I guess if I'd read your responses over in GATE in the order of Oldest to latest instead of vice versa, I'd have had an answer to one of my questions. The GI and "Saddle method" are the same, right?

However, my first question needs to be reworded a bit: Is it OK to load the chamber by leaving the slide back and then slingshotting it after inserting a fall mag? Even loaded +1 (after topping off the mag) the slide does not seem to catch like I described when I rack it by hand.