Loading a pistol
 

Where is the slide when you load your pistols?

locked back

The slide(s) are forward on all of my semis as that is how they are stored and I am ready to load them. The slides are usually back on my semis when I am ready to reload them as the slides lock back on empty mags.

all mine stay loaded...even in the safe :)

Reload on slide lock, "load" ... slide is first locked back so I chamber a round then top off.

This ^^^^.

This^^^ but voted forward on all my 1911's

Empty pistol......slide forward dormant.....insert mag, rack round, drop mag, top off mag, reinsert mag.

It can be either locked back or forward, dependent on whether the gun has been taken from storage or it's been fired to slide lock.

All of my carry guns are always loaded. Range guns, slide back.

What he said.

Well, looks like this poll is dead.. So here is the reason I posted it. Last trip to the range I was having a hard time getting my mags to seat in my SA Loaded and my Para. When I racked the slide the top round would not strip off. Didn't matter which brand of mag I used. (finally used the bottom of an empty mag to push the mag fully into the well) Other trips had similar problems with some of the other 1911s, but I never gave it much thought. So this time it got me asking questions. After shooting I asked one of the guys working at the range/gun store what he thought the problem could be and he asked if I was loading the pistol with the slide forward or back. I answered 'forward'. He proceeded to explain why this made it harder to load. Unfortunately I don't recall all of his explanation but part of it had to do with the change from 7 to 8 round mags without changing the length of the mag. I didn't have a chance to test his answer as I was out of ammo. Next time out if his idea works I will always be loading with the slide locked back.

Does anybody have any other input on this?

Oh yeah, I never have this problem with any other s/a.