Double Feeds

 Many readers tell me they enjoy when I write about things that do not make sense. Here is one from the gun world. 

Setting

A participant in a pistol class. This class teaches tactical reloads in the standard method - remove a partially expended magazine and replace with a full magazine. Participant states that since the methodology was not to work the slide with a tactical reload - this caused him to experience double feeds during the class. 

Note

Of all of the training I have had, the ONLY place that advocates working the slide when performing a tactical reload has been Tactical Response. Their thinking is that each time you handle the pistol, you always address the magazine and the slide - to "dummy-proof" the manipulation. All of the other schools I've attended advocate simply swapping the magazines. 

Facts

Double feeds in pistols - particularly the GLOCK 19 (what this participant was shooting) - are almost always caused by one of just a few things:

1. Improperly reciprocated slide.

When the slide does not get reciprocated all of the way back, ejection of the round or the casing in the chamber does not completely happen. However, the new round is picked up, and pushed in behind the existing round or casing. Some common ways this happens:

- Limp-wristing the gun (this was the participant's problem)

- Light reciprocation by the shooter - a weak "racking" motion. 

- Underpowered ammunition. 

- Aftermarket parts. 

2. Failure to extract. 

This can happen with a damaged extractor, a damaged rim on the casing, or by way of "happenstance."

3. Damaged magazine.

Observation

Nobody else in that class saw an issue with double feeds. Therefore, it could not have been the tactical reload method.