Having missed military service in the 60’s by virtue of a high draft lottery number (Thanks Mom for the great birthday!), my education is somewhat deficient in that area. What does the phrase " Lock and Load" really mean and where did it come from. Thanks.
It’s a reference to loading a rifle, although according to Vietnam Veteran’s Terminology and Slang, the exact origin is unclear.
Thanks, Pipeliner. I had thought it had to have something to do with preparing a weapon for firing, but I wasn’t sure exactly what.
See this link. You will need to scan down for the section on “lock and load”.
Briefly, it says that the phrase started out as “load and lock” until John Wayne reversed it in a movie.
My shooting instructor says it means “lock the slide in the fully retracted position” and then “load the magazine”. But while he’s good with guns, his command of English is a little shaky.
The “lock” would probably refer to the safety catch. That’s how it’s used, anyway. Put the safety on, then slap a magazine in.
That’s how we were tought it in the Army. Where slide, if our case, meant the bolt, which I suppose you could call a slide, 'cos it slides.
Well, I’m just a lowly Army cadet, but when I’m shooting on the range, I’ve always thought it meant lock the magazine in place, then load the round by releasing the bolt…thus grabbing a round and loading it into the firing chamber.
Jman
U.S. Army guys, let me get this straight -
You load an M-16 by pulling back the cocking lever, pressing that little switch (I have no idea what it’s called in English) to keep it back, putting the magazine in, and then pressing the switch to release the mechanism and chamber a round?
Why? Why not just put a magazine in and then pull the cocking lever?
I had thought it was to do with the old flintlock muskets.
Load the charge lock the hammer and then prime the pan.
Oh well, maybe I was wrong.
Another vote for reversal of word order:
http://www.wetheliving.com/boston/msg00475.html
Mjollnir, I appreciate the support. But notice that your link is a guy who is quoting my link. I’m not sure that counts as a second vote.
Does anyone else have any comments about the origin of the phrase rather than its meaning? That is really what the OP seemed to be after.
To clarify my own situation, I am learning basic handgunning. I have a .40 S&W Glock. When I have a Glock with no magazine present, it is still possible that a round is present in the chamber. Thus the first thing I do when I pick up my gun is to guarantee that it is truly empty. I do this by removing the magazine, then pulling back the slide. If a round was chambered, it will be ejected by this procedure. By locking the slide in the retracted position, I demonstrate that the gun is safe at first glance to anyone who views it. If I now insert a magazine, it is clear that the gun I am loading does not have a round chambered.
I have never handled a longgun, but I would guess that the M-16 may also have the ability to have a round chambered.
I think the origin thing was answered fairly well with the John Wayne quote.
When you’re shooting a weapon with a detachable magazine almost all of them have the bolt lock back when the magazine is empty. So to reload, you load a magazine, and then lock the bolt closed.
Retired Military Gun Nut.
I believe the phrase centers around the Colt model 1911 which was military issue before being replaced by the Baretta 9mm (a NATO round). The 1911 (.45 ACP ) is a single action weapon, requiring manually pulling back the hammer before the gun is able to fire. This is obviously a disadvantage in a surprise firefight because of the time factor. The solution is chambering a round and pulling back the hammer ahead of time, a very dangerous situation called condtion one. The soulution to THAT is to lock the slide back. Then if needed, a simple press of the thumb release (of the slide lock) will render the gun ‘instantly’ operational. A step not needed in the double action Baretta.
So, before John Wayne, you would LOAD your weapon then chamber a round, pull back the hammer and LOCK the slide into place. Thus being ready with a degree of safety.
IIRC, the m-16 cartridge carrying devise is called a clip,
for the handgun - magazine. Though I may not RC.
I actually proofed that, and still screwed it up.
La vidas asi!
UMmmmm. No, warmgun! A 1911 is designed to be carried “cocked and locked”! That means with the hammer back and the thumb safety engaged. NOT with the slide back. How the hell would you fit it in a holster with the slide back…
as for the origin of “lock and load”, the reversal thing sounds right to me.
NO, again. The “cartridge carrying device” is called a magazine. Clips, or ‘Stripper Clips’ are for a different type of rifle.
Perderabo, sounds like you are doing everything right as far as safety goes. Just so you know, loading a pistol with a round already in the chamber is not too big a deal (unless you hand loaded said round while the slide was back) If the slide is closed and there is a round in the chamber, slapping in a mag and racking the slide will still safely load your glock. The round that was in the chamber will come flying out and a new round will go in. Just FYI, but you probably already knew that.
And yes, an M-16 and most, if not all, magazine fed guns and pistols can have a round still in the chamber…
The Word Maven mentions the reversal, but does not mention John Wayne.
Safety. The only time you hear “Lock and Load” is when you’re on the range. In that case, you always have the bolt locked to the rear, with the safety on. That way, the range guys can check your weapon to make sure it’s clear of a round before you all walk down range to check your targets (unless it’s a pop-up range, of course). You then put in the next magazine, and release the bolt forward. In the field, you’re changing magazines, and the bolt stays locked back when the magazine is finished…simply load a new one and release the bolt. If you’ve got the bolt forward and no magazine in, you can just load and pull the charging handle, but most of the time, it’s already locked to the rear.
Jman
Jman is proud that he’s an Army qualified Expert on the M-16. 
Well hell, Bear, you just ain’t been to Texas enough. they got holsters of all sizes down there!
Of course, you are right. I posted under the influence of migraine narcotics. I just didn’t consider my computer heavy machinery! The point was a single action sidearm needs to be cocked and locked to be of optimal value to someone heading into harms way.
Which is where I believe the phrase originated.
But I did get a big laugh (at myself) when I re-read my post. That would be an ungainly arrangement. So, sorry if I misled anyone.
As for the magazine /clip thing, you were just seeing how far you could go with your ‘scolding’. It’s obvious from my post I was not sure about the correct terminology. It was just my two cents worth. Still, I notice while you stated with authority I was wrong, you didn’t cite which rifles use clips or ‘stripper clips’.