Best Way to Conduct a Safe Chamber Check?

Back to basics: I did a quick search on administrative gun handling, and if this was covered I missed it.

Assuming a modern semi-automatic pistol, what is current best practice to safely conduct a loaded chamber check?

I picked up my G43X at the range the other day. The slide was closed. I mean, I knew it was loaded, and of course I *always* treat it as if it were anyway. But it occurred to me, that I’d never contemplated the ‘how’ to examine my firearm, to verify there was, or was not, a round in the chamber.

So: how do you do this? Is there a single method that is taught in .mil or .leo training classes?

Sorry if this is a dumb question. I just don’t know how to do this.

About the only thing I have as a reference is this scene from Heat, and I’ve always wondered about it.

https://youtu.be/PGym1iVaWoY

TIA.

If applicable, I always look at the extractor first.

Then most of the time, I use my other strong hand to go under the dust cover and pull the slide back.

Grab the slide the same way you would chamber a round.

Same way I chamber I round with muzzle pointing downrange or down to the ground. Not my pic - got it from google.

Attachment 46975

John Wick style looks pretty cool though - Just kidding :)

https://www.quora.com/What-is-John-W...rds-of-Santino

If by "safe chamber check" you mean to ensure the chamber is empty (such as prior to disassembly), the accepted method is to remove the ammunition source, lock the slide open, and visually/physically inspect. Doing a "brass check" as a means of ensuring the gun is clear is generally not acceptable.

If you're talking about a "brass check" to make sure your gun is ready to fire, there's a ton of different ways and anything is acceptable as long as you observe the safety rules.

Personally, for a chamber check, I rotate my firing hand so that the beavertail is still sitting in the web of my hand, but my fingers are across the top of the slide and I "pinch" the slide open by closing my grip (which pulls the slide rearward slightly against the web of my hand holding the frame stationary). I find this more controllable than doing it the same way I would rack the gun, and it's how we were taught by Weapons Training Battalion at Quantico when I was in the USMC.

Let me know if that is confusing and I'll do a picture.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TGS

If by "safe chamber check" you mean to ensure the chamber is empty (such as prior to disassembly), the accepted method is to remove the ammunition source, lock the slide open, and visually/physically inspect. Doing a "brass check" as a means of ensuring the gun is clear is generally not acceptable.

If you're talking about a "brass check" to make sure your gun is ready to fire, there's a ton of different ways and anything is acceptable as long as you observe the safety rules.

Personally, for a chamber check, I rotate my firing hand so that the beavertail is still sitting in the web of my hand, but my fingers are across the top of the slide and I "pinch" the slide open by closing my grip (which pulls the slide rearward slightly against the web of my hand holding the frame stationary). I find this more controllable than doing it the same way I would rack the gun, and it's how we were taught by Weapons Training Battalion at Quantico when I was in the USMC.

Let me know if that is confusing and I'll do a picture.

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Same here.

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Originally Posted by GJM

Grab the slide the same way you would chamber a round.

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I may be embarrassing myself beyond the point of return by saying this, but I’ve actually spazzed out and ejected a round from a G42 doing it that way. Little bastards are hard to keep a grip on. :p

@RJ, I use a 2-hand "armorer’s pinch/armorer’s grip" and lever the action open a hair using my LH forefinger on the rear sight to scissor against the LH thumb on the beavertail/grip frame. Super-easy on a Glock, and the dominant/RH hand can completely control the muzzle direction with a normal grip.

Pretty much what the last two posters said, only not as cool looking, and two-handed.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TGS

If by "safe chamber check" you mean to ensure the chamber is empty (such as prior to disassembly), the accepted method is to remove the ammunition source, lock the slide open, and visually/physically inspect. Doing a "brass check" as a means of ensuring the gun is clear is generally not acceptable.

If you're talking about a "brass check" to make sure your gun is ready to fire, there's a ton of different ways and anything is acceptable as long as you observe the safety rules.

Personally, for a chamber check, I rotate my firing hand so that the beavertail is still sitting in the web of my hand, but my fingers are across the top of the slide and I "pinch" the slide open by closing my grip (which pulls the slide rearward slightly against the web of my hand holding the frame stationary). I find this more controllable than doing it the same way I would rack the gun, and it's how we were taught by Weapons Training Battalion at Quantico when I was in the USMC.

Let me know if that is confusing and I'll do a picture.

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I use this with the added caution...I don't advise doing it one handed...I prefer to use both hands to maintain control of the weapon.

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Originally Posted by Sidheshooter

I may be embarrassing myself beyond the point of return by saying this, but I’ve actually spazzed out and ejected a round from a G42 doing it that way. Little bastards are hard to keep a grip on. :p

@RJ, I use a 2-hand "armorer’s pinch" and lever the action open a hair using my LH forefinger on the rear sight to scissor against the thumb on the beavertail/grip frame. Super-easy on a Glock, and the dominant hand can completely control the muzzle direction with a normal grip.

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Good one too, I'd forgotten that one.

Keep strong hand in a firing grip with the finger out of the trigger guard.

Retract firing hand until your wrist touches your trunk, keeping the muzzle in a safe direction. Doing this at chest level gives me the best leverage.

With your support hand, grasp the slide in a manner that leaves your little finger free to do the chamber check.

Retract the slide enough to allow your little finger to physically check the chamber for a loaded round.

Force the slide forward and ensure its back in battery.

Drive on.

I find that placing my hand so that my forefinger is against the front of the rear sight helps me retract the slide dexterously. After a little practice, you don't have to look at the gun, which is the whole purpose.

This works in the dark, in the rain, on guns with and without LCIs, I can barely do it with my LCP but it does work.

Gringop

Here we go; this is pretty close to what I use, except I do it overhand for better leverage:

https://statelymcdanielmanor.files.w...heck.jpg?w=762

I used to simply operate the slide as I would when chambering or ejecting a round. I've recently found the method @TGS described below to grant a greater level of control over the motion of the slide.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TGS

Personally, for a chamber check, I rotate my firing hand so that the beavertail is still sitting in the web of my hand, but my fingers are across the top of the slide and I "pinch" the slide open by closing my grip (which pulls the slide rearward slightly against the web of my hand holding the frame stationary). I find this more controllable than doing it the same way I would rack the gun, and it's how we were taught by Weapons Training Battalion at Quantico when I was in the USMC.

Let me know if that is confusing and I'll do a picture.

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I’ll add another recommendation to the method TGS described. It offers far better control of slide movement vs manipulating the slide similarly to chambering a round so you don’t end up accidentally ejecting a round while doing a chamber check.

I believe the following picture is what is being described, and it is what I do

Attachment 46983

Another method is to take one’s thumb and hook it under the beaver tail area, then take your index and middle fingers and hook them on the rear sight and use a pinching motion to slightly retract the slide.

Langdon will show how with a Beretta 92 early in this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VP4X6FVa4E

Tiger McKee with a 1911 at around the :45 mark https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkZgYb-ReSU

The late Paul Gomez with a Glock https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JU68wjU5b80

Bill Rapier teaches this method:

http://i.imgur.com/8G75TbQ.jpg

For me it doesn't work, as I don't have as big of hands as his.

The below method is the way I check the chamber everyday:

http://i.imgur.com/aL4BiFH.jpg

Thumb on back of pistol grip tail, all but pinky fingers on slide, pull the slide back and you can visually see the bullet in the chamber and/or in low/no light you can use your pinky to tactile feel the bullet in the chamber. Let the slide go forward and tap the backplate two or three times to make sure the slide is seated.

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Originally Posted by voodoo_man

The below method is the way I check the chamber everyday:

http://i.imgur.com/aL4BiFH.jpg

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Christ almighty, finally a pic on the internet that shows the hand orientation I was looking for. I thought I was going to have to hold a phone in my teeth, or something. Hat tip to @voodoo_man

This pic^^^

Strong hand makes sure the muzzle is pointed somewhere prudent; I use a push/pull scissor pinch, but, yeah, this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0NzEE0kPG8

Skip to 1:19.

Or enjoy the whole scene, it is one of the better ones.

Of course assuming the gun is pointed down range and the range is hot

I can see the brass at the back end of the chamber, I just look

https://i.postimg.cc/pX3Qbgs0/20190819_150155.jpg

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Originally Posted by Cypher

Of course assuming the gun is pointed down range and the range is hot

I can see the brass at the back end of the chamber, I just look

https://i.postimg.cc/pX3Qbgs0/20190819_150155.jpg

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I'm a bit weird in this aspect too. But since RJ asked, I also chamber check by looking in the gap. I rotate the gun "gangsta" style, pull it straight back to me keeping it pointed safe direction and look for the glint. Sometimes you need to catch the light just right, but it's usually easy. I have never heard of a malfunction being induced by chamber checking, but I personally figure the less fiddlefucking around I do with the round in the chamber and shuffling of the top round in the magazine the better. I also keep in mind DocGKR"s warnings about rechambering defense rounds. I don't know if a press check is a violent enough action to potentially cause primer problems, but with my method it's completely a non issue.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by YVK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0NzEE0kPG8

Skip to 1:19.

Or enjoy the whole scene, it is one of the better ones.

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https://i.imgur.com/zTOJ36u.png

John Wick stylized
https://i.imgur.com/IU2hYGr.gif

I have done all of those. Most days I have a white light/RMR on the pistol so I roll it 90 degrees inboard, support hand over the top of the slide grasping in front of the ejection port. Crack the action open, look into and insert trigger finger to feel, then release the slide after removing the digit. I still do the old Magpul Dynamics smack to the back of the slide.

pat

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Chain

John Wick stylized
https://i.imgur.com/IU2hYGr.gif

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Awesome! Finally a great way to send your pistol chasing after your empty mag!

Not sure if y'all have tried this method:

Grip pistol fully with primary hand. Place support hand in front of muzzle. Press trigger smoothly. If gun does not blow a hole in support hand the chamber is empty....

Happy Friday!

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

The fella's from "Heat" doing chamber checks. You can tell how old the movie is (well, other than how young Pacino and De Niro are) with the dated chamber check techniques. Nobody does this stuff anymore. Keep your hand away from the muzzle.

Al Pacino with a 1911 at around :18

https://youtu.be/PGym1iVaWoY

Robert De Niro with a SIG P220

https://youtu.be/ywlp0zg4tiA

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sidheshooter

Christ almighty, finally a pic on the internet that shows the hand orientation I was looking for. I thought I was going to have to hold a phone in my teeth, or something. Hat tip to @voodoo_man

This pic^^^

Strong hand makes sure the muzzle is pointed somewhere prudent; I use a push/pull scissor pinch, but, yeah, this.

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I've got a video somewhere of this happening that I recorded I just can't find it right now.

I've found it to be the fastest and safest method.

If I'm in a pinch and don't know if a gun is loaded but I need to be shooting shortly I just rack the slide.

Just a quick story since we are on the subject...

We normally check to make sure guns are loaded during roll calls before shift, this is a standard thing we do. Almost everyone knows how to chamber check in one method or the other, most often by pull the slide back just a hair to make sure they see a round in the chamber. One Sgt, one time decided she was going to just go around and touch the extractor to make sure every pistol was loaded. If that's something you do, just be advised that the difference is only 1mm or 2mm. Very difficult. She ended up feeling an extractor and telling the officer that the gun wasn't loaded, the officer told her it was, she took the gun and discharged into the ceiling trying to prove him wrong.

Still has her stripes last time I checked, but won't be fondling any pistols anytime soon. Lesson is, it's either loaded or it isn't you have to check without pulling the trigger and be 100% certain.

I do what several others have described, which is basically the John Wick cool guy method done in an uncool non-theatrical way: gun pointed in a safe direction and support hand also holding the gun.
I think it makes it easier to not move the slide too far and eject a round, especially with hammer fired guns.

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I don’t like to rely on just my eyes to chamber check firearms. I want to touch brass or diddle the empty chamber with a finger.

There are two reasons for this. One, it might not be light enough to see the chamber in some situations. Number two is I missed a chambered round in a revolver cylinder and got a loud noise when I was expecting a click. Luckily I was at the range and just doing some dry fire in between live fire strings so the muzzle was pointed in a safe direction.

Sometimes your brain sees what your eyes don’t.


Attachment 47002

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/g4TYi5F_Y5g/hqdefault.jpg

I think that gringo and voodoo described the same method, and it is what I use as taught by Clint Smith in ‘99.

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Originally Posted by voodoo_man

One Sgt, one time decided she was going to just go around and touch the extractor to make sure every pistol was loaded. If that's something you do, just be advised that the difference is only 1mm or 2mm. Very difficult. She ended up feeling an extractor and telling the officer that the gun wasn't loaded, the officer told her it was, she took the gun and discharged into the ceiling trying to prove him wrong.

Still has her stripes last time I checked, but won't be fondling any pistols anytime soon. Lesson is, it's either loaded or it isn't you have to check without pulling the trigger and be 100% certain.

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https://memecrunch.com/meme/BNU9F/de....png?w=630&c=1

After reading this thread last night I decided to to do some chamber checks at the range today... for science. Its not something that is part of my normal operations for range shooting. I don't believe I did them when carrying either but its been a long time.

My normal method is the support hand c-clamp like Rapiers pic but on the forward part of the slide. And the trigger finger touches the brass to cover low/no light situations.

BUT with a 22 plus a red dot on something like a 6-second mount, I didn't have room up front. I used the sling shot method since even the overhand was tough.

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Originally Posted by rayrevolver

https://memecrunch.com/meme/BNU9F/de....png?w=630&c=1

After reading this thread last night I decided to to do some chamber checks at the range today... for science. Its not something that is part of my normal operations for range shooting. I don't believe I did them when carrying either but its been a long time.

My normal method is the support hand c-clamp like Rapiers pic but on the forward part of the slide. And the trigger finger touches the brass to cover low/no light situations.

BUT with a 22 plus a red dot on something like a 6-second mount, I didn't have room up front. I used the sling shot method since even the overhand was tough.

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Yep.

During training days, the guys who press check and confirm magazine seat are the guys I usually don't have to worry about. Just personal experience.

Since much of my shooting is rimfire pistols, I tend to be a bit obsessive about magazine seating and chamber checks after loading a magazine for two reasons. One is that many older .22 designs need a cartridge in the chamber to stop the firing pin from dinging the chamber wall. So making sure a round is in the chamber before squeezing the trigger is imperative. Second is that some rimfire magazines do not provide tactile feedback when seating the magazine. The A54-framed Ruger Standard is one of these, especially with modern replacement magazines without the metal base. I also ran into an issue with fully loaded Glock magazines not locking into the gun when the chamber was loaded. I have even failed to seat a 1911 magazine. It is a bit unnerving when the second round fails to feed, and the result is the dreaded "click". A related reason is that rimfire feeding is prone to issues not seen too often with centerfire, such as deformed (during feeding) cases and bullets causing feed issues.

Lots of these pistols also do not have slides, instead using a blowback bolt. So I use a few different techniques, but the basics are the same. The strong hand controls the muzzle direction and keeps the pistol well below where it would be for sighting (idea is to put a bullet into the backstop, not over it) and the trigger finger is indexed on the receiver. The weak hand stays behind the ejection port (use the same concept when a round fails to fire although I cannot remember the last hang fire I had) and grasps the proper place (bolt wings or slide serrations) while the gun is rotated around the axis of the bore to allow a good look at the chamber. Once satisfied a round is chambered, I return the slide and bolt to battery while rotating the pistol so the sights are once again vertical.

I do not claim the above is the best way to do it; it does work for my needs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JU68wjU5b80

Quote:

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Originally Posted by HCountyGuy

I’ll add another recommendation to the method TGS described.

Another method is to take one’s thumb and hook it under the beaver tail area, then take your index and middle fingers and hook them on the rear sight and use a pinching motion to slightly retract the slide.

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That is the method I have always used.

To check if loaded on Glocks I just feel the extractor for a bump and if daylight look for brass at the gap.

They are designed so the extractor acts as a loaded chamber indicator. It becomes just a bit proud when loaded. This is easier right handed but I am sure there are left handed shooter ways to do it. Practice with snap caps.

Note that if you install an Apex extractor this functionality is lost.

Edited a third time to add that if you want to confirm it’s empty, lock the slide open, remove the magazine and inspect the chamber.

I don’t particularly like any of the loaded chamber checks that involve partially opening the slide. They can lead to injury and or throwing a round out accidentally, especially in those with weaker hands.

Most “shot my hand” injuries happen to the palm of the non dominant small and ring finger area. Usually in older, weaker, or inexperienced shooters with a smaller gun. Many of these injuries during administrative handling of the slide. The less of that the better IMO.

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Originally Posted by Wendell

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JU68wjU5b80

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Paul was so legit.