Top offs on your carry gun, yay or nay?

[ATex7239]

Thanks to all the people who have responded to recent threads about carry preferences.

I thought of another one today while putting on my Shield Plus to go out and enjoy this beautiful day.

Do you top off your carry pistol?

I mostly don’t with the exception of the LCP which only has 6 round mags. I like having the extra +1 capacity with such a small weapon.

 

[2dogs]

If you mean keeping a round in the chamber, then yes. That's how we were trained.

 

[riff1006]

I always do.

 

[Elkins45]

If you mean keeping a round in the chamber, then yes. That's how we were trained.

I think he means replace the top round in a full mag after it gets chambered. I do on single stack guns but not on 15+

 

[CarLuver]

always . one in the spout and a full mag.

 

[dubber09]

Always keep it at full capacity, loaded chamber also reduces first shot time, if it came to the point you have to shoot that and an extra round could save your life.

 

[ATex7239]

Sorry if I was unclear. Not empty chamber carry vs round in the chamber carry. I’m mean topping off the mag after chambering a round so you get the full mag capacity +1 in chamber vs only the full mag capacity. (Ex: Shield Plus 10 vs 10 +1.) I am assuming a round in the chamber with both scenarios.

 

[dubber09]

That what full capacity means, round in the chamber and full mag.

 

[ATex7239]

I think he means replace the top round in a full mag after it gets chambered. I do on single stack guns but not on 15+

My “comfort level” we will call it is around 6 or 7 rounds. At or under that amount I definitely want to have the +1 capacity available. Over that amount I’m fine with having it or not having it. No particular reason other than that’s my comfort level. I’d never argue against someone having more ammo. Carry all you can handle.

 

[WeyounDS9]

Back when I carried I usually topped off.
but a modern 2 stack magazine evenin a compact gun has so many rounds its not a big issue to me.
The avg civilian self defense shooting ends after 1.7 rds fired.

 

[ATex7239]

Always keep it at full capacity, loaded chamber also reduces first shot time, if it came to the point you have to shoot that and an extra round could save your life.

Assume you mean vs empty chamber carry, right? Which is another topic altogether. But all my carry and home defense guns are always loaded. Even in the safe.

 

[HyundaiAbuser]

I carry a shield plus mostly and just insert a full mag and load the chamber from it. I figure if it isnt solved in 13 I'm probably not getting it done in 14. I will carry an additional magazine on occasion though.

 

[ATex7239]

I carry a shield plus mostly and just insert a full mag and load the chamber from it. I figure if it isnt solved in 13 I'm probably not getting it done in 14. I will carry an additional magazine on occasion though.

Sometimes I carry an extra mag with the G19. Mostly when I’m traveling to unfamiliar places or weird things are going on in the world. I’ll leave the latter topic alone so we don’t get the thread shut down. With the Shield I like the 10 rounder.

 

[burbguy82]

You can never have enough ammo. That being said, typically i do not top off after loading the gun. Have you noticed, the mag is a bit harder to insert and lock into place on a close slide or closed bolt, with a full mag?

If you look at the instructions of most guns, you will likely never see a graphic where as a full mag is inserted into a pistol, with the slide closed......as it is not part of the normal and mechanical loading procedure.

Modern teaching on this is mostly against the use of a slide release to load the gun as it is not a natural thing to do, and dexterity is "lost" at a 160 bpm heartrate. I for one have not experienced this to be the case. I have found this aspect to be more based in training of the individual, and not the human condition. I train both ways.

So, I do top off, but just for the extra round it affords. But i also carry a spare mag, even with my USP 45 with is heavy, but worth it. Will one round make a difference..........30 vs 31 (with an extra mag??? Likely not, but neither is the underlying reason for carrying a gun.......an unlikely event in and out of itself.

Either way.

 

[ATex7239]

You can never have enough ammo. That being said, typically i do not top off after loading the gun. Have you noticed, the mag is a bit harder to insert and lock into place on a close slide or closed bolt, with a full mag?

If you look at the instructions of most guns, you will likely never see a graphic where as a full mag is inserted into a pistol, with the slide closed......as it is not part of the normal and mechanical loading procedure.

Modern teaching on this is mostly against the use of a slide release to load the gun as it is not a natural thing to do, and dexterity is "lost" at a 160 bpm heartrate. I for one have not experienced this to be the case. I have found this aspect to be more based in training of the individual, and not the human condition. I train both ways.

So, I do top off, but just for the extra round it affords. But i also carry a spare mag, even with my USP 45 with is heavy, but worth it. Will one round make a difference..........30 vs 31 (with an extra mag??? Likely not, but neither is the underlying reason for carrying a gun.......an unlikely event in and out of itself.

Either way.

I’m less worried about the mechanical stress on the gun or mag and more concerned about not manipulating the gun administratively more than necessary.

I don’t use the slide lock at all. If I need to run the slide I just rack it. This way I don’t have to alter what I do for each gun.

I would not fault someone for carrying more ammo or even another gun. The most important thing is bringing a gun. All the other things are subjective or situational.

 

[burbguy82]

I don’t use the slide lock at al

i generraly train without it, but do incorporate it, to train one handed only....i suggest it.

 

[ATex7239]

i generraly train without it, but do incorporate it, to train one handed only....i suggest it.

Rack off of hard surfaces with the rear sight. Heal of your shoe or boot, you belts, table edge, etc. This would be the best way to do it left handed as well since most guns don’t have ambidextrous slide locks. I’m a proponent of things that don’t require variation if possible.

 

[Stumpy]

Depends. I just got some new Shield magazines and they would not take 7 rounds. Had to let them set with 6 in them a couple of weeks to get the springs happy before they would take #7! With 1911's I have had better luck not topping off any 8 round magazine by any make except for Tripp CobraMags. I generally will not top off a high cap 9mm. Just me. Just like I don't top of my AR mags. 28 in my 30 rounders and 18 in my 20 rounders. Nothing scientific, just me believing I am better off not letting a fully compressed mag spring stay that way for weeks or months on end.

 

[ATex7239]

Depends. I just got some new Shield magazines and they would not take 7 rounds. Had to let them set with 6 in them a couple of weeks to get the springs happy before they would take #7! With 1911's I have had better luck not topping off any 8 round magazine by any make except for Tripp CobraMags. I generally will not top off a high cap 9mm. Just me. Just like I don't top of my AR mags. 28 in my 30 rounders and 18 in my 20 rounders. Nothing scientific, just me believing I am better off not letting a fully compressed mag spring stay that way for weeks or months on end.

I like 28 with AR mags as well. Helps it seat better on a closed bolt in my experience. Not every gun or mag seems to have the issue with seating on the full 30. So it can also be subjective. I’ve had full 30 works just fine on my AR but I’ve also had them come out. I do 28 out of an abundance of caution. A tap/tug when loading is helpful to make sure it’s in there good.

 

[TobyU]

Sorry if I was unclear. Not empty chamber carry vs round in the chamber carry. I’m mean topping off the mag after chambering a round so you get the full mag capacity +1 in chamber vs only the full mag capacity. (Ex: Shield Plus 10 vs 10 +1.) I am assuming a round in the chamber with both scenarios.

Certainly. That's why it's 10+1 or 6+1 etc.
I always want my +1. Lol
On some guns, you can put one in manually without the magazine and then put the mag in at full capacity.
On some this isn't recommended because some can damage/break the extractor.