to shoot without a magazine

[roff]

i always see in movies where they take the magazine out of the gun
rack the slide back and drop in a single bullet
release the slide and shoot

i tried this one time at the range and it didnt work
is this even possible to do?

[Xander]

It depends on whether or not your pistol has a magazine disconnect.

[drw]

A neighbor of mine out in Kerrville used to do this very thing, and I never understood why he would do it. I saw him load his gun this way quite frequently, but I never saw him actually shoot it in that condition.

[longhorn_92]

i always see in movies where they take the magazine out of the gun
rack the slide back and drop in a single bullet
release the slide and shoot

i tried this one time at the range and it didnt work
is this even possible to do?

I have even seen people jump out of 3 story windows - land on their feet and run off!....Gotta love Hollywood!

[flintknapper]

It depends on whether or not your pistol has a magazine disconnect.

Yup,



Personally, I will not own a firearm with a magazine disconnect.

As an aside, it is not good for most extractors to jump them over a cartridge placed it the chamber.

[Xander]

I have even seen people jump out of 3 story windows - land on their feet and run off!....Gotta love Hollywood!

Watch enough parkour and free-running, and I'm sure you'll see it done for real from time to time too.

I didn't see anything definitively from three-stories, but some that are darn close if not, and plenty of two-story jumps in here, for instance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEeqHj3Nj2c

Now, back to your regularly schedule firearms discussions.

[KBCraig]

On some pistols that's a good way to break the extractor.

[WarHawk-AVG]

Yah and a hand grenade explode like a 55 gallon drum full of C-4 and gasoline!

[flintknapper]

i always see in movies where they take the magazine out of the gun
rack the slide back and drop in a single bullet
release the slide and shoot

i tried this one time at the range and it didnt work
is this even possible to do?

Just so we directly answer your question: YES, "most" firearms that do not have a "magazine disconnect" will function (fire) without the magazine in place. In fact, this is precisely the reason they exist.

A certain number of people (lacking knowledge concerning firearms) have managed to shoot themselves (or others) by removing the magazine (supposing it to be unloaded) and then pointing the weapon at someone and pulling the trigger.

Of course, the proper remedy for this is of an educational nature, but some gun manufacturers (and their lawyers) decided to make weapons that will not fire if the magazine is not inserted.

So, if you ever need your weapon...and in the course of a fight lose your mag. (or it becomes dislodged) you are dead in the water. Too, it only serves to add confusion for folks... since now.. we have the notion that a pistol WILL NOT fire without the magazine (true in some cases) when in fact.. most (the vast majority) WILL.

Clearly, other safety rules were violated that resulted in the unfortunate shootings, but its hard for me to imagine that a "disconnect" is of much help.

[T3hK1w1]

There was an ND last year at the high-caliber gun show at the GRB when someone pulled the trigger on a loaded gun with no mag in it.

[Wildscar]

Here is the warning from a Beretta 92FS. Yes is possible to shoot with out a mag.

[wilder]

It's pretty common to have the magazine disconnect. 3rd Generation S&W autos, Browning Hi-Powers, and Buckmarls all have magazine disconnects to my knowledge.

[roff]

so if my gun doesnt have a magazine disconnect
and i put a fully loaded magazine in cock the gun
release the magazine and theres a round chambered
then the gun wont shoot?

i would have assumed it would shoot since it took the bullet from the magazine

[Wildscar]

so if my gun doesnt have a magazine disconnect
and i put a fully loaded magazine in cock the gun
release the magazine and theres a round chambered
then the gun wont shoot?

i would have assumed it would shoot since it took the bullet from the magazine

Yes
What pistol are you talking about? Maybe that would be the final answer.

[roff]

it was an xd9