That's a very common mistake, pull the slide back, check the chamber and see its empty, release the slide (now it just became loaded) then pull the magazine.
Happened to me once at home when I was showing a handgun to a friend. Fortunately my friend did what he was supposed to do, pull the slide, recheck the chamber and lo and behold, there's a cartridge in there. Scared the living crap out of me, and yes, that was a learning experience....... I still cringe when I think about it.
I always check a firearm someone has “cleared” in my presense. Thanks for reminding me why I do it.
That's a he*lluva way to handle any automatic when showing it to a friend, handing it back and forth with the slide closed!!!
If this is your habit, you ought to cringe. Your "friend" should never have to pull the slide to examine its safe condition or you are not a friend. The piece should be cleared of any magazine or ammo in the barrel, slide locked open, inspected by you, and only then handed to him for his/her inspection and responsibility for safe handling.
For those who might not already know, here is the procedure. With the piece always pointed in a safe direction, and never placing your finger on the trigger unless you intend to shoot it; and assuming a priori it is loaded; then:
(1) Eject the magazine, placing it out of the way.
(2) Holding the piece in the right hand, right thumb on the slide catch, rack the slide back and engage the slide catch to keep the slide securely open when the left hand is removed from the slide.
(3) Through the ejection port, examine the rear of the barrel to insure there is no round still lodged in the barrel and to simultaneously doublecheck the magazine channel to see that it is clear.
(4) With the slide securely open, hand the piece to the other person, muzzle pointed somewhere between horizontal and skyward.
(5) The other person receives the piece, examines the open chamber again to ensure there is no magazine in the piece and no round lodged in the barrel.
(6) The person receiving the piece may then close the slide by holding the piece in the right hand; restraining the slide with the left hand to back the slide off the slide catch thus disengaging it; then easing the slide back into battery (the full closed position), such that it does not slam shut when the slide catch is disengaged.
(7) The hammer may then be lowered, using the left hand to gently restrain the hammer motion to avid damaging the firing pin or the pin spring by keeping the hammer from snapping.
(8) Engage the mechanical safety
(9) Replace the magazine
(10) Examine or manipulate the piece with continuing assumption that the piece is loaded and ready to fire.
Good gun manners and safe handling protocol requires that if the piece is to be handed back to the first person, that this whole process be again repeated in every detail.
The piece has been prepared for safe transfer, safely transferred to the other person, examined for absence of any ammunition, returned to carry state, and fit for further manipulation or use.
A very similar procedure would be used in the handling of revolvers, single shot pistols, or long guns.
Never rely on a safety in handing guns around!
(Extra detail: If this is happening at a firing range, and if someone is to go down range, then prepare the piece by going through steps (1) through (3) above, lay the piece down on the bench, and step full away from the firing line. If there are several people using the range, the range officer will inspect all uncased firearms that they are cleared before anyone is permitted downrange. No uncasing or handling of uncased firearms at all while anyone is downrange.)
Furthermore, in handling a weapon the first time you own it, ALWAYS confirm that the barrel is open -- that there is no dud bullet lodged partway down the barrel (especially for guns not known to have been examined by a gunsmith)!!!
Hope this is taken as a positive, constructive, safe, and helpful critique.
Respectfully but not regretfully --