Owner's Manual

20 21
If shooting is not imminent, point the muzzle in a safe direction
and immediately lower the hammer to the dropped position as
explained previously.
If you are finished shooting, the loaded cartridge should be
removed from the chamber as explained under “Unloading”
on pages 24-25.
LOADING THE CHAMBER WITH THE SLIDE LOCKED REARWARD
UNDER MOST CONDITIONS AFTER SHOOTING, YOU SHOULD IMMEDIATELY
REMOVE THE EMPTY MAGAZINE, CLOSE THE SLIDE AND PLACE THE
“SAFETY” LEVER IN THE “ON SAFE” POSITION PRIOR TO INSERTING A
LOADED MAGAZINE INTO THE PISTOL. UNDER SPECIAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND COMPETITIVE SHOOTING CONDITIONS, YOU MAY
LEAVE THE SLIDE OPEN AFTER THE EMPTY MAGAZINE IS REMOVED.
FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE WARNINGS COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS
INJURY OR DEATH.
The slide stops rearward after the last cartridge from the magazine is
fired. If you are shooting in competitive matches or for law
enforcement purposes, and shooting after firing an entire magazine is
imminent, it is possible to reload the pistol with the slide locked
rearward and chamber a cartridge when the slide is closed.
1 With the slide locked rearward, eject the empty magazine from
the pistol.
2 Insert a loaded magazine into the pistol.
3 With the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, release the slide
forward by pushing downward on the slide stop with your thumb.
The slide will close under spring pressure and feed a cartridge from
the magazine into the chamber.
3 Insert the cartridges into the magazine by pushing downward on
the front of the follower with the base of the cartridge and then
pushing the cartridge rearward under the feed lips on the magazine
with your thumb (Figure 14, page 19).
LOADING THE CHAMBER WITH THE SLIDE CLOSED
LOADING YOUR PISTOL WITH THE SLIDE CLOSED IS THE PREFERRED
METHOD OF LOADING THE PISTOL. IF THE SLIDE IS OPEN AND A LOADED
MAGAZINE IS INSERTED INTO THE PISTOL, A CARTRIDGE COULD
INADVERTENTLY BE LOADED INTO THE CHAMBER. FAILURE TO FOLLOW
THIS WARNING COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
1 Insert the loaded magazine into the pistol. Be certain to insert the
magazine completely until it is retained by the magazine latch.
2 If the “safety” is in the on safe position, move it down into the off
safe position.
3 With your fingers away from the trigger, pull the slide completely
to the rear and release it. The slide will move forward under spring
pressure and feed the first cartridge from the magazine into the
chamber (Figure 15).
THE PISTOL IS NOW READY TO FIRE.
UNLESS SHOOTING IS IMMINENT,
IMMEDIATELY PLACE THE “SAFETY”
TO THE ON SAFE POSITION.
FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE
WARNINGS COULD RESULT IN
SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
4 Immediately place the “safety”
in the on safe position after
loading a cartridge unless
shooting is imminent.
FIGURE 15
Pull the slide completely rearward and release
it, allowing it to move forward freely.