Administrative Unload

[Volodymyr]

So I noticed with the USP the slide will catch if there is an empty magazine loaded (I mean by just pulling it back, not while firing).

So, to safely pass off and show the handgun, generally (according to my LEO dad) you would remove the magazine, but since the slide catches could it be considered safe with the magazine still loaded?

Maybe most handguns do this so maybe it's a dumb question. And I know safety is sort of relative (IE I would feel safe being handed the USP in said condition but you might not).

Now that got sort of confusing :D

[Reoze]

It's not whether I'd feel safe or not, Somone could hand me a loaded gun and i'd feel relativly safe. But I would still drop the magazine and clear the chamber, whether there is a magazine loaded or not, or if there's no magazine.

Even if the thing is handed to me with no magazine and a locked back slide i'd still reconfirm it myself.

[hwjohn]

So I noticed with the USP the slide will catch if there is an empty magazine loaded (I mean by just pulling it back, not while firing).

So, to safely pass off and show the handgun, generally (according to my LEO dad) you would remove the magazine, but since the slide catches could it be considered safe with the magazine still loaded?

Maybe most handguns do this so maybe it's a dumb question. And I know safety is sort of relative (IE I would feel safe being handed the USP in said condition but you might not).

Now that got sort of confusing :D

No matter what kind of gun, I normally engage the safety (if available), drop the magazine, cycle the slide 3 times (checking for a round each time), lock the slide back, decock and re-engage safety (if available) and hand it to the other person. If its a person I know is comfortable with guns, then I may put the mag back in with the slide open. As long as you hand it over with the slide open, the gun can't fire and anyone with any gun experience will know that (plus they saw you triple check for a chambered round). This also makes it easy for them to immediately check the chamber when it is handed over. They can then release the slide if they feel comfortable to inspect the gun.

The bottom line is that you can't be too careful. I've had mall ninjas make fun of me for triple checking it, but no "real" gun person is going to kid you for being safe. If I'm letting a person with little to no gun experience handle it, then I teach them the basic operation of the gun first, then the safety rules (don't touch trigger, etc.), then I really really really make sure it is unloaded and make sure rounds are no where to be found :)

[Scooter]

If you are going to hand someone a gun, first point the gun in a safe direction, eject the mag, rack it a few times, lock the slide back, VERIFY there is mag in the gun, and VERIFY there is no round in the chamber, THEN have the other person verify there is no mag and no round in the chamber, then hand it to them. That's the safe way to do things.

[kbrhk]

there is no reason to re-insert mag after you have cleared it to show your buddy!!!!there should only be a mag in it if your carrying or are at the range or it's your bedside gun. never give someone loaded mags when you give them your gun to look at unless they are going to shoot it at the range. when my brother asks to see my hks, i clear them and hold on to the ammo. he always asks to see it with the mag inserted. then i tell him he only needs to "see" the gun, not the bullets. he gets pissed and says " don't worry i won't shoot you", which i reply "of course you won't because i'm not giving you the bullets"!!!!! trust no one when it comes to gun safety.....coincidently, when you remove mag and clear weapon and engage safety, the gun is considered "safe and clear". however, when you re-insert the mag, even if you don't release the slide, it negates the "safe and clear" condition and you should consider your gun to be "HOT". safety, safety, safety!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bordercop]

Maybe most handguns do this so maybe it's a dumb question.

The only dumb question, is the question that goes un-asked. However, yes, it is normal for most pistols as well as semi-automatic rifles to lock open when the magazine is empty. It serves a two-fold purpose, to let the user immediately know that the weapon is empty, and to bring you one step closer to chambering a round after you load in a fresh magazine.

[H&K 4 LIFE]

If I'm showing my gun to someone, I will first eject the mag. then rack the slide and lock it reward to remove the chambered round. I then check visually for a round in the chamber. Then I proceed to load the extracted round back into my mag. I then hand the gun over with the slide locked back and I keep the loaded mag.

Now I have control of all the live ammo and theres no way they can fire the gun no matter what they do with it.