Permanent Damage from Slamming Slide on Empty Chamber?

[Tecolote]

Is it true that you can permanently damage an auto from slamming the slide closed on an empty chamber? One guy in my local shop said that if you do that with a Glock just a dozen times the accuracy is destroyed because barrel lock up is damaged. He also said that the barrel hood can be chipped because it slams full force onto the slide. Is this shop commando BS?

 

[Navy joe]

With the Glock, I'd vote for BS. I've done it hundreds of times while dryfiring, no chips, gun is still an X-ring hound at 25yds. The actual practice stems from the fact that you can damage pistols with a fine trigger job by doing this. Mostly in the 1911 world, with a very light trigger the jar of the slide closing can damage the sear engagement surfaces. In normal use the round stripping out of the mag cushions the slamming shut somewhat.

 

[CZ-75]

The part most likely to be damaged is the extractor.

Buy another.

 

[Frohickey]

Gun shop commando BS...

You should ask him to demonstrate what NOT to do on a Glock, and offer him $150 less after he's done it.

 

[Handy]

I equate this with dry firing. Maybe it shouldn't hurt anything, but USP owners now know to buy snap-caps.

Just as a firing too powerful a round will batter a weapon, allowing the full force of the recoil spring to pound the gun in the other direction might not be the best thing for the gun. It's an equal and opposite force to firing that is normally buffered by the feeding round.

That being said, it is your choice what to do with YOUR gun, but it is generally considered impolite to do anything that makes a loud "CLANK" with a gun someone else owns.

I'm personally not one of those people that feel the need to prove my weapon's value by abusing it - so I've never thrown a handgun, driven over it, failed to clean it for thousands of rounds or dropped the slide on empty. Do what you want with your gun.

Ask yourself, "Is there any GOOD reason to do this?"

I can't think of any.

 

[cslinger]

You know good or bad I always gently drop the slide while holding onto it if the gun is empty. I was just always taught that way and no matter what it is the polite thing to do with somebody else's firearm.

I also always try to use snap caps in whatever I have during dry firing. Probably don't have to but it doesn't hurt either.

Chris

 

[firestar]

I doubt it will break a gun any faster than the same amount of shooting.

I do think dry firing revolvers can damage them. I done it enough to mess up a trigger on a S&W M27. Maybe this was a freak occurance but I don't do alot of dry firing or things in that realm.

There are certain things that are just beating on a gun. You can spot these things when someone else picks up your gun and does them. Here is a list of things not to do with my guns unless I say it is O.K.:
1. Dry fire
2. Let slide slam shut on empty
3. Whip the bbl up on a break open shot gun
4. Swing the cylinder shut with gusto on a revolver (like in the movies)
5. Drop it
6. Bang it on anything
7. Spin it like a cowboy.

These thing show disrespect and shouldn't be done to other peoples guns unless it is cleared by the onwer.

 

[hksw]

IMO.

Damage, no.

Accelerated wear, yes.

 

[Chipperman]

Nice list, firestar.
I'd add:
8. cycle a lever gun by swinging the barrel down and back while holding the lever, Hollywood style.
9. hold a handgun "gangsta style". (Not that it damages the gun, it's just out of principle)

 

[Blackhawk]

BS commando.

 

[WESHOOT2]

I VOTE WITH NAVY JOE

Don't do it to my Witnesses or Caspians, but you may do as you wish.

This from a guy who's used his guns as hammers

 

[RSKING45]

I to agree with navy joe,Its a good way to mess up a good trigger job

 

[firestar]

9. hold a handgun "gangsta style". (Not that it damages the gun, it's just out of principle)

LMAO!

 

[Sean Smith]

Is it true that you can permanently damage an auto from slamming the slide closed on an empty chamber? One guy in my local shop said that if you do that with a Glock just a dozen times the accuracy is destroyed because barrel lock up is damaged. He also said that the barrel hood can be chipped because it slams full force onto the slide. Is this shop commando BS?

That is definitely gun shop commando BS. Damaged barrel lockup? LOL!

I understand that this is generally a bad practice in 1911s, but even there doing it a few times won't be the end of the world.

 

[yankytrash]

Here is a list of things not to do with my guns unless I say it is O.K.:

...

7. Spin it like a cowboy.

I guess you better not come shootin with me then.

Jus' kiddin, of course....

 

[caz223]

He's probably right, but by accident.
It doesn't affect lock-up at all. (Not on a glock, anyway.)
On a new gun its prolly not wise to slam the slide home on an empty chamber (The new recoil spring is still too 'tense') , or a short slided gun (Less than 4 inches) due to heavy recoil spring, or a top-lug design (Due to lockup lug battering), 1911, CZ, witness, BHP, baby eagle, etc.
An undersprung, full-sized glock is prolly one of the guns you can get away with doing it.
Just don't do it to mine.
Remember, it's a slide stop, not a slide release.

I'd like to add to the list that firestar has started.
10. 'fanning' the hammer on a SA cowboy pistol.
11. Spinning the cylinder really fast on a modified SA cowboy pistol. (Or anything SA, for that matter.)

 

[ruger357]

Don't do it on the 1911's.

 

[Coltdriver]

I don't know anything about Glocks and can't comment them.

But, on a 1911 if you take a look at the extractor you can easily visualize how as the slide comes forward the extractor is pressed into the case of the next round as everything goes into battery.

If you release the slide with no round then the extractor bounces off of the barrel and has nothing to stop its inward momentum.

The extractors have been known to break as a result of this treatment. Not a common every day occurence, but it will make you go ah shucks if you do it to yours

I would imagine for any other pistol with a similar extractor arrangement this could also be a problem.

 

[bountyhunter]

If done repeatedly, a 1911 can be damged by this in two areas:

1) The lower barrel lugs are stressed, and in some cases, can be sheared off.

2) The slide stop bar will be stressed and over time can bend or break off.

3) The trigger and sear can "bounce" and chip the faces.

This topic was beaten to death on the 1911 Forum. What I have listed is what gunsmiths report.