Safer way to unload a handgun?

HiredHand · Jan 17, 2017

This is quite different from the way most of us have learned to do it.

https://www.growingupguns.com/2016/12/22/order-of-operations-the-safest-unloading-procedure/

KOPBET · Jan 17, 2017

Drop the slide, rack the magazine, point in a safe direction (at the cat), pull trigger. Done.

Hawkman · Jan 17, 2017

I believe many instructors teach this way, and I can understand the logic. Personally I prefer to practice the 'backwards' method by dropping the magazine first, and then racking the slide back to the rear and looking for an empty chamber.

One of the big reasons I do this is when I am reminding my wife how to unload the pistol at the range (she knows how, but she finds some guidance helpful to ensure she is doing everything the right way), manipulating the slide (Glock 26) is somewhat difficult. Additionally, with no magazine, the slide automatically locks to the rear once the slide is moved to the rearmost position. It is much easier for the wife to drop the magazine and then pull really hard ONCE to get the slide to lock back to the rear and then check for an empty chamber. It is incredibly difficult for her or any other newbie I daresay to rack the slide rearward while simultaneously pressing up on the small and stiff stock Glock slide lock in order to lock back the slide. Probably the most difficult operation in typical handgun manipulation.

Lastly, if there happens to be a jam in the pistol (FTF or FTE), I find dropping the magazine FIRST makes dealing with the problem more manageable.

Just my $.02

dennishoddy · Jan 17, 2017

As a USPSA certified Range Officer, we give the command at the end of the course of fire saying, If your done, unload and show clear.
Meaning drop the mag, eject any round in the chamber and hold the slide open until the RO can see an empty chamber.
Next command,
If your clear, (putting the ultimate responsibility on the shooter to double check the RO) hammer down and holster. Meaning allow the slide to close, point to the berm, pull the trigger and holster.
Double check system that works well.

Rod Snell · Jan 17, 2017

If a competitor tries to show me an empty chamber with a loaded magazine still in the gun, I remind them to drop the magazine FIRST, since if they close the slide it will reload the chamber.
Not only do I disagree with the "safest way" author, I know one individual who shot himself in the weak side forearm trying to do it his way. He had trouble locking back the slide with a loaded mag in the gun, it slipped and.........(he was not in a match at the time)

dennishoddy · Jan 17, 2017

Rod Snell said:
If a competitor tries to show me an empty chamber with a loaded magazine still in the gun, I remind them to drop the magazine FIRST, since if they close the slide it will reload the chamber.
Not only do I disagree with the "safest way" author, I know one individual who shot himself in the weak side forearm trying to do it his way. He had trouble locking back the slide with a loaded mag in the gun, it slipped and.........

Some want to be fancy and when ejecting the round pop the gun up at the same time and catch the round in the air.
I've disqualified a couple over the years because the round came out of the air in front of the muzzle and they swept themselves grabbing it. Tough way to end a match going home with no score.

HiredHand · Jan 17, 2017

Hawkman said:
One of the big reasons I do this is when I am reminding my wife how to unload the pistol at the range (she knows how, but she finds some guidance helpful to ensure she is doing everything the right way), manipulating the slide (Glock 26) is somewhat difficult. Additionally, with no magazine, the slide automatically locks to the rear once the slide is moved to the rearmost position. It is much easier for the wife to drop the magazine and then pull really hard ONCE to get the slide to lock back to the rear and then check for an empty chamber. It is incredibly difficult for her or any other newbie I daresay to rack the slide rearward while simultaneously pressing up on the small and stiff stock Glock slide lock in order to lock back the slide. Probably the most difficult operation in typical handgun manipulation.

Lastly, if there happens to be a jam in the pistol (FTF or FTE), I find dropping the magazine FIRST makes dealing with the problem more manageable.

Just my $.02

I am not aware of any handgun that functions in that manner. The magazine follower is that part that pushes up on the slide release/hold open which locks the slide in a rearward position.

adamsredlines · Jan 17, 2017

I drop the mag and hold hand over ejection port when racking slide with hand under magwell...bullet falls into your hand. No catching flying objects or stuff off the ground.

tRidiot · Jan 18, 2017

adamsredlines said:
I drop the mag and hold hand over ejection port when racking slide with hand under magwell...bullet falls into your hand. No catching flying objects or stuff off the ground.

This is typically what I do.

Hawkman · Jan 18, 2017

HiredHand said:
I am not aware of any handgun that functions in that manner. The magazine follower is that part that pushes up on the slide release/hold open which locks the slide in a rearward position.

Doh! Right you are--I really should double check before posting late night xD

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