Press Checking

[Mr310]

I know that chambering a round multiple times can damage it, but can press checking it do the same thing?

For your added enjoyment, a clip of Neil doing it.

[slick_711]

Shouldn't have any affect that I'm aware of. The problem with chambering a round repeatedly is that it can cause the bullet to seat slightly further into the casing which in turn compacts the powder and can cause a higher than safe pressure when that round is fired. That isn't a common occurrence as long as you keep an eye on your "carry" ammo, but it is a known problem.

Press checking on the other hand just pulls the cartridge back a few millimeters, then slides it back forward into the chamber. Done slowly and under control, the projectile isn't hitting anything and shouldn't be affected.

[HighLander51]

Shouldn't have any affect that I'm aware of. The problem with chambering a round repeatedly is that it can cause the bullet to seat slightly further into the casing which in turn compacts the powder and can cause a higher than safe pressure when that round is fired. That isn't a common occurrence as long as you keep an eye on your "carry" ammo, but it is a known problem.

Press checking on the other hand just pulls the cartridge back a few millimeters, then slides it back forward into the chamber. Done slowly and under control, the projectile isn't hitting anything and shouldn't be affected.

It doesn't compact the powder, but it does set the bullet further back, which could increase the pressure to beyond design allowables, especially in 40S&W

[FCinCA]

Press check your heart out. No damage to the round will occur unless it is subjected to multiple feedings.

[BigDogatPlay]

Press checking, done safely, does nothing other than to show you clearly the condition of the chamber.... empty, or something in it. No effect on ammo, extractor or ejector that I've ever found.

[Mr310]

Sweet. I knew that doing it doesn't allow the slide go back far enough to have the extractor do anything, but I just didn't know how much of an effect the slide slamming home those couple of mm did after many times.

[PRCABR4Christ]

Sweet. I knew that doing it doesn't allow the slide go back far enough to have the extractor do anything, but I just didn't know how much of an effect the slide slamming home those couple of mm did after many times.

If you're just press checking, the slide doesn't need to come back far, therefore the bullet won't seat further back as you don't have to "slam" the slide home, you can ease it forward as you're already chambered...FWIW the bullet usually seats farther back when it slams into the feed ramp, a common occurrence on 1911's due to the "violent" feeding of the round slamming into and up the feed ramp (hence why I have a box of over seated rounds sitting in my gun room lol)

[CK_32]

Press checking a pistol isn't nessasary. If anything it's stupid because press checking a rifle is ok because it has a linger case. Everytime I press check my glock I almost eject it everytime and a few times I have half ejected the round and end up with a FTE problem. I think it's a bad habbit to get into especially if your in a life or death or battle field situation. Double tappin the msg then racking the slide should be a good enough sign for a round picked up. And if your stressed and have adrenaline going it's not going to happen. And that's why a lot of pistols have chamber indicators.. Or external extractors should be enough to show you if you have a round or don't.

And with a pistol you don't really get much to check if anything. I keep press checking to my rifles.

[pipboy]

Press checking a pistol isn't nessasary. If anything it's stupid because press checking a rifle is ok because it has a linger case. Everytime I press check my glock I almost eject it everytime and a few times I have half ejected the round and end up with a FTE problem. I think it's a bad habbit to get into especially if your in a life or death or battle field situation. Double tappin the msg then racking the slide should be a good enough sign for a round picked up. And if your stressed and have adrenaline going it's not going to happen. And that's why a lot of pistols have chamber indicators.. Or external extractors should be enough to show you if you have a round or don't.

And with a pistol you don't really get much to check if anything. I keep press checking to my rifles.

Press checking a pistol serves the same purpose as press checking a rifle, to make sure you chambered a round after an admin reload. There is a time and place for press checking both.

Of course you wouldnt press check after a speed reload or tactical reload when there is still a potential threat. But after an administrative reload, there is absolutely value in press checking your pistol. If you are ejecting the round out of the pistol, or otherwise causing a malfunction, you are manipulating the slide farther than necessary. There are lots of platforms that dont have the loaded chamber indicators or external extractors in which press checking has its benefits.

[psango]

Prefer Press Check IMHO

I feel Press Checking is the appropriate way to check semi-auto pistols for the every day user ie: LEO's etc. Not all pistols have loaded chamber indicators, or positive extractor indication. (personal opinion), do what makes you most comfortable.

[PRCABR4Christ]

Press checking a pistol isn't nessasary. If anything it's stupid because press checking a rifle is ok because it has a linger case.
And with a pistol you don't really get much to check if anything. I keep press checking to my rifles.

I think someone that doesn't press check their weapon before placing it in their holster every morning needs to rethink their game plan

Everytime I press check my glock I almost eject it everytime and a few times I have half ejected the round and end up with a FTE problem.

...when you eject the round out of your Glock due to press checking, you're going to far, learn to do it correctly and you won't have that problem,

And that's why a lot of pistols have chamber indicators.. Or external extractors should be enough to show you if you have a round or don't.

modern auoloaders have loaded chamber indicators because people are lazy, just like mechanical safeties, they're mechanical devices that can fail, and treat them as such, do you point your Glock (wow that word is hard to say without throwing up a little in my mouth LOL) at your kids and think it's ok because it's a "safe action" pistol?

I think it's a bad habbit to get into especially if your in a life or death or battle field situation.

if you're in a "life or death battlefield" you don't use a pistol, you use a rifle, if you use a pistol you would tap and rack if you have a FTF...so why is this press checking business a "bad habit" to get into? I'm not understanding this , at what point does press checking hinder you from operating a pistol safely?

Double tappin the msg then racking the slide should be a good enough sign for a round picked up. And if your stressed and have adrenaline going it's not going to happen.

huh? double tapping doesn't have anything to do with the mag, it's just 2 quick shots, if you're talking about "tapping and racking", how is that a "good enough sign for a round picked up? You won't know if your extractor stripped a round from the mag until either
A. you press check, or
B. you pull the trigger and it either goes bang or clicks

Furthermore, if you're stressed, you're not press checking, press checking is for when one puts their gear on in the morning, going to bed at night, or checking a customers weapon at the gun shop, but it's a safety action, not a battlefield action, so treat it as such...

I don't really care if you press check your pistols, rifles, blowguns, potato guns, water balloon launchers, shotguns, whatever...but in my house, it's important, and it's more important that it be done safely and correctly

Remember the loudest sound you'll ever hear is a click when you should have heard a bang

[CK_32]

Press checking a pistol serves the same purpose as press checking a rifle, to make sure you chambered a round after an admin reload. There is a time and place for press checking both.

Of course you wouldnt press check after a speed reload or tactical reload when there is still a potential threat. But after an administrative reload, there is absolutely value in press checking your pistol. If you are ejecting the round out of the pistol, or otherwise causing a malfunction, you are manipulating the slide farther than necessary. There are lots of platforms that dont have the loaded chamber indicators or external extractors in which press checking has its benefits.

Ok but a pistol is never a primary defense it's always a rifle. And you don't press check a pistol you visual check. There is a huge differance. But again as stated above you don't press check a hand gun.

[Nachoman]

Press checking a pistol isn't nessasary. If anything it's stupid because press checking a rifle is ok because it has a linger case. Everytime I press check my glock I almost eject it everytime and a few times I have half ejected the round and end up with a FTE problem. I think it's a bad habbit to get into especially if your in a life or death or battle field situation. Double tappin the msg then racking the slide should be a good enough sign for a round picked up. And if your stressed and have adrenaline going it's not going to happen. And that's why a lot of pistols have chamber indicators.. Or external extractors should be enough to show you if you have a round or don't.

And with a pistol you don't really get much to check if anything. I keep press checking to my rifles.

You are not press checking correctly nor do you understand the reasoning behind the press-check. Therefore, please do not make declarative statements regarding its validity.

[PRCABR4Christ]

Ok but a pistol is never a primary defense it's always a rifle. And you don't press check a pistol you visual check. There is a huge differance. But again as stated above you don't press check a hand gun.

I think you need to recheck things before you post them, this is FUD...how do I visual check my 1911? Do I look down the barrel or something? I think it's time you stay out of this conversation, it's a little over your head.

FWIW I don't carry a rifle every day, a pistol however fits nicely on my hip... the pistol gets the press check.

However you are correct that a rifle is a primary defense weapon, if you're near a rifle...if your not

[CK_32]

Who are you to say I don't know what press checking is for??


Alright well I'm done arguing with people who have to fight over someone elses opinion that doesnt agree with yours so you guys have fun press checking your pistols