"Press Check" Questions

[GLOOB]

Well, even if you check to see if the case has a bullet in it, you still can't be sure there is powder in it! At some point you have to just take it on faith. It would take a rare combination of dumb luck, carelessness, and obliviousness for an empty case to get into your gun without you noticing.

 

[rcmodel]

combination of dumb luck, carelessness, and obliviousness

Or a broken extractor.

BTDT

rc

 

[Zerodefect]

I press check 1911's and other long slide pistols by grabbing thier nose overhand and pulling:
DW V SS 5"


Thats what the forward serrations are for:
K CDP Custom 5"

Not really needed, but I like the look of Kimbers front serrations, nobody elses, especially Baers.


On smaller guns you can press check the same way if you push on the top of the slide hard, full length dust covers get in the way, so you can do it like this:
G23


But still I prefere using a similar method to the 1911 even on short Glocks, you just can't grab all the way around and need to push harder. it's a skill that needs practice. Obviously my grip in the pics is off a bit as i'm holding the gun at a horrible angle for pics.

We incorporate press checks into some of out run&gun senerios, it's good to know you have one in the pipe before leaving cover and aggressivly moving forward.

 

[GLOOB]

combination of dumb luck, carelessness, and obliviousness

Or a broken extractor.

BTDT

BTDT, as in you press checked, thought you were good to go and reholstered? And then when the time came and you pulled the trigger you got a click because there was an empty case in there?

Or BTDT, meaning you had a broken extractor once. And NOT being a careless oblivious vegetable, you realized something was wrong. As in the gun unsuccessfully tried to doublefeed, leaving the action jammed open, so you thought just maybe something was off? Or if it happened to malfunction on the last round of the mag on a gun with no slide lock AND you actually happened to have done a random press check at that point, you might have seen the broken extractor jump the rim on an empty, fire-formed, stuck case?

If there's a reasonable explanation for option 1, then I'd like to hear it! Otherwise, we're back to dumb luck combined with carelessness.

 

[MCMXI]

However, I also have a Kimber with grooves near the back and the front of the slide. I understand the front grooves are for press checking, but I don't understand their benefit.

What model of Kimber do you have? My Kimber TEII has a LOADED CHAMBER INDICATOR PORT shown below. The first photo shows that the chamber is empty. The second photo shows that there is a round in the chamber ... a snap cap in this example ... so rcmodel makes a good point about the importance of knowing what is in the chamber. Kimbers with external extractors use the extractor as a loaded chamber indicator (see page 10/11 of the Kimber manual HERE).

 

[Zerodefect]

Top pick is a Dan Wesson Valor 5" and the middle is a Kimber CDP 5".

The port and external extractors, even edgey glock extractors, are tough to use under pressure. Both work if you have time, but won't during any kind of "situation". So I train to use a 1911 style press check with my support hand over the front of the slide.

 

[MCMXI]

Both work if you have time, but won't during any kind of "situation". So I train to use a 1911 style press check with my support hand over the front of the slide.

Since I assume that most people carry 1911s in Condition 1, I find the easiest method under most conditions is as follows:

With my trigger finger straight and on the slide below the ejection port, I take the safety off with my thumb, grab the rear of the slide with my left hand (thumb on the right side of the slide) and with pressure on the slide with my trigger finger to control rearward movement, I move the slide back 1/2" or so. Fast, comfortable, safe ... works for me.

 

[bigfatdave]

It just occurred to me that much like the overhand slide-racking method, an overhand method to peek at the chamber for brass would also work on just about every autoloader ever made.

All these model-specific methods are great, but why not use something simple that works with everything?

 

[easyg]

Once I chamber a round, my pistol does not leave my sight.
And I never carry without a round chambered.

So I really don't see the need to press-check.
It sounds a little too OCD in my opinion.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Just a devil's advocate question, How do you know the round chambered and the slide didn't just ride over the top round in the mag?

 

[easyg]

Just a devil's advocate question, How do you know the round chambered and the slide didn't just ride over the top round in the mag?

It's real obvious when you remove the magazine to "top it off" after chamber the round.


And for those OCD types plenty of pistols these days have some form of "loaded chamber indicator" (Glock, XD's, S&W M&P's, etc...)

 

[wally]

Quote:
Just a devil's advocate question, How do you know the round chambered and the slide didn't just ride over the top round in the mag?
It's real obvious when you remove the magazine to "top it off" after chamber the round.

Beat me to it. I've never felt the need to do a press check. At the range where I pretty much never top off unless shooting my carry gun, if the top round doesn't feed because the mag isn't seated properly I just do tap-rack-bang! after the click.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Zero defect your front sight is missing on that Kimber.

I never liked the term 'press check.' 'Army way' or not, it puts your fingers in danger and violates one of the 4 rules.

I always check the chamber before holstering, But I can usually 'feel' if it hasn't chambered a round by friction of the slide going forward. I use the rear serrations, point it down range or 45 dgrees to the floor and look.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

I usually remove my handgun from the holster and put it directly in my gun safe. I don't bother to unload it because there's no need for me to do so. When I jock up for CCW I perform a quick battle readiness check before I holster it.

When I unload my pistol the chambered cartridge becomes training ammo (to guard against bullet setback caused by repeated chambering). The next time load the pistol I simply chamber the next cartridge in the magazine, perform a battle readiness check, top off the magazine with a fresh cartridge, and drive on. Yes, there's redundancy (battle readiness check AND topping off the magazine) but that's the way I prefer to do it. They are positive measures to ensure that I know the pistol is indeed ready. I leave little to chance.

 

[Zerodefect]

Once I chamber a round, my pistol does not leave my sight.
And I never carry without a round chambered.

So I really don't see the need to press-check.
It sounds a little too OCD in my opinion.

True, it is OCD usually.

But it is a consistancy of training issue. The more I press check the more natural it becomes.

The real reason for press checking is after fireing off some rounds ducking behind cover. Deciding to make a run for it, either away from the threat, or towards to protect someone.

Chamber checking before you make that move. Because once you move you'll have all thier attention and very little time to act.

So you'll see me chamber check sometimes, sometimes with a tac reload, from behind cover during a run&gun comp/training, before moveing to the next spot.

It's just a consistancy and training thing most of the time. For example I never just load my CCW and spare mags. I turn that loading time into a quick practice to get my mindset right, and to burn in the seriousness of my decision to carry.

Loading my CCW goes like this:
-Draw, point, aim, relax.
-Load mag from my mag pouch just like a speed reload.
-chamber check
-hammer punch back of slide to make sure it's in battery
-safety on, reholster.

-load another mag and put it in my mag pouch

Just a weird thing I do, but press checking which felt weird a couple years ago is perfectly natural now.

As if it ain't obvious, I copy alot of technique and mindset from these guys:
http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/Magpul-Dynamics-Dynamic-Handgun-dvd-p/magpul dvd dyn 004.htm

I haven't been topping off my mag unless it's a capacity challenged 1911. I like haveing a place to stick that round should I need to set the gun down in my room at a hotel or something with an empty chamber. I travel too much.

 

[bigfatdave]

Just a devil's advocate question, How do you know the round chambered and the slide didn't just ride over the top round in the mag?

The inability to top off the magazine is a dead giveaway.

 

[qwertice]

1. Insert magazine and manipulate to load firearm.
2. Remove magazine and grasp front quarter of slide with non-master hand thumb and index finger, from under the firearm. Retract slide to verify cartridge is chambered, return firearm to battery.
3. Top off magazine and re-insert. Verify magazine is seated by giving base a firm tug.
4. Visually and physically inspect extractor to ensure it has a firm hold of loaded cartridge.
5. Apply safety (if any) and holster.
6. Get on with it.

 

[GLOOB]

I never liked the term 'press check.' 'Army way' or not, it puts your fingers in danger and violates one of the 4 rules.

Which rule does it violate?