Hello,
So I pose this question with no tactical background. Just a good Samaritan, who believes in carrying a gun in defense of innocent people and being proficient with that tool.
Why pistol press checks? Even when trying, to find the legitimacy of press checks, I have not been able to insert a magazine into a pistol so that it does not fall out and have a round not going into the chamber. It seems to me the press check just introduces a chance to unseat the gun from battery and have a malfunction. Is this just an OCD tick that makes people feel better or is there a strong argument to it? No judgment here I have lots of OCD ticks that make me feel better. Just wondering if I’m missing the big picture.

Nate

Simple verification for me.
I never did checks, until one day I stuffed every round I could get into a mag to start a stage at a local match. After my draw all I heard was a click. Only had that happen once. But I do checks now. It was a match, sure glad it wasn't self defense.

I agree with you Nate, I have usually found them to be more internet theatrics than useful tool. For me, and I stress for me because I know a lot of people that do them and whatever works for them is not my business.

However, for me, most of my guns have some form of LCI on them and if I'm concerned about the gun loading, then I can simply check the LCI. I haven't had an empty chamber yet during a class or match, and I shot BUG in IDPA for 3 year so I never got a barney mag.

I have had failures to go into battery, mostly while breaking in my mid-size WP SS pistol. But after that, I don't recall any that weren't obvious in the loading process. Except a few I caused by not slapping / seating my mags.

I am wary of press checking to avoid creating malfunctions. I tend to agree w/ James Yeager on eschewing them, though I know I've seen some instructors do press checks. I know that my bad malfunctions with AR15s have been from me "press checking" them (memorably, a bad one in WPS Rifle 1).

Every Pistol I've ever shot has had a LCI. I can see and feel when the round is chambered or not. After 42 years of firearm Handling i've never once had any issues

I press check EVERYTHING. And EVERYONE should do the same. Filled you car with gas? Cap it up, then, snap it back open and take a wiff. Putting popcorn in the microwave? Close the door, then POP it open and peek, just to make sure. My kids hate it, but I put them to bed, then jump back in the room and scream "you still there?!?". You gotta press check. If you don't, how do you know if the stuff that's there is, like, THERE? Answer: You don't. Answer to that answer? Press check. But what if you press check, then see that it's there, then think "But is it STILL there?" Good question soldier! May I introduce the press check CHECK. Just like the old check, but you check AGAIN. 4D chess boys. Only way to beat the commies.

Double checking everything never hurts.

It is used to verify the condition of your weapon. If you are concerned about it not going back into battery, give the back of the slide a tap/bump/thump or whatever it takes. That's a good habit after any chamber/press check. I know we think we know the condition of our weapon, but have you ever had the slightest doubt? If you are like most, you have. That may occur on the range during a practice session or when retrieving your gun from whatever storage you use for true storage of a weapon you may not intend to use at home if there is an invasion or if it is the weapon you have in safe storage you intend to use for a home invasion. If the weapon has been out of sight/out of mind for any period of time, verify the condition which includes both the magazine and verification whether there is one in the chamber. Personally, I don't rely on the chamber indicator. I want to see the actual round or not.

I am going to guess that every experienced weapons handler has been surprised at least once when they did the press/chamber check.