI and too easy to off thumb safety don't make me miss it enough to want it again.

 

[Zerodefect]

Meh. If I'm in the dark and can't just do a simple press check, I just rack the slide. Oh no, now I only have 12 rounds of .45 left.

I'm trying to find a gunsmith that can etch the words "Gripzone" into my frame. And "ouchzone" to the spring plug of my 1911's. LOLz.

 

[Armored farmer]

I like the LCI on my sr9c.
YMMV

 

[Winkman822]

I'm not crazy about the loaded chamber indicators. In my opinion, they create an additional part that can snag and they also unnecessarily impede proper cleaning of the breach face. A third problem, and this is totally non applicable to me, the prevent use of one of those new fangled micro red dot sights that's all the rage with the tacticool kids these days. I always know the condition of my weapons, and if in doubt, I'll just do a simple press check or run the slide. Ladeda, I'll be down to 15 rounds of 9mm instead of 16 (in the case of my night stand gun).

 

[Old Dog]

I'm not crazy about the loaded chamber indicators. In my opinion, they create an additional part that can snag and they also unnecessarily impede proper cleaning of the breach face.

Well, I'd have to take your word for this, but really, I'd like to see a video or photos of examples of this commonly happening.

I own multiple autopistols with various forms of LCIs, have carried one or another on and off duty for years, never snagged an LCI on anything. They're all pretty innocuous to me.

The daily news is replete with examples of folks who should have checked, somehow, to see that the gun they were handling was loaded. "I didn't know the gun was loaded!" "It just went off!" But I guess those who need to use LCIs the most, wouldn't anyway ...

Much ado about nothing.

 

[Winkman822]

Well, I'd have to take your word for this, but really, I'd like to see a video or photos of examples of this commonly happening.

I own multiple autopistols with various forms of LCIs, have carried one or another on and off duty for years, never snagged an LCI on anything. They're all pretty innocuous to me.

The daily news is replete with examples of folks who should have checked, somehow, to see that the gun they were handling was loaded. "I didn't know the gun was loaded!" "It just went off!" But I guess those who need to use LCIs the most, wouldn't anyway ...

Much ado about nothing.

As to snagging, I've had the indicator on my old XD Subcompact snag up on my waistband while trying to reholster. Not a huge problem, just something to be conscious of. I for one prefer a no snag design. As to the breech face, cleaning issue, I just find it annoying to have a superfluous doodad flipping up and down while trying to scrub the breech face with a brush. As to the frequent news stories of folks that have negligent discharges, well, that's just poor weapons handling, no number of giant glaring indicators that a gun is loaded will fix that. Keep in mind that these are probably the same folks that very well may see the loaded chamber indicator up and assume that it's got a snap cap in there from the last run of dry practice. ALWAYS visually and physically check.

 

[Robert101]

I pay no attention to Loaded Chamber Indicators on my pistols. Most are too hard to see in dim light and I don't have any with protruding whatever mechanisms. My carry gun is on the night stand before falling asleep and I know the condition of it's readiness. If I have to pick it up, it is loaded and ready to go. That is the way I have always done things in this regard. Do what works for you.