Loading a Glock when the slide is open

This blog entry discusses how to load a Glock firearm with a loaded magazine when the slide has been locked open. This information can also apply to most handguns for sale on the market today (IE: Springfield Armory, Smith and Wesson, H&K, etc). Click on any of the photos to enlarge them.

Loading a Glock firearm when the slide is open is a fairly straightforward task. First, take the magazine with ammunition and align it at the bottom of the firearm (NOTE: In the photo below, the magazine has been turned to face the camera for illustrative purposes only)


Now, press the magazine into the Glock firearm using a smooth upward motion. Press upward on the magazine until it "clicks" into place. You do not need to slam or force the magazine into place. Just press up until you hear the "click" of the magazine locking into place.


After the magazine has been inserted, you can see the first round of ammunition in the magzazine from the top of the firearm through the open slide. Releasing the slide will force the first round of ammunition into the chamber of the firearm.


The easiest way to release the slide is to press downward on the SLIDE STOP LEVER. This will require some strength for some models of firearms as the slide is locked open and is resting on the SLIDE STOP LEVER.

In the photo below, I am pressing downward with my right thumb. You can also use your opposing hand's thumb to assist.


Another way to release the slide is to use both hands. This is easier to do for those people with insufficient hand strength to release the SLIDE STOP LEVER for a particular firearm.

To start, use your weaker hand to pull the slide back slightly. Then, with your strong hand's thumb, press the SLIDE STOP LEVER down. Then let go of the slide with your weaker hand. The slide should move forward, loading the first round of ammunition into the firearm.


After releasing the slide, the firearm will be loaded. If you look closely in the photo below, you can see the initial round of ammunition in place.


The firearm is now loaded and ready to use. And let me pull out the dead horse once more and say...

DO NOT FORGET THE FOUR RULES!


#1 ALL FIREARMS ARE ALWAYS LOADED

# 2 NEVER POINT THE MUZZLE AT ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO DESTROY

# 3 KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET

# 4 - BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET

-end-