How to Load and Fire a 9mm Pistol

This tells a person how to successfully load and fire a 9mm pistol, which could help in time of crisis.

Steps

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    Purchase a 9mm pistol. A Glock brand pistol works well for most people. Glocks are affordable, reliable, and simple to operate.
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    Purchase 9mm ammunition from any gun store and most sporting goods stores. If you are not sure about which ammo you need, consult the shop keeper, most are happy to help.
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    Press the button on the side of the hand grip to eject the magazine.[1]
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    Insert ammunition one at a time into the top of the magazine, with the rounded side forward, until the magazine is full.[2]
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    Re-insert magazine by moving it briskly and firmly upward into the hand grip until you hear a clicking noise which indicates the magazine has locked in place.[3]
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    If your pistol has a manual safety disengage it by manipulating the safety lever near the upper rear of the firearm.
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    Using the palm of your hand pull the slide to its rearmost position and release it to chamber a round. If the slide has gone forward completely the weapon is ready to fire![4]
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    Align your eye with the sights and the target.[5]
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    Place your index finger onto the trigger only when you are ready to shoot.[6]
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    Pull the trigger one time for each shot you wish to fire.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    I have no ammunition in the my new gun. I slid the chamber back, and now it won't close. What should I do?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    First of all, you didn't slide the chamber back -- that doesn't go back. You slid the slide back. It has now locked back because you have an empty magazine in your handgun. This also happens when you've been firing and run out of ammo. To fix this, simply take out your magazine with the magazine release, and either use the slide release on the side of the firearm or pull the slide a little back to close.
  • Question
    How do I know the safety button on my gun is on?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    On most guns, including pistols, the safety button is along the side of the gun and has a red or orange color. Push it in and you will hear a click, and then you will be able to pull the trigger and have it fire.
  • Question
    When I put a round in the chamber, is the safety on?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Some guns have passive safety features, some have active safeties, some have both, and others have neither. All active safeties, that is safeties which prevent you from firing the gun while engaged, are manually activated and deactivated. Always read the manual for your firearm to fully understand all of its safety features. And more importantly, never chamber a round in a gun that you do not understand unless your life depends on it. Find the manufacturer and get yourself the manual.
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Warnings

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Things You'll Need

  • 9mm Pistol
  • 9mm Ammo
  • Pointing finger
  • Eye-sight
  • Target
  • Steady hand
  • Thumbs

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References

  1. ↑ https://thewellarmedwoman.com/training-handling/loading-and-unloading-semi-auto/
  2. ↑ https://thewellarmedwoman.com/training-handling/loading-and-unloading-semi-auto/
  3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0h-0ZO8BG0
  4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0h-0ZO8BG0
  5. ↑ https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/how-to-fire-a-handgun-safely-and-correctly/
  6. ↑ https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/how-to-fire-a-handgun-safely-and-correctly/

About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 37 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 435,316 times.
589 votes - 92%
Co-authors: 37
Updated: September 12, 2020
Views: 435,316
Categories: Handguns Pistols and Revolvers
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