Slow Fire: 5+5, 4+6, 3+7?

[Orpanaut]

I've been experimenting with my reload sequence for slow fire strings.

For years I've been loading five, shooting five, then dropping the empty magazine and loading a new one with five rounds. This made sense to me since it kept things simple and consistent for the whole match and meant that I could load my magazines the same way every time.

Then, when I got my Marvel conversion, I no longer had the slide locking back to remind me that it was time to reload. Sometimes I'd lose count and try to fire a sixth shot with an empty chamber. Sometimes I'd worry about that happening and get distracted from the basics of aiming and firing.

So lately I've been experimenting with a different sequence: load 5, shoot 4, and then swap mags with a round still in the chamber. The advantages are that counting to four is easier than counting to five and not having to release or cycle the slide saves a little bit of time and helps maintain a more consistent grip. I've even thought about loading 4 rounds in the first mag and 6 in the second so I can reload after 3 rounds and make the counting even easier.

Is this a waste of time? Do the champion high master shooters always load 5+5 in slow fire?

[Orion]

I can't speak for HM shooters, but in practice I always shoot 5 and "one" for good measure and follow-through.

Never "race" the gun down immediately after the conclusion of the 5th shot. And setup mentally for the next string.

But yes, after shooting 5 for so long, I know when I'm out.

At least, that's my philosophy.

[tuj]

Why is counting to 5 so hard? Load 5, shoot 5, load 5, shoot 5 more. No numbers to mix up.

[NDbullseye]

why not load ten since it is 22??????? it is legal

[Orpanaut]

why not load ten since it is 22??????? it is legal

That is a good question. I will have to test my Marvel to see if it will function reliably with ten rounds in the magazine.

[marvelshooter]

I am a high master and I load my Marvel magazines with 5 rounds and change them after 4 shots during slow fire. I have asked about the rules regarding this practice before and have never got a straight answer. One person said that in high power rifle it is called a "hot reload" and is not legal but didn't know about bullseye. Yes, you are changing mags with a round in the chamber but I don't consider the practice any more dangerous than dropping a locked back slide on a full mag.

[clark2245]

I am a high master and I load my Marvel magazines with 5 rounds and change them after 4 shots during slow fire. I have asked about the rules regarding this practice before and have never got a straight answer. One person said that in high power rifle it is called a "hot reload" and is not legal but didn't know about bullseye. Yes, you are changing mags with a round in the chamber but I don't consider the practice any more dangerous than dropping a locked back slide on a full mag.

There is no rule specifying how you load your magazines or when you insert a new one. In fact the rules specifically avoid doing that. Here is the range command out of the rule book (part of rule 10.7) regarding slow fire:

"Note: In slow fire events, which are scored after 10 shots, the command should be "10 SHOTS SLOW FIRE, 10 SHOTS IN 10 MINUTES, LOAD." (The number of rounds to be loaded by the competitor in slow fire stages will be determined by the competitor.)"

Clark

[C. Perkins]

During slow fire I load 5 rounds, shoot 4 rounds, remove magazine and install another 5 rounds.
This is called a hot reload.
I do this because I want the slide to close on a round with full power from the previous round.
Whether it makes a difference or not, I do not know, but it makes me feel like it should be better LOL

Clarence