How do you load the +1?

[ajl2121]

What are the various methods of adding an additional round to the magazine limit? I have a HK USP .45F w/ 10 round mags and was wondering the various methods of having 11...
I figured one way would be to load the mag, then the chamber...eject the magazine and add another round into the mag....
Could you just load a round directly into the chamber through the ejection port??? Then, insert a loaded mag?

Also, if you are in a hurry to get a round off...could you load a single round in the chamber through the ejection port and fire it w/o a magazine?

[Josh3239]

Could you just load a round directly into the chamber through the ejection port??? Then, insert a loaded mag?

Also, if you are in a hurry to get a round off...could you load a single round in the chamber through the ejection port and fire it w/o a magazine?

Yes to both. But in a self defense situation, I would be surprised if you had the time and/or the opportunity to insert a single cartridge into the chamber. I would hope you'd have other loaded mags on you, which IMO would probably be a little quicker than getting that cartridge into the chamber

[Uberdummy]

Also, if you are in a hurry to get a round off...could you load a single round in the chamber through the ejection port and fire it w/o a magazine?

Depends, if the handgun has a mag disconnect the answer is no.

[The SoCal Gunner]

Might also damage the extractor from loading through the ejection port.

How likely is it that you would have a single extra cartridge laying around to do that type of loading? Maybe if you emptied all your magazines and missed your target or have more assailants then I can imagine someone scrambling for the ammo can but I don't think that is likely.

[WokMaster1]

sounds like you are very new to shooting or handguns to be precise. First off, welcome to the gun owners clan in this state. You have a very nice pistol, a big investment. My advise is to get some sort of handgun training/class just to be familiar with handgun basics & safety. Believe me, after the training, you will be more confident with your HK. Then practice like crazy & finally join the NRA & support us here in our fight to regain our rights......


Have you seen the black rifles yet?

[BerkeleyHK]

Could you just load a round directly into the chamber through the ejection port???

As stated earlier you could damage the extractor

I figured one way would be to load the mag, then the chamber...eject the magazine and add another round into the mag....

That's how I do it. I usually just put one round in the mag, chamber it, then put 10 rounds in the mag.

[ghettoshecky]

Might also damage the extractor from loading through the ejection port.

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REALLY?!?!? I do it all the time at the range. Does that mean I may have damaged my HK? Does this apply to other handguns too? I pretty much do it to all of them. The reason why I ask I pretty much tell all my newbie gun friends to do it. I would feel really bad to know I've been giving out bad care information.

[Greg-Dawg]

REALLY?!?!? I do it all the time at the range. Does that mean I may have damaged my HK? Does this apply to other handguns too? I pretty much do it to all of them. The reason why I ask I pretty much tell all my newbie gun friends to do it. I would feel really bad to know I've been giving out bad care information.

Just stop doing it. Take a look at the "hook" of your extractor to see if there's any damage. The rim of the bullet/casing must snuggly fit onto the extractor, via springed up and lock on to extractor hook. By dropping the bullet into the chamber and allowing the slide to lock forward, grinds the extractor therefore damaging the extractor.

[Cpl_Peters]

yea, you should never just drop a round in the chamber if you can avoid it

[randy]

If you want to break the hook off of your extractor then drop a round in the barrel and let the slide slam home. The extractor isn't designed to drop over a round in the chamber. You might get away with it but at the very least you are excelerating the wear/breaking of the extractor.

It's also bad to drop the slide on an empty chamber. I know sounds crazy but you are letting steel slam against steel when chambering a round the brass actually buffers this.

As far as loading one in the chamber and 10 in the mag. Load one round into the mag, chamber the round, safe the firearm, drop the mag then load 10 and reinsert. You can load 10 in the mag, then chamber a round and top off the mag but the last round is the hardest to load why do it twice?

good luck

[MedSpec65]

I would suggest using your HK as it's designed and improving your speed at changing mags. I have a USP .45c; it's an 8-round mag. Nine rounds ready to go is all the comfort level I need.

[ianS]

Isn't there an exception for the Beretta 92's? Weren't they designed so a round could be dropped into the chamber and the slide released over it?

Anyways, I agree that for the vast majority of auto pistols out there its not a good idea to drop a round into the chamber. Always feed it from the magazine.

And I always download my spare mags -1 actually. During tactical reloads (closed slide) its easier to seat the mags. Its a personal decision so I'm not saying everyone should do it. Try whatever works best for you.

[virulosity]

Wasn't there some guy on youtube that did a reliablity test where he loaded steel cased rounds into the chamber under water in his back yard?

[ajl2121]

great info...thanks all!

[slick_711]

Isn't there an exception for the Beretta 92's? Weren't they designed so a round could be dropped into the chamber and the slide released over it?

No? You can load that way all day with any pistol, but eventually it will destroy your extractor, and Berettas are certainly no less prone to that that anything else.

Load from the magazine then top your mags off. If you're shooting competitively and in a hurry, keep a spare mag in your pocket, use that to load your chamber before each string. In a "combat" situation, you better just hope you have enough mags. But in a situation like that your pistol is your backup weapon anyway, if you do things right you'll never have to use it.