[going hot]

Sometime you drop the magazine , rack the slide, and the extractor fails to pick up the chambered round. Pull trigger, go boooooom.

Looking down the chamber after removing the mag helps.

[ltc8k6]

Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: How many counts in that movement you just
executed?
Private Gomer Pyle: Sir, 4 counts, sir!
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: Whats the idea of looking down in the
chamber?
Private Gomer Pyle: Sir, that is to guarantee that the private is not
giving the inspecting officer a loaded weapon, sir!

[dsc]

I rack the slide three times, look down the chamber, look in the magazine well, then let the hammer down easy.

Not very John Wayne, I guess.