Don't drop the slide on an empty chamber (Mas Ayoob video)

[fastbolt]

While I may occasionally drop a slide for some types of armorer bench checks, I don't make it a regular practice, just like I don't 'flip' the cylinders closed on my revolvers. Not deliberately abusing mechanical devices can help extend their useful service lives.

 

[12Bravo20]

Here is my take on this.

Yes you could mess up a 1911 by dropping the slide on an empty chamber if it is a match pistol.

I know that every time that one turned a 1911A1 into the arms room, you had to hand it to the armorer with the slide locked back. And the armors would just let the slides drop on an empty chamber as they were setting them in the rack. This was done for a very long time and I never saw a GI 1911 get messed up by letting the slide drop on an empty chamber.

 

[The Night Rider]

What if you’re checking the gun? just guild the slide back home?

It wouldn't hurt would it?

 

[The Night Rider]

YouTube is so fun.....

Dropping the Model 1911 slide ~ The Truth!

Former member of the US Army 25th Infantry Division 25th MP Co. at Cu Chi Vietnam, retired city police Captain, lifelong NRA certified firearms police firear...

youtu.be

"That's the way they do it in the Army" is the worst possible justification for anything.

I distinctly remember the first time I got issued an M16A2. I was issued a Dash 10 (TM 9-1005-319-10) with it.

One of the very first pages of the Dash10 explicitly stated that the rifle was to be stored slightly wet with Break Free or whatever CLP they were using at the time.

The TM also stated that white glove inspections were out for the A2 because if you were storing it properly, with a light coating of Break Free on it, The Break Free should continually be drawing carbon out of the bore and the weapon should always be a little bit dirty because of that.

The official Army Training Manual for that rifle stated that.

The very first time I showed that to the Unit Armorer he told me he didn't care because the IG wanted every rifle in that Armory wiped down with rubbing alcohol and stored dry. I mean, that's not even a good idea from a rust prevention standpoint.

That was the last time that I assumed that just because that's the way the Army did it then it was the right way.

 

[1KPerDay]

"That's the way they do it in the Army" is the worst possible justification for anything.

Indeed. That old codger knows his stuff about S&W revolvers though. But it was painful watching him abuse that 1911.

 

[1KPerDay]

I never saw a GI 1911 get messed up by letting the slide drop on an empty chamber.

Would you have known it if they did? GI armorers (some anyway) are well known to beat the crap out of weapons and not follow recommended parts replacement schedules. (See Beretta M9 service history.) And if the prevailing wind in the military is to drop the slide every time it's checked, the armorer that replaces any broken bits isn't going to say, "hey sir, I think we should change the manual of arms for inspection because I'm replacing a lot of sears".

 

[5-SHOTS]

A good rule of thumb for practice is dry fire 5 times for every round of live fire. It is free practice that goes a long way for accuracy and have done so with my revolvers and glock. Some .22s shouldn’t be dry fired. I believe Ruger states in their manual that it is fine for all their .22s.

I have heard not to drop the slide on old designs like a 1911 but I bet it does nothing to a modern gun. If the pistol breaks from dry fire, I wouldn’t trust it for carry.

I was not referring to dry firing done for training which is a good practice when planned and which in any case is better performed using snap caps so as not to damage the firing pin in the long run, deform the firing pin hole or crack the breech. I wasn't even referring to pulling the trigger on an empty chamber which is necessary to disassemble some models of pistols, especially striker fired ones: that is a necessary and therefore permitted action. I was referring instead to those who shoot a magazine, slams the slide on what is now an empty chamber and then pull the trigger: useless, pernicious habits that can be repeated, due to tiredness, distraction or automatism, even with a loaded pistol. And in fact accidents of this type happen every day. As for the argument that a modern pistol will never break slamming home the slide every time is false: the elements that prevent the slide from being thrown forward on the ground can and do break: on Glocks, on CZs and on any other pistol. As for the argument that if a pistol breaks during dry firing then it should be discarded as far as carry is concerned, I can certainly say that according to this reasoning it is better not to carry any pistol because sooner or later, if you use it enough , something will break either during dry firing or during live firing. If you abuse it during dry firing or with unnecessary dry maneuvers at the range, it is more likely to break right when it is firing.

 

[12Bravo20]

Would you have known it if they did? GI armorers (some anyway) are well known to beat the crap out of weapons and not follow recommended parts replacement schedules. (See Beretta M9 service history.) And if the prevailing wind in the military is to drop the slide every time it's checked, the armorer that replaces any broken bits isn't going to say, "hey sir, I think we should change the manual of arms for inspection because I'm replacing a lot of sears".

Yes I would know if things were damaged. I was the battalion machinist and worked hand in hand with all of the armorers in the battalion. I would generally fix what they could not.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Well I’m a wheel gun guy, so take this for what it’s worth.

The corollary in the wheelgun world would be closing or opening the cylinder with a flick of the wrist

 

[5-SHOTS]

The corollary in the wheelgun world would be closing or opening the cylinder with a flick of the wrist

While spinning the cylinder.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Mas Ayoob is getting up there is age. He reminds me of Charles Bronson

 

[9mmepiphany]

I was referring instead to those who shoot a magazine, slams the slide on what is now an empty chamber and then pull the trigger:

Therein lays the balancing act between wear and safety

 

[9mmepiphany]

"That's the way they do it in the Army" is the worst possible justification for anything.

I always find that justification amusing and then the same person objecting to folks not carrying a 1911 in Condition 1

 

[JohnMc]

I also will not dry fire any gun that doesn't belong to me without asking the owner first.

When I bought my CZ 52, via some cash burning a hole in my pocket, I didn't know diddly about them.
The guy behind the counter at the LGS let me dry fire it (once).
After I got it home and got on the Internet, I realized what a bad idea that was. It's got its factory firing pin intact; fortunately I didn't break it.
So I've modified that to no dry fire unless I know the manufacturer says it's OK, know about the gun, and the owner says it's OK.

 

[AK Hunter]

Use is totally different than abuse. Some owners that believe that their gun can take anything & will sit on the couch dropping the slide for hours at a time. I think you need to know your gun, if you paid a lot for it & can't afford to get it fixed once a week, don't drop the slide. If it's a cheap gun or you have the money to wear this one out just to buy another, go on & drop that slide as much as you want.

 

[1KPerDay]

Mas Ayoob is getting up there is age. He reminds me of Charles Bronson

He needs a better rug, too.

 

[The Glockodile]

YouTube is so fun.....

Dropping the Model 1911 slide ~ The Truth!

Former member of the US Army 25th Infantry Division 25th MP Co. at Cu Chi Vietnam, retired city police Captain, lifelong NRA certified firearms police firear...

youtu.be

“Navy S.E.A.L. spouts bubbasumptions on dropping empty slide on P226.”

Immense technical qualifications!

 

[The Glockodile]

Reminder for the uninformed; particularly on a 1911-based pistol. Don't "drop the slide" unless you're actually loading a cartridge.

Don't Drop The Slide On An Empty Chamber!! - Avoid Gun Abuse! - Critical Mas Ep 76

Avoid Gun Abuse! Specifically slamming the slide closed on an empty chamber. This misuse has been highlighted by expert pistol smiths like Bill Wilson and Ji...

youtu.be

Did love the ”meow” part, though

 

[kidneyboy]

YouTube is so fun.....

Dropping the Model 1911 slide ~ The Truth!

Former member of the US Army 25th Infantry Division 25th MP Co. at Cu Chi Vietnam, retired city police Captain, lifelong NRA certified firearms police firear...

youtu.be

This guy is awesome. I really like the hate he gets on some of the forums.

Mas Ayoob is getting up there is age. He reminds me of Charles Bronson

Him and Hackathorn are becoming caricatures of themselves. Pretty sure they promote what Wilson tells them to.

 

[halfmoonclip]

While I may occasionally drop a slide for some types of armorer bench checks, I don't make it a regular practice, just like I don't 'flip' the cylinders closed on my revolvers. Not deliberately abusing mechanical devices can help extend their useful service lives.

This. Flipping the cylinder closed (or worse, open) will bend things.

Oddly, at Glock shoots, you have to show the RA a clear chamber, then close the slide, and dry fire downrange. I seem to recall a lot of slide slamming.

Yeah, we slammed slides on GI 1911s; they were meant to be pretty much soldier proof. I never recall anyone dropping a round in the chamber, and then slamming the slide. That is really tough on the extractor.

<edited as OT>
Moon

 

[md7]

I have no clue if dropping a slide on an empty chamber is harmful or not. As a personal preference, I don’t do it just like I don’t wrist flick a revolver cylinder closed.

And that’s purely my preference, and for no other reason.

 

[The Glockodile]

Him and Hackathorn are becoming caricatures of themselves.

Goateed gunslingers?

Let’s add double - breasted buttoned pockets and cargo pants to the image…
And, those shoes. What on earth do you call those quasi - work shoes they wear?

 

[The Glockodile]

Yeah, we slammed slides on GI 1911s; they were meant to be pretty much soldier proof.

When the life expectancy of deployed equipment and personnel is taken into the overall equation, I have serious doubts the government really cares as far as the ”big picture numbers game” is concerned - so “best practice guidelines” for sidearms with a near - nonexistent combat role might be vestigial at most…

I never recall anyone dropping a round in the chamber, and then slamming the slide. That is really tough on the extractor.

This does make me wonder about short extractor “teeth” a la Glock and Sako (rifle) designs.

Perhaps “teeth“ extractors can take far more clippings over the rim than we give them credit for,

 

[Old Dog]

As much respect as I have for both Mas and Ken, it's starting to look as though they're running out of topics for their YouTube videos and recycling some pretty basic stuff.

Interestingly enough, when I went through an MP school and we carried 1911s in Condition 3, we were taught the "Israeli Draw" and went through sessions drawing multiple times a day, racking slides on empty chambers (I guess snap caps weren't a thing back then).

 

[cfullgraf]

I've been dealing with 1911 pistols since the 1980's have have known that dropping the slide on an empty chamber is hard on the sear. Will the sear break at the first time, no. Will it eventually cause prolems with the gun after repeated dropping of the slide on an empty chamber, probably.

The point is, it is hard on the gun and not advisable regular basis.

The same with flicking the cylinder closed on a revolver. A couple times won't have ill effects, but regular abuse will shorten the life of the gun.