Damage by releasing slide on empty chamber

[JHansenAK47]

Quote:
The Beretta 92 series is designed to allow single round feeding when the magazine is either missing or somehow jammed within the weapon, without incurring damage.

So was the 1911...hence the call for an extractor made of spring-tempered steel. You don't really think that a sharp cookie like John Browning and a team of Colt's top engineers overlooked the possibility of having to single-load the pistol in the event of a lost or damaged magazine...do ya?
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I was always told to not manually load 1911s one round at a time, because the extractor had to jump the rim and on 1911s would be subject to higher rates of breakage. (something you might do if you wanted a full mag and loaded chamber for concealed carry) I've been told that you should only load from the mag if you wanted your extractor to last longer. Anybody care to chime in on that?

 

[1911Tuner]

I was always told to not manually load 1911s one round at a time, because the extractor had to jump the rim and on 1911s would be subject to higher rates of breakage.

And you were advised correctly...but in the event of an emergency, the spring steel extractor on the 1911 will allow single-loading. Not meant to be done on a regular basis...but acceptable in emergencies.

Remember that the postol was designed for the military. It would be a poor design that didn't allow for emergency loading without a magazine.

 

[ftierson]

Is there any reason to snap the slide closed on an empty chamber other than trying to look like a Hollyweird 'familiar'...?

Kind of like snapping the cylinder shut on a revolver using only the shooting hand...?

Or kind of like snapping break-action shotguns closed with as much force as possible to hear the 'snap'...?

What's the point?

Think about what causes wear on metal (and, now, polymers) and what you can do to reduce it to a minimum.

Wait, I know, avoid doing all of the above...



Forrest

 

[1911Tuner]

Is there any reason to snap the slide closed on an empty chamber other than trying to look like a Hollyweird 'familiar'...?

Kind of like snapping the cylinder shut on a revolver using only the shooting hand...?

Or kind of like snapping break-action shotguns closed with as much force as possible to hear the 'snap'...?

That pretty much covers it. Letting the slide slam on empty is acceptable when testing the function of the fire control group after doing trigger action work or the replacement and/or adjustment of the sear spring or other FCG related parts. Beyond that, it's just abuse.

 

[1911NM]

I agree with you 100% Tuner, but (don'cha just love that but) to a certain extent I have had to get over it, as finishing a USPSA match stage, "show clear, hammer down", most RO's want to see you show clear, drop that slide, and dry fire, so they know the chamber is clear. My competition gun is my carry gun, and I guess I also replace and rework parts much more than the average bear.