Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

Hey all, quick question from a relatively new handgunner:

I'm wondering how common it is to encounter a LOT of resistance when inserting a fully loaded magazine into an auto with the slide closed (like you would do if you had one chambered and then topped off and re-inserted the mag). As I mentioned in another thread, I have a Smith & Wesson SW99 (like a Walther P99), and I find that when I load the full 12 into the magazine, it's pretty difficult to shove it into the magazine well unless the slide is open. This only happens on the last round; with 11 or fewer, it's fine. I know WHY this happens (the internals make contact with the top cartridge and you have to compress the already loaded follower spring even more in order to get the mag the last bit into place), but I want to know if it's better or worse with different guns. My friend has a few 1911s and said he doesn't experience it, but that's a considerably lower capacity single stacked magazine...

Thanks for feedback!

I have 4 pistols that I keep topped off (2 1911s, Baby Eagle .45, Beretta 92) and no trouble with any of them. I do have the habit of "abusing" the mags when I put them in. That is I usually dont just slide them in. I stick them in the well and give them a good smack to make sure they lock.

Yeah, I kind of agree , I have several different styles,models and caliber and I make sure they know who they work for too.....

I'm convinced that guns like a little abuse...but only a little...

zephyp wrote:I'm convinced that guns like a little abuse...but only a little...

My AK-47 likes it rough.

And there's no danger of "crimping" a cartridge in a way that could cause it to misfeed or anything?

well, never say never, but I would think if that danger was present you would have found out by now. I mean depending on the weapon, hang-fires and stuff are always "possible" its your reaction that needs to be disciplined....Always have the firearm looked at by a professional when in doubt, all the advice in the world is useless until a pro actually puts eyes on it. Take it to a gunsmith, its worth the price for peace of mind.

I can't really say from a personal experience, because I'm content not topping off the magazine, but lets say you were to crimp the bullet (which I figure would have to be pretty hard...) you would be "crimping" the top of the bullet, and I don't think it would misfeed, as the slide action slides to bottom of the bullet and your only drawback would be an inaccurate shot due to lack of contact between the bullet and barrel

I'm not a gunsmith, but I would think the amount of resistance would be more a function of the magazine and not the gun (the amount of compression of the spring and even the age of the spring). There shouldn't be anything on the slide that would crimp a cartridge given that you are able to load the magazine without beating on it with a hammer. You're not using a hammer, are you?

WRW wrote:You're not using a hammer, are you?

WRW wrote:You're not using a hammer, are you?

No, the SW99 operates with a striker, so no hammer here...



Seriously, thanks for the input. I didn't think it was that much to worry about, but wanted to hear what others have to say. Thanks!

That was quick! LOL!

Well, I just tried this out on a Glock 23 I have access to and found similar resistance with a topped off magazine, so I'm going to (based on that and the feedback I've received here) go ahead and assume that it's fairly normal in high-cap magazines at full capacity--that it's not something "wrong" with my gun or model--and get used to it. Guess I'll have to start "beating up" my guns a little more often...


Thanks for the feedback!

I have a gun like that. The issue is that while that last round Will fit in the magazine, there is no slack at all left in the magazine and, for it to operate properly, there has to be just a little as the slide holds the last round down a bit. When the slide is open, that last round pops up so that the slide can catch it and then shove it into the chamber. That magazine should NOT be forced into the gun with the slide "closed". However, it works fine as a secondary magazine loaded this way IF the gun it is used in has a slide lock. That way, on the last shot, the slide is locked back and you can insert the full mag as the round will be stripped off when the slide is released.

I give all my mags a good smack whether they need it or not and if I'm able check to make sure they are locked. Nothings going to get hurt. As for reloading on a locked slide, that's usually not a good thing to do if you in a gunfight...I'd rather drop a mag with one or two still in it and one in the chamber than have to release the slide with a BG shooting at me. You can always stick that one back in if you empty the second one...unless you carry more than two. And, if thats the case and you've already emptied 2 then you better hope someone is dialing for backup...

It is certainly normal with a Glock that when inserting a full magazine with the slide closed it takes a firm push to seat the magazine.

zephyp wrote:I give all my mags a good smack whether they need it or not and if I'm able check to make sure they are locked. Nothings going to get hurt. As for reloading on a locked slide, that's usually not a good thing to do if you in a gunfight...I'd rather drop a mag with one or two still in it and one in the chamber than have to release the slide with a BG shooting at me. You can always stick that one back in if you empty the second one...unless you carry more than two. And, if thats the case and you've already emptied 2 then you better hope someone is dialing for backup...

I agree, I carry 60 rounds or more ...the way I figure it, Thats plenty to get me back to the big guns....even if we go mobile.... I have a couple of matching astra's with 17rd magz and they don't mind the slide being closed so long as they get to eat....

60 rounds or more...hmmm. If I carry my Beretta I carry an extra mag for a total of 31. If I carry one of my 1911s its 2 extra mags for a total of 25. I honestly cant expect having to carry more than that unless the balloon has already gone up or you are expecting it to any second...in which case I'll be carrying a couple of pistols, an AR, a satchel full of loaded mags, couple of nasty knives, and who knows what else...

The reason you feel this resistance is because the round that is at the top of your magazine is being pressed forward by the spring. The springs in the SW99 magazines are under a great deal of compression, and this helps in the self feeding of the weapon. You'll note that if you remove one cartridge, it's much easier to insert and fully seat the magazine, but this is not necessary. The weapon will fire properly, as this energy will be transferred once you go Condition 1.

In the event you are going to place one in the chamber and top off the magazine again, you will get the same results.

I have the P99, and although its a 15 rd mag, it takes some slap to get it in there fully. It's normal.