One-handed manipulations -
Tap, Rack – I briskly strike the magazine base plate against my thigh, hip or belt, snag the rear slight on my belt (or other suitable object), push down smartly on the pistol grip until the slide is fully retracted and then pull the pistol directly outward and away from my body (to keep clothing from becoming entangled the action). Then I Recover (assess the situation and determine if I need to shoot again.)
If Tap, Rack fails to clear the stoppage, I shift my attention from the gun to the danger and then, if necessary, decide what I need to do to mitigate the risk to my safety and then move with a purpose.
When time and conditions permit I perform a one-handed Combat Reload. I press the magazine release with my index finger to jettison the “spent” magazine and place the pistol backwards in my holster. I verify the magazine well is clear to receive the fresh magazine. If the magazine well is clear then I immediately perform a Combat Reload, Tap, Rack and Recover.
If the magazine did not jettison, I grasp the pistol, remove it from the holster, snag the rear sight on my belt, push down smartly on the pistol grip to retract the slide and engage the slide lock with my index finger. I then snag the toe of the magazine base plate against my belt/belt buckle, press the magazine release with my index finger and forcibly remove the “spent” magazine from the pistol. Afterward I snag the rear sight on my belt and smartly rack the slide three times to clear the chamber. I put the pistol backwards in my holster and finish the Combat Reload. After I’ve seated the magazine I perform Tap, Rack and Recover (as described above).
If the initial Tap, Rack fails to get the gun running (as described above), I attempt to perform a Combat Reload FIRST because I’m more likely to have shot my pistol to slide lock than to have encountered a double-feed stoppage. In this case a Combat Reload gets me back in the fight quicker than going through all the steps required to clear a double-feed stoppage.
When my pistol fails to fire whenever I press the trigger I don’t stop to look at it to determine what caused the stoppage. I immediately perform Tap, Rack. If Tap, Rack fails to get the gun running then I attempt perform a Combat Reload. If the magazine didn’t jettison after I worked the magazine release then I perform the manipulations to clear a double-feed stoppage. This progression of robust immediate actions streamlines decision-making under stress and allows you to get the pistol running more quickly.
I can successfully perform all my manipulations without the need to look at the pistol. They can be performed quickly in total darkness (or, in the case of two-handed manipulations, while I’m on the move).
Notice that even when I perform one-handed manipulations I don’t manually release the slide lock. I snag the rear sight and “rack” the slide just as I normally do with two-handed manipulations.
