Soldiernurse
Member
Walther PPS is ambi
Guns with Ambi Slide Release?
- Thread starter Skribs
- Start date
- Status
ny32182
Member
As a lefty I can say that the M&P has improved my reloads vs. the Glock, due to the slide drop characteristics... it drops by itself literally about 99% of the time; in the rare case that it doesn't, hitting the right side slide catch is faster than slingshotting, which is what I had to do with the Glock if it did not drop (which happened a lot more often).
Personally I hit it with my strong hand thumb when necessary.
My only gripe is that since the slide catch is a wishbone shaped part with the only actual engagement on the left side, there is more play in the right side button due to flex in the part between the button and the engagement point. However it still beats having no button at all, by a mile.
I have 10k through my M&P since November and have yet to break anything; however, as popular as M&Ps are in IDPA, I see a lot of rounds go through a lot of M&Ps, and have heard of many of the small parts breaking at one time or another, but the trigger itself is not one of them.
I plan to get my hands on an FNS at some point for an ergonomic comparison.
Personally I hit it with my strong hand thumb when necessary.
My only gripe is that since the slide catch is a wishbone shaped part with the only actual engagement on the left side, there is more play in the right side button due to flex in the part between the button and the engagement point. However it still beats having no button at all, by a mile.
I have 10k through my M&P since November and have yet to break anything; however, as popular as M&Ps are in IDPA, I see a lot of rounds go through a lot of M&Ps, and have heard of many of the small parts breaking at one time or another, but the trigger itself is not one of them.
I plan to get my hands on an FNS at some point for an ergonomic comparison.
Andrew Wyatt
Member
There's no use case for that.
You're looking for a new problem!
I have many times contemplated removing the external part of the slide release on some of my SD-oriented handguns. The only thing stopping me is the increased difficulty of clearing a complicated malfunction. If I were a lefty, I'd consider a righty-only slide release a blessing. The stock 1911 slide stop is conspicuously impossible to reach for a righty from a shooting grip, but for some reason all the manufacturers want it to be easily reachable, these days.
That said, the FN series not only has an ambi release, it's also perfectly placed. Never have I had an issue with hitting it accidentally.
In an SD situation, if I have shot my gun dry, it's already done its job. A spare mag is a bonus. A successful reload with said mag a tenth of a second faster than slingshotting is an additional very small bonus.
The absolute perfect slide release for a lefty is on a stock 1911. Easily hit with your trigger finger. They put it on the wrong side for most of us!
I have many times contemplated removing the external part of the slide release on some of my SD-oriented handguns. The only thing stopping me is the increased difficulty of clearing a complicated malfunction. If I were a lefty, I'd consider a righty-only slide release a blessing. The stock 1911 slide stop is conspicuously impossible to reach for a righty from a shooting grip, but for some reason all the manufacturers want it to be easily reachable, these days.
That said, the FN series not only has an ambi release, it's also perfectly placed. Never have I had an issue with hitting it accidentally.
In an SD situation, if I have shot my gun dry, it's already done its job. A spare mag is a bonus. A successful reload with said mag a tenth of a second faster than slingshotting is an additional very small bonus.
The absolute perfect slide release for a lefty is on a stock 1911. Easily hit with your trigger finger. They put it on the wrong side for most of us!
Last edited:
If I need that reload, that tenth of a second is probably important.
It's very easy on my XDm (when holding RH) to hit the slide stop on purpose, very hard to do so accidentally. It sounds like the slide stop on the 1911 is further forward than what it is on most of the polymer SFA-type handguns (which is what I prefer). I don't want the manual safety that seems to be required for single action, or the different trigger pulls from a DA/SA.
Andrew Wyatt
Member
The problem with using the slide stop is twofold.
1. if the slide doesn't lock back, hitting the release wont do anything.
2. you can clear most malfunctions by reloading it and racking the slide manually. no malfunctions can be cleared by hitting the slide stop.
1. if the slide doesn't lock back, hitting the release wont do anything.
2. you can clear most malfunctions by reloading it and racking the slide manually. no malfunctions can be cleared by hitting the slide stop.
Hmmm...I just noticed the magazine release on the M&P is reversible, not ambidextrous. The magazine release is more important to me (as are some other features on the XDm platform) than the ambi slide release. Unfortunately, it looks like the design I want isn't made by anyone.
Not really. I have a P99 clone airsoft pistol, and I don't like the magazine release. 1) The thumb release is a quicker, less awkward motion than the finger release, and 2) you are required to put your finger partway inside the trigger guard in order to hit the mag release on the P99. I'd rather keep my finger out and use the thumb push-button.
I also think 15 rounds in a flush magazine isn't enough for a competitive 9mm SFA pistol. Compare it to: SR9/Glock/M&P (17), Caracal (18), or XDm (19) and its on the low end.
ETA: I looked at the manual, and it said to use your thumb. Well, my thumb doesn't work for that, because I have small hands. Trying to hit the mag release on a P99 with my thumb I look like a turtle on its back kicking its legs. Any motion I use to hit the mag release (be it twisting my trigger finger down or bringing my middle finger up) is going to be less intuitive than using a thumb release and require more twisting of my hand. I did find the middle finger easier than my index.
I also think 15 rounds in a flush magazine isn't enough for a competitive 9mm SFA pistol. Compare it to: SR9/Glock/M&P (17), Caracal (18), or XDm (19) and its on the low end.
ETA: I looked at the manual, and it said to use your thumb. Well, my thumb doesn't work for that, because I have small hands. Trying to hit the mag release on a P99 with my thumb I look like a turtle on its back kicking its legs. Any motion I use to hit the mag release (be it twisting my trigger finger down or bringing my middle finger up) is going to be less intuitive than using a thumb release and require more twisting of my hand. I did find the middle finger easier than my index.
Last edited:
No, but as a later post of mine said, it is cumbersome for someone with my size hands to hit that release; can't do it with the thumb.
I personally believe that all handgun controls (except for the trigger) should be accessible from the thumb without changing your grip.
ETA: Does the PPQ have a flush 17-round magazine, or is it available as an extended magazine?
I personally believe that all handgun controls (except for the trigger) should be accessible from the thumb without changing your grip.
ETA: Does the PPQ have a flush 17-round magazine, or is it available as an extended magazine?
Last edited:
I'm not seeing it on the PX4 when I look at it. Safety or decocker (not sure which), yes. Slide release, no.
Another problem arose when I looked at the PPQ/M&P...while those have ambi slide release, the pocket variants (PPS/Shield) do not. It seems the XDm/XDs is about the only one that keeps a similar MOA when dropping to a single stack sub-compact.
Another problem arose when I looked at the PPQ/M&P...while those have ambi slide release, the pocket variants (PPS/Shield) do not. It seems the XDm/XDs is about the only one that keeps a similar MOA when dropping to a single stack sub-compact.
Just Left, I looked up pictures of the PX4 compact and I didn't see a slide release on the right side. It looked the same as the full and sub, except for the size of the slide/grip.
Rant: I do not understand why a company would include some ambi features but not others. Speaking as a southpaw, it's not a "fully ambidextrous" pistol unless I can do the exact same things with my left hand as I do with my right.
Rant: I do not understand why a company would include some ambi features but not others. Speaking as a southpaw, it's not a "fully ambidextrous" pistol unless I can do the exact same things with my left hand as I do with my right.
I have mine in front of me and trust me it has it. Go to berettausa.com and follow the links to the compact. It looks very much like the full size in a photo so just do an image search on the web and hunt around for the correct pic and view. I have all three sizes and have never had a failure from any of them.
Anyway... just another fun choice to add to the mix of fun choices.
Anyway... just another fun choice to add to the mix of fun choices.
DeadFlies
Member
Hi-Point doesn't have a slide release, per se. You just pull the slide back a little to release it. I suppose you could do that with either hand 
, though being right handed I usually use my left hand to manipulate the "slide release".
, though being right handed I usually use my left hand to manipulate the "slide release".Complexity. In order for a slide release to work on both sides, it needs to be 1 big, weird shaped part. You can't just put a nice, simple slide release on each side, or you'd need to hit 'em both.
Oft times, an ambi part is a compromise. It often isn't as durable, esp on the lefty end of things.
Think about the slide release, for example. On an FN, there are slide notches cut on both sides of the slide. But if you look at it with the slide locked back, it obviously catches only on the left side of the slide. The right side notch doesn't quite engage. This makes perfect sense for a righty. When a righty presses the release, he's applying force directly where it's needed to disengage the stop. When a lefty hits the release, the force has to go through the entire U shaped slide release to the other side of the gun, so there's going to be some flex/play involved and more chance for breakage. Another example is the lefty safety/decocker known to twist off of the FN gun under hard use. Cuz of the way the safety is designed, one side is naturally weaker. Of course they put that on the side where the 5%ers will use it.
On an FNX/S, a lefty could reverse the safety levers and either enlarge the slide notch on the left side or grind down the left side slide stop.
Last edited:
LiveLife
Member
Skribs, I am "tactically" oriented and practicality is key for me. In line with what you posted, I want my equipment to work as intended, period.
Although I started with 1911/Sig 226, I went the way of Glocks for simplicity and reliable functionality. But ergonomics were less than desirable.
Don't believe me? Try doing a simple task of magazine change drill with other pistols like M&P. You'll note that metal magazines tend to drop a lot readily and easier than Glock mags. Part of it is that mag release catch is more readily reachable than Glock (which I need to shift my grip to fully operate). Another is that Glock mag release takes much more pressure to operate than M&P.
I think the best thing for you to do is range test several pistols and see how they function for you and your hands. I usually recommend the holes on targets and how fast/consistently you can place them should dictate which pistol to pursue.
Although I started with 1911/Sig 226, I went the way of Glocks for simplicity and reliable functionality. But ergonomics were less than desirable.
Don't believe me? Try doing a simple task of magazine change drill with other pistols like M&P. You'll note that metal magazines tend to drop a lot readily and easier than Glock mags. Part of it is that mag release catch is more readily reachable than Glock (which I need to shift my grip to fully operate). Another is that Glock mag release takes much more pressure to operate than M&P.
I think the best thing for you to do is range test several pistols and see how they function for you and your hands. I usually recommend the holes on targets and how fast/consistently you can place them should dictate which pistol to pursue.
- Status
