+1 or not to +1 a carry pistol

[Phazer]

This video was posted in another thread and I thought it was reasonable for us to have our own discussion on the issue:


My response in that thread was:

I actually test this very scenario with all of my pistols at the range. I rack in a round, remove the mag, top off the mag, and reinsert the mag. I then test for proper cycling (especially, the second round).​

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I've found that you must be very cognizant of the potential additional force required to seat a loaded mag against a slide that is in battery. If one tries to use the same force as when seating a mag into a pistol with a locked-back slide, the mag may not fully engage and either slide out or not cycle properly. Thus, proper preparation when running +1 requires that the operator understand their hardware and know how to check for proper magazine engagement before holstering the pistol.​

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I'm sure I'm not stating anything that isn't well known to those here. But, it's something for new carriers to consider.​

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In the aforementioned video at the 5:00 mark, the guy states that the reason that he does not +1 his pistol is because it "Interrupts the stream of communication between me and my firearm."

I do not understand that logic. It is the operator's responsibility to understand and rigorously test any carried defensive firearm. Inanimate objects to not "communicate" with the operator. One could feel that something is not working properly. One could hear that something does not sound right. But, that is not communication. That is perception of a situation by a, hopefully, skilled operator of a machine.

Are there any military recommendations regarding carrying a firearm in a +1, "topped off," condition?

 

[dsdmmat]

In the military you are issued a basic load for the M16 it was 210 rounds for the M9 it was 45 rounds and for the 1911 it was 21 rounds. For the pistols it was 3 magazines and rifles it was 7 magazines there was no ammo allowance for +1. It is not something that is practiced.

 

[Podmonkey]

Its probably better for the magazine springs to chamber a round leaving the magazine -1.
This sucks when restricted to 10 rounds so an 11 round combat load may make more sense. In free states 14 vs 15 rounds I don't think is worth the worry.
When it comes to STANG magazines I have always found ample follower travel available to load to the stated maximum capacity, most can actually fit an additional round beyond that but the spring will be completely compressed at that point.

 

[stokes]

Didnt watch the video.But I can say that from the time I first transitioned from the revolver to the G19 at work in 1995 we were taught to "top off".In 25 yrs I have never had any problem at all and never gave a second thought to carrying in this condition,at this point in my life based on my experience nothing and nobody will move me on this.

 

[Phazer]

Didnt watch the video.But I can say that from the time I first transitioned from the revolver to the G19 at work in 1995 we were taught to "top off".In 25 yrs I have never had any problem at all and never gave a second thought to carrying in this condition,at this point in my life based on my experience nothing and nobody will move me on this.

I've personally had some issues when I failed to forcefully reseat a topped-off magazine. Once, at a course, I topped off my G19 magazine behind the line when I could not unholster the pistol. I removed the magazine, topped it off, and reinserted the magazine. During the next drill, I fired once and then got a "click." I racked and fired..."click." I racked and fired, again..."click." By now, everyone should be shouting "TAP!" Well, when I finally did tap the magazine (after getting yelled at), I heard it click into place. Apparently, I had not used enough force to seat the mag when it was holstered. When I drew the pistol, there was apparently enough friction in the mag well to allow the magazine to stay in the grip. But, it was not seated properly and additional rounds would not feed.

Since I encountered this "failure" (due to operator issues), I now always check the seating of the magazine on any pistol that I've loaded in the +1 condition by first firmly pushing the magazine into position and then trying to pull it free from the mag well.

Of note, having an instructor yell "TAP!" at me during a shoot-while-moving drill is something that I will not forget.

 

[stokes]

Ok, I sucked it up and sat thru the entire video of this guy's bs.The only viable issue would be if you dont slam the mag home when inserting a topped off mag.You dont need 8+ minutes of listening to this guy talking about "interupted communication" whatever the fuck that means.Just be sure to insert the mag with enough force to lock it in.In over 25 yrs I have never had my mag drop out as he shows.Any time I have seen this happen was always some female officer who was afraid of the gun and probably shouldnt be carrying anyway, trying to gingerly insert the mag.Slam it home and you'll be fine.Loading the gun in a topped off condition is never done in a stressed condition,you dont top off in a tactical reload.

 

[Edwardteach72]

In the military you are issued a basic load for the M16 it was 210 rounds for the M9 it was 45 rounds and for the 1911 it was 21 rounds. For the pistols it was 3 magazines and rifles it was 7 magazines there was no ammo allowance for +1. It is not something that is practiced.

I belive this has more to do with safety and numbers logistics and not anything that the video clown was bringing up.

Being in the military doesn't make someone a gun fighter, so less administrative handling the better

Plus ar mags hold 30 rounds. 5.56 comes on 10 round strippers, 3 strippers fill one magazine.. no reason to then find loose rounds for a +1.

And since the handgun is a secondary weapon the not having +1 really isn't a huge issue. Along with the whole administrative handling of a gun from the not always most trained persons

 

[Blimey]

F this guy because he has a 8:44 video and at 2:27 he says "moving on to the actual topic of today's video". Most youtubers do not understand that less is more. So many endlessly long, rambling videos. I stopped watching at that point. Two minutes of nonsensical, non-value add bullshit to preface the video.

edit: here is what I'm talking about. Check this guy's channel out. Over 2M subscribers on a very esoteric topic (picking locks). Most of his videos are 2-3 minutes long. No dicking around. Straight to the point like a boss. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm9K6rby98W8JigLoZOh6FQ

 

[SomeSoldier]

I sure do +1, why? Because I can. I do it at the range too, why? Because I train as I fight. No issues, everything works as it should. If you train as you fight then you should know that the way you have everything setup should work.

 

[speedkills27]

STOP giving this guy views!
Why wouldnt you want every advantage you can, in state where you're already restricted to 10? Having to do an extra tappy tap to make sure the mag is seated is an easy step to take in order to give you one more round that you may need in a fight. I personally have never had a problem seating a mag in my carry gun with a round already chambered

 

[Edwardteach72]

I will also point out i have 3 carry mags, they do not get used in training or at thr range they are brand new oem.

They get rotated periodically (one is in the gun, one is my spare carry mag then the 3rd is when they get rotated) when I rotate them (when its time to cycle out the carry ammo) I shoot them the one time for function test.

And after so long (all this is arbitrarily decided) those 3 mags are replaced by new OEM mags and the old ones become range use mags

 

[Cleck]

I always run +1 and have never had any sort of communications issue w/ any of my pistols. Perhaps I need to turn on bluetooth

 

[kev74]

When I carry my pistol, it is fully loaded.

Never had a problem running full magazines.

 

[Celt]

In a state where we are limited on capacity i see a benefit to +1 (heck even in a non limited state i can it,) provided you have practiced with this set up and trust it works.

 

[Phazer]

I always run +1 and have never had any sort of communications issue w/ any of my pistols. Perhaps I need to turn on bluetooth

Maybe you need to hire a "gun whisperer?"

 

[Saltwater60]

I plus one and it has never been an issue. I got some new mags and certainly noticed it for the first time in a long time.
I do have a kimber that doesn’t feed well at +1 capacity in the mag. I don’t with that gun.

 

[That_FNG]

I run oem mags in my pistols and run it based upon what the manufacturer stated it was. My shield EZ is advertised as an 8+1 gun so it’s run as 8+1.

 

[dwa12479]

I run +1 for carry always. Never had a problem seating a mag.

 

[GOPerfect]

I always carry a full gun. I carry one in the pipe, a three filled magazines. Always.

I find no reason not to have that one extra round.