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Is there some kind of technique (other than the obvious of trying to keep a count of rounds fired)?

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I just count in my head.  At first, it's a pain in the butt, and you'll lose count a lot.  After a while, though, it just becomes second nature.  I really focus on this at the range, whether it's in a 6-shot revolver, 15-shot semi-auto, or my AR.  It's a [b]very[/b] important habit to develop if you are ever forced to use a weapon for something more serious than target shooting.

Or you could just carry a whole mess of magazines and do tactical reloads when ever there is a lull in the action. [:D]

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"Seriously, if you have time to worry about how many rounds you have left in your mag, you have time to COUNT your shots.  If you don't, then it isn't an issue.  Practice your mag changes, and practice "tactical mag changes", where you use the oppertunity take cover in the middle of a drill and quickly change mags, even though you haven't ran your current mag dry yet."



Agreed Gentlemen.
I'm not an expert, I'd never pretend to be, but,
I've been trained and I'm certain the bulk of professional military and LE firearms training schools teach not to rely on the capacity of a single magazine.  
They do not, in my experience, teach round counts as a way of being certain not to run out during an armed confrontation.
What is stressed is the importance of remembering and practicing your tactical re-loads, WITHOUT looking at your given weapon.  Round counts should be kept in mind, and that will come w/ training, it becomes sub-concious.
However, feeling for different loads, will become increasingly difficult, under stress, w/ differing levels of eq./gear on, and from differnet firing positions.
Counting, or trying, during an in close fight, time/stress/distance phenomenon, would also be extremely difficult (next to impossible).

ed. to add quotes where appropriate, cause I'm a computer idiot.

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When on active duty every 5th round was a tracer and last 3 were tracers. Problem with this is that it not only tells you when you are empty but also who you are shooting at. Not a problem when fighting with a squad or larger but if you are alone........

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The bolt feels differently when it locks back versus cycling a round into the chamber.  I notice it everytime.  You dont have that forward push when it chambers.