Press check pistol - safe or stupid?

manboy said:
are you one of those people who thinks a higher post count makes you an expert on tactics and training?
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WTF is this supposed to mean? Do you have some sort of inferiority complex?

As the 1911 is my pistol of choice and I only get 8 rounds tops, then yes, that one round can make all the difference in a gun fight. It is not bull#### as you called it, it is fact. I am not an expert on tactics and training and I hope never to get into a gunfight, but I think if you polled those who are on the job or have been in pistol fights, you will find that NONE of them use your method of ejecting live rounds.
 
I am somewhat confused. Unless you have Alzheimers, you should know if you have one up the spout since you pulled the slide back and loaded it.

Did I miss something?
 
I have done it but usually pull back from the rear of the slide. I have no forward serrations so I generally don't do the press check that way. I see no problem doing it from reaching under the dustcover/rail and checking. It can be slippery, so forward serrations would be better.
 
Press check or "Pinch check"

I had the honour and opportunity to take a course with Ray Chapman quite a few years ago. The press check, or variation of, was used by him often and if I remember correctly, he considered it an acceptable practice. It was actually the "Pinch Technique", Weak hand forefinger on recoil spring plug and thumb inside trigger guard and then squeeze ( or pinch) to open slide and check if it's loaded.
 
Detective_Special said:
Weak hand forefinger on recoil spring plug and thumb inside trigger guard and then squeeze ( or pinch) to open slide and check if it's loaded.
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That won't work with any gun fitted with a full length guide rod.....
 
I reach my weak hand underneath and grip the slide with my thumb and 2 or 3 fingers. I don't see why it'd be considered unsafe, as its basically the same as using your hand above the slide to rack it.
 
Detective_Special said:
Your absolutely right, Needless to say his personal Colt Gov't didn't have one.
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OK, but most common semi-autos today have a full length guide rods (SiG, Beretta, Glock, S&W even most 1911s) so that technique is pretty much out of date....
 
1.) Most old school US .45 shooters won't have a full length guide rod. 2) API used to teach the press check (thumb in guard, finger on plug) - so it's probably not a "Seagal" invention. 3) At least one Very high speed military unit checks their chambers by placing their whole non shooting hand over the e-port with one finger on the barrel hood, and as the slide moves back, allows the finger to slide into the chamber (that way it also works in the dark). 4) remember that as soon as the slide backs up a quarter inch or so you should be on the disconnector, so no bang.
 
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Each and every cop I know press checks, each and every competitive shooter I know (of any experience and ability) press checks, I press check. The Ayoob quote is interesting since I've seen videos of him at matches, and he press checks. There are a ton of reasons to do it, and not one good one not to.
Perhaps some people who don't know what they are talking about shouldn't post in threads?
 
Perhaps some people who don't know what they are talking about shouldn't post in threads?
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I've followed this thread through four pages and still don't quite get the meaning of 'press check'.

My understanding right now is that you lever the slide back far enough to see if there is a loaded round in the chamber. People are advocating different ways of doing this. Am I correct?
 
Ripstop said:
I've followed this thread through four pages and still don't quite get the meaning of 'press check'.

My understanding right now is that you lever the slide back far enough to see if there is a loaded round in the chamber. People are advocating different ways of doing this. Am I correct?
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Yes, the contention is that it isn't safe to use the "off" hand to press back on the recoil spring plug (below the muzzle) in order to view the chamber. I can't figure why it would be unsafe - I wonder how they check for high primers in a revolver? that takes both hands and manual hammer retraction.:eek:

final note from me: the unit that checks the chamber with their forefinger is known to commence operations with chambers loaded, hammers back and safeties OFF. It's not the technique, its the operator that makes firearms either safe or dangerous.
 
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Slavex said:
Each and every cop I know press checks, each and every competitive shooter I know (of any experience and ability) press checks, I press check. The Ayoob quote is interesting since I've seen videos of him at matches, and he press checks. There are a ton of reasons to do it, and not one good one not to.
Perhaps some people who don't know what they are talking about shouldn't post in threads?
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lol, fine.

i'm simply pointing out to the "if i ever need to use my gun to save my life" crowd, that you if you draw your gun with the intent of using it immediately and it dawns on you that you can't remember if it's loaded or not, racking the slide and getting into the "fight", is faster than a press check.

take a friend to the range. have him load your gun. or not.
upon his command, draw, with the intent of firing on your target. wait a minute, your not sure your gun is loaded, but time is ticking, do you really press check instead of racking the slide to save one round?

it just seems like while your looking at your gun to see if it's loaded, instead of your target, you might end up dead?
 
Pinch check

Manboy, I understand what your trying to say, If you are strapping a gun for CCW, you would load your gun, and holster it. You know it's loaded, and it would stay there as a tool to protect your life if needed. And as you say, you would not draw and perform a check to see if it's loaded when the SHTF, it should loaded and ready. The pinch check is a simple technique intended to verify if your gun is loaded, and it is used often, ex before and after holstering, before and after storage etc.
 
It's done as part of an administrative reload as a means of being absolutely certain that the magazine is seated properly and a round is chambered before the gun goes into a holster. It is not done when the gun comes out of the holster.
 
Ian in vic said it right.
Ive been fortunate enough to get training from the pros in the US and others
elswhere.They all use press check Many use the Pinch method.When I did
receive this training (way Back) no self respecting pro Had a Full length
guide rod in his 1911.Part of the reason was if your weak hand is being used
to guide loved ones or clients or move and control obsticle etc and you
needed to rack your slide then the 1911 plug could bepushed up against
an object to achieve your desired result.with the new full length gide rods
on virtuallly all new pistols the same can be a chieved except you need
to use the rear sight (provided it properly desighned)to rack it against your
belt, holster or other suitable object.
and again I I V is correct the disconnect is engaged @ that point.
Asfor need to check.Its only prudent .If Your at the range , in a match
or carry profesionally varify the condition of your equipment.
remember the old saying. ""Honest I didnt think it was loaded."?
It always the unloaded ones that do all the damage.

regards
 
ahh I see the confusion, yes it's done before the holstering, not when you draw the gun. That would be dumb.
 
John Sukey said:
I am somewhat confused. Unless you have Alzheimers, you should know if you have one up the spout since you pulled the slide back and loaded it.

Did I miss something?
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If you are standing on the firing line, load it and rack it, then prepare to fire - yes. But if you are preparing for competition or battle, in the latter case with a firearm that may have been loaded many hours before, with a little extra time before the action begins, wouldn't you tend to recheck things to be absolutely sure?
 
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