Method for releasing a slide...

[Frohickey]

1) Weak hand inserts magazine, strong hand thumb releases slide via slide release

Probably the fastest way, but you have to be coordinated, or else you could send the slide forward with an empty chamber. Also, if you have small hands there is the time to get a proper grip again after you shifted the gun on the strong hand

2) Weak hand inserts magazine, weak hand thumb releases slide via slide release

A little slower than #1, but less chance of sending the slide forward on an empty chamber. Grip on the gun isn't changed, so you don't have to reacquire the proper grip

3) Weak hand inserts magazine, weak hand release slide by pulling back on the slide

Slowest of the 3 methods. Even less chance of sending the slide forward on an empty chamber. Grip on gun isn't changed.


I do #3, though, #2 sounds promising.

 

[Kevlarman]

Having a G30, it takes a pretty beefy thumb to relase the slide with that tiny slide lock, so I pull the slide back when and rack it when reloading.

 

[New_comer]

I voted other.

Although I have always favored pulling the slide back to release, I find it easier nowadays to simply 'jar' the slide of my USP9F to release whenever I forcefully reload a mag.

And in the heat of competition, the second or two that this surprising action saves really matters in the end. It is not as consistent as I would have preferred, but when it does so, it feels like I'm cheating...

 

[MoNsTeR]

I always use the slide release, I've found very few autos it was reasonable for me to "slingshot". Anything with a slide-mounted lever (Beretta), adjustable sights (CZ-85 Combat), sharp slide serrations (Steyr M9), or a heavy recoil spring (1911) usually results in bleeding fingers. What's worse, half the time it will just fail, as I didn't get a firm enough grip when pulling back to actually let the slide stop disengage. So, at least in my experience, the idea that the slingshot release takes less concentration and fine motor skills than hitting the slide release lever is ludicrous.

The worst would probably be a CZ with adjustables and a nickel slide, between the sharp sights, low slide profile, conservative serrations, and slick finish, I think just about anyone would have difficulty yanking the slide back quickly. It would also be silly to even bother, since CZ's have huge honking slide stops.

 

[556A2]

Slide Release for the most part, but will pull back on slide every now and then.

 

[boing]

Both.

With a approriately designed lever (1911, CZ), I thumb it with my weak hand after driving the mag home. Fastest and least fumble prone. No need to 'find the little lever', it's right there and it's big, mash thumb down, slide goes forward.

With a dinky little lever (Glock, KelTec), I overhand the slide. The stamped sheet metal doesn't hold up to wear, IME, and slide lock failures can occur.

None of this applies to the SIG, of course.

 

[LIProgun]

Pull back and release.

+ Only one technique to master regardless of which pistol I'm using. [Some have usable slide lock release controls (e.g., 1911 pattern); some have small controls (e.g., Glocks) and some have no controls (e.g., Walther PP; Heritage Stealth, etc.).]

+ No need to shift the firing grip once it is acquired, as sometimes happens when reaching for the release control.

+ Pulling back and releasing may be more positive than releasing from slide lock. During the firing sequence, the slide travels all the way to the rear before starting back forward. Releasing from slide lock may not always feed as reliably as when the slide moves from the full distance. Of course, this is gun specific.

+ Pulling and releasing with the hand is a gross motor skill more conducive to a stressful situation than a fine motor skill like pressing a lever with the thumb.

+ Pulling and releasing uses same motion as required to clear malfunctions.

+ Some shooters do not have the finger strength to depress the slide lock. I have had female students who could not depress the release on a S&W 908 and a Colt Commander with the thumb who had no problem releasing the slide by pulling back. I'm not sure if it was the recoil spring tension or the mag spring tension (or both) that caused the problem, but they couldn't do it.

 

[Stealther]

Just squeeze the grip of the P7M8 and you're all set! With any other pistol I'd pull the slide back.

 

[seeker_two]

More "slingshotters" than I thought...

Thanks for the info...

 

[krept]

sling shot...

why fiddle with a lever?

 

[voilsb]

most of the time I release the slide via a tactical re-load. I just slap the new mag in hard enough it causes the slide to shut, and I'm ready to go again.

after that, I usually use the slide release.

I rarely slingshot the slide to release it. I do sometimes, but not often at all

 

[M1911]

sling shot...why fiddle with a lever?

I don't fiddle with it, I depress it with my left thumb as it regains the grip, following insertion of the new magazine. For me, it's quite a bit faster than sling shot. There's no need for me to rearrange my grip after the shot -- my right hand stays in its firing grip during the entire reload process.

There certainly are some guns that have small or oddly placed slide stops. If I carried one of those, I'd use the sling-shot method. But some guns (e.g., 1911s, Kahrs, HK USPs) have large, well-placed slide stops that I can easily hit with my left thumb.

 

[bigjim]

ouch!

Anyone that uses the sligshot method does not own a TRP Operator. That rear sight will slice your fingers to the bone.

 

[cratz2]

Assuming we're talking about 1911s, I was always taught that the slide stop was intended to let you know that the magazine was empty in case you forgot to count your rounds while being shot at with German machine guns. They are checkered (or serrated) for use when your left arm had been shot off.

It's a slide stop, not a slide release. If you have two arms, you are supposed to pull the slide back with your left hand.

 

[Triad]

It's a slide stop, not a slide release. If you have two arms, you are supposed to pull the slide back with your left hand.

If I'm not supposed to use it the manufacturer shouldn't put it there. They don't need to put a lever there to stop the slide, just the stop inside the frame.

 

[Ted Bell]

I second Stealther's method -- just squeeze the grip of my P7m8 and I'm good to go.

 

[dfrog]

Pull back and release. Pulling the slide back will give you more force to drive the bullet into the chamber. I know it's not normally a factor, but who knows when you are going to get a round that does not go into battery?

 

[ENC]

I may be a bit confused but you still have to manually disengage the lever when using the slingshot method correct?

 

[boing]

Nope. Pulling the slide back will cause the lever to drop, unless there's an empty magazine locked in the mag well.

Usually. I suppose there may some designs that operate differently, but I'm not aware of any in the "combat pistol" genre.

 

[cratz2]

If I'm not supposed to use it the manufacturer shouldn't put it there. They don't need to put a lever there to stop the slide, just the stop inside the frame.

Well, of course, on a military arm, the manufacture can only assums that you will be trained on the proper manual of arms. It's exposed so you can use it if you need to use it.

 

[Cruiser]

I voted other, because even though I pull back on the slide to release it, I don't use the slingshot method. I reach over the top rear of the slide with my left hand so the thumb is on the left side of the pistol & the fingers are on the right side behind the ejection port. This is a stronger grip than the slingshot grip & works well under stress.

Using the slide release lever is more of a fine-motor skill & while it is normally very fast, you can miss the small lever under extreme stress. That negates any speed aspects.