How can I tell if there is a bullet in the chamber of my .45?

Question

I ****** my gun (.45) with a clip loaded with bullets. I have never shot this gun before (inherited).
I am 99% sure it is not loaded...but now I need to pull the trigger (without the clip in it) and have it NOT fire a bullet. (In crowded city).
I looked down the barrel, in the side, up the clip area, etc. I see NO bullet and have 7 in the clip and it won't fit another bullet. The other clips only fit 7 too that are the same.
I have another clip that fits 8 but it is a different metal polish/length.

Is it safe to disarm this gun...meaning, NO bullets will fire?
I am paranoid that if I do accidentally shoot a round off into the air the whole freakin' city will hear it.
Have I checked everything? (Gun safety tells me yes...) But that was with other handguns/rifles. Not a .45 :-)

To the smart little guys that think I don't know my guns I do.
I have been through hunter training and fired an AK-47, .357 mag, thirty aught six, Shotguns and a few other ones.
Nobody has told me how to use a .45 and
I AM being SAFE
BY ASKING on SMART PEOPLE on HERE.
It DID NOT fire as I thought and my question is answered. I have NEVER hurt anyone/myself with a gun.

Answer 1

Just pull the slide back. That will eject a bullet if it is ready to fire. When you put the clip in and then pull the slide back, it loads the gun. When you take the clipout abd pull the slide all the way back, it disarms the gun.

Answer 2

You have a couple choices here, you can:
A: Open the slide and see if one pops out, then with the slide still open look towards the front and see if you can see the headstamp on the shell that's in there. This would be the safest way, but if it's not possible, then...

B: Slide a cleaning rod down the barrel until it stops. Grab just in front of the barrel, and slide it out. Holding it in the same spot, measure where you can compare it to the overall length of the barrel, and if the end of the cleaning rod is close to the bolt face, it's likely not going to fire.

C: If none of the above are possible, this may be your last option. While pointing the muzzle in a safe direction, put your thumb on the hammer and pull it back until you feel it move. Then, without letting go, pull the trigger and slowly and carefully, let the hammer down. If the pistol has a hammer block safety, meaning while the safety is engaged the hammer is blocked from hitting the firing pin, engage that. When the hammer gets all the way down, be careful, and make sure it's not lifted back up until you're ready to fire.

I'm not sure how familiar with the controls on a 1911 you are, but on the left hand side of the slide, you'll see a long switch. Pushing it upward will let you lock the slide back, making cleaning and clearing much easier.

Answer 3

Remove the magazine, pistols use magazines, only some old military bolt actions and semi-automatics use clips.

Hold the pistol in your right hand in the firing position, with your trigger finger as far away from the trigger as you can get it.

The grasp the slide, just in front of the hammer, where there are serrations on the sides, with your left hand and pull the slide back as far as it will go.

Visually inspect the chamber through the ejection port.

If there is no round in the chamber, release the slide.

Hold the hammer back with the thumb of your left hand, and squeeze the trigger. Allow the hammer to drop gently while maintaining pressure with your thumb.

Then take the magazine in your right hand, with the cartrige upper most, with the bullet facing away from you. Use your thumb to push the cartridges out of the magazine, repeating until the magazine is empty.

Then insert the magazine into the pistol, and put it and the loose cartridges in your nightstand drawer, and leave it there until you can find someone to give you some hands on instruction in gun handling!

If there is a cartridge in the chamber, use your left hand to apply the slide lock. That is the long lever on the left side of the frame just above the triggerguard. Engage the slide lock by pushing it up to engage a notch in the slide.

With the slide locked open, point the pistol up to see if the cartridge will fall out. If it doesn't, use the tip of a knife or screwdriver to gently pry it from the chamber. The pull back on the slide again, and release it. This will disengage the slide lock and permit the slide to close. Afterward, follow the directions for emptying the magazine and return it to the pistol.

The Colt M-1911 is a great pistol, but you need some training in how to operate it. It is not rocket science, I am certain you can easily learn to do it. But until you learn to operate it safely, you and the pistol are a dangerous combination.

Once you learn to handle the pistol proficiently, I am sure you will have much enjoyment using it.

Doc

Answer 4

Ignore the smart a**es. They use idiotic answers to cover their ignorance and try to be cute about a serious subject. If they knew anything it would be a miracle. From what you have said, you have done everything to make sure that your pistol is not loaded. If your .45 is a 1911 model or copy of a 1911, it has a hammer on it. You can simply hold the hammer, press the trigger and ease the hammer forward while keeping the gun pointed in a safe direction. But if you have gone through all of the checking that you listed, you have eliminated the chance of an accidental discharge. You are VERY wise to seek help in making sure that you avoid any accidents with your pistol. Congrats on your wisdom!!

Answer 5

Do the following:
1) Remove the magazine
2) With the gun pointed in a safe direction and your finger outside the trigger guard, pull the slide back, and lock it open, and inspect the chamber.

I would recommend you get some instructions on how semi suto pistols work from a friend, or from someone gunwise.

Answer 6

First step: Point your gun in a safe direction and remove the magazine; this is accomplished by depressing the round 'button' near the rear of the trigger guard (or moving the 'lip' back at the heel of the butt).

Step two: Point your gun in a safe direction and hold the gun firmly in your strong hand but keep your finger out of the trigger guard; with your other hand firmly move the slide back and visually check for a bullet in the breech. If anything is in there it should pop out but always check visually,

Anything else you should probably have someone knowledgeable in firearms (particularly that model) coach you.

Best.

H

Answer 7

Hey man don't listen to the ******* answering your question. You showed yourself to be a safe gun handler, by asking before doing. The stupid people are the ones who fire a weapon if their unsure that it was loaded. You did the right thing by asking someone before test firing. And to everyone who posted those shi** remarks can go to hell, because most of them have probably never handled a live weapon before in their life, and obviously have no idea about gun safety.

AND NO YOU DO NOT NEED A GUNSMITH OR POLICE OFFICER TO SHOW YOU HOW TO USE THE WEAPON. IF YOU HAVE TO RESEARCH IT ON THE INTERNET BUT THAT IS NOT NECESSARY, YOU HAVE TAKEN HUNTERS SAFETY AND THAT IS QUITE ENOUGH.

Answer 8

Pull open the slide and check for a round. If there is one it should eject it. I cant believe you are playing with a gun you know nothing about. This is the kind of thing that gives the anti gun people ammunitiion. Go to the manufactures website and download the owners manual to be sure on the operation. Most manufactures will do this on there website.

Answer 9

Drop a pencil down the bore and pull the slide back with the muzzle pointed upward. If you can see the pencil through the ejection port, you're safe. If you look where the pencil hits inside the back of the slide, you'll see the firing pin hole. As long as there's no bullet between that hole and the chamber as you close the slide, you're safe to decock.

Answer 10

One very important point, make sure before you shoot the 45 that their is nothing obstructing or blocking the inside of the barrel before firing it.*