Question regarding Firearm Safety and Function

Post by Bruchko

Hi,

I've never really loaded a real gun myself, but I've been handed a loaded one to shoot on the range. I am new to modelguns and realguns(I'm not even 21) and I would like to know one thing about firearms, particularly pistols. Can a pistol loaded with a round in the chamber fire that round without its magazine? I ask this because I remember a movie and an article mentioning how glocks can shoot a bullet without its magazine by loading one round in the chamber, and decocking the slide to shoot the round. Is this only with glocks or can all guns do this? Thank you all for your time and I'm sorry if this question seems uber newbish.

Post by rizzo

On the vast majority of semi auto magazine fed pistols, you can load a round into the chamber (by racking the slide) then eject the magazine. The round will still be in the chamber, ready to fire. To eject the round, simply rack the slide once more and the round will be ejected.

Post by Spencerman

It all depends on the gun and what safety mechanism it has fitted. The Browning Hi-Power for example cannot be fired without the magazine in place. A safety engages and stops the hammer from being moved (dropped). The Walther P99 however uses different sorts of safety mechanisms, and can fire the chambered round without the magazine inserted.
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Post by gavin

intresting info as i would have thought all pistls (semis) could shoot without the mag