Rack the slide or use the slide stop lever?

[fastattack]

I'm hoping you guys can solve a disagreement between a friend of mine and I over how to chamber a round. With the loaded mag inserted and the slide back and locked, he says that you should aim and use the slide stop to load the first round. I've read (Gabe Saurez's Tactical Pistol book) that you should rack the slide fully back and release. Which is correct? It seems to me that the answer depends on the specific autoloader. My M&P 40 cal doesn't have much in the way of a release lever which makes his method very difficult. His Glock isn't much better. However, the 1911's seem to have a nice fat lever which makes releasing the slide very easy and I noticed aftermarket slide releases for Glock's as well. Any opinions???

 

[usp9]

Depends on the gun. Do what works best for you and your particular gun. Three of my four CCWs do not even have a slide release and I like it like that.

 

[pax]

fastattack ~

Some guns will choke when the slide stop lever is used as a slide release lever.

Some people find the slide release lever faster to operate than the slingshot or overhand method.

Some people prefer the can't-do-it-wrong aspect of moving the slide, being worried about missing the lever under stress.

Some people find it possible to maintain a firing grip with the dominant hand while pressing the slide release lever.

Some people like the habituation of moving the slide every time, since it is the same action that must be performed for a malfunction clearance.

In short -- "It depends."

(Me, I like running the slide by hand.)

pax

 

[Logos]

Depends on how the slide stop is working for you. Many are difficult, especially in shorter barreled models.

When they are difficult, it's far more certain to just slingshot it.

 

[mister_wilburn]

Racking the slide, at least for me, tend to promote riding it foward. Shooting left handed makes it tough for me to hit that slide release though. So i usually just pull back and release the slide. Just dont ride it forward and you shouldn't have any problems.

 

[wally]

Use both. If either one has a problem get the gun fixed, or work on your technique. Its a handgun, when you really need it, one hand may be the best you can possibly do.

--wally.

 

[STAGE 2]

An age old question that doesn't have an answer. That said here are some things that are certian.

1) The 1911 was designed to use the slide release. Other semi autos vary, but thats the way this oen was made.

2) There is absolutely no evidence that using your thumb to work the slide stop/release is subject to any more degradation as a "fine motor function" under stress than slingshotting.

3) Using the slide stop/release is faster.


Some people don't like it because it allegedly wears out the slide stop. I've never heard of this happening, however even if it does, a $30 part isn't that big of a deal. As far as pulling back the slide fully, the 1/8 of an inch or so that you will gain makes no difference in the functioning of the gun. Quite the contrary I've found that some people who slingshot have a tendency to ride the slide which can cause malfunctions.

If its not evident already, I use the slide release. It's my personal opinion that people should become accustomed to both. After all there are several pistol that don't have any external lever. Add to that that you should already be proficient at slingshotting in order to clear jams and you're good to go.

 

[cdrt]

There was an earlier post on this somewhere. Bottom line, it depends on the pistol and what you're comfortable with.
On my 1911s, I use the slide stop to release the slide.
On my two HS target pistols, I pull the slide back and then release it to chamber a round, since the slide stop is on the right side of the pistol.

 

[Spiff_P239]

I'm casting another vote for "depends on the gun." Some manufacturers like Kahr recommend that you use the slide stop when chambering a round. However, on my Sig pistols, I've always used the slingshot method.

 

[RNB65]

They both work. It doesn't make the least bit of difference. I always use the slide stop.

 

[FieroCDSP]

Speaking from my experience with the M&P 40, you should slingshot or overhand it. THe slide stop is just not enough purchase on a stock M&P to reliably release. I have trouble getting my slide to release and I have the revision N slidestop with the "loop". Whether there's some grind/polish work I can do to fix that is something I'm going to look at, but for now, I'm sling-shotting because it works. Were I to have to use the slide-stop to release, I know I could, but it wouldn't be as fast or efficient as it should be. On my walther P22, I usually slingshot, but I know the stop is not as harsh (anymore) and will release the slide easily enough, so I switch on and off.

 

[Quentin]

Well using the bolt stop to release the bolt will damage a Ruger .22LR MKII/MKIII. Don't know of another pistol that has a similar problem with the slide stop but by habit I've always racked the slide back and released on my center fires (and the Ruger).

 

[nwilliams]

I asked one of my firearms instructors (Matt Seibert) about this and his response was that the slide release is actually a slide stop and to chamber a round he always teaches to reach over the top and rack. He said one of the most common things he corrects on new students is to get them out of the habit of using the slide release.

He gave some good reasons, but I think in the end its up to you and how you are trained. As for me I never use the slide release while shooting, I did up until I started getting some quality training at Gunsite and other places now I always rack by reaching over the top.

The main reasons he gave for not using the slide stop as a slide release to chamber a round seemed pretty logical to me. He said that by pulling the slide back by hand you add a bit more tension to the spring and gain a bit more force to the release of the slide. He also pointed out that when you watch professional shooting competitions most shooters rack this way and very few use the slide release. Another reason he gave was that in a high stress situation its easier to grab the entire slide and rack it than risk fumbling for the tiny slide release and racking the slide is a more reliable way to chamber. The final reason he gave was that it was better for the gun, especially when closing the slide on an empty chamber you should always have your other hand on the top and gently let it close, never let it snap.

In years past when I used to use the slide stop as a release there were many occasions when the round did not fully chamber, especially as the gun got dirty. Ever since I started racking the slide I've never had the slide fail to close fully. So I'm convinced, but the way I see it if you want to use the slide release to close the slide, then use it. Its your gun, you're the one shooting it, do as you see fit. If you have an instructor that tells you not to, you can either do what he or she says or argue with them, I choose to just do what they say because I pay them to teach me how to shoot properly

Tell your friend "I'll do it my way, you do it yours" that usually works for me when I get into discussions like this with my shooting buddies. Personally I'm on your side on this issue.

Good Luck!

 

[kingpin008]

I was also taught that same thing about the slide release actually being only a slide stop. My thought on the matter, is simply this - if it is specifically meant only as a stop, then why do some guns have large, obviously serrated/stippled surfaces on them for the user's finger to engage? or for that matter, if they're solely to be used as a slide stop, why do some guns have very pronounced external levers, while others are very very small, or lacking an external lever completely?

The fact that there is a lever that can be used to release the slide, and they're more often than not finished in such a way as to facilitate an easy grip surface for the user's finger, says to me that they are indeed intended to be used as a release, should the user wish to.


Just my .02, hope I made sense and sorry if I rambled any. it is now officially past my bedtime.

 

[1911 guy]

Slide stop or slingshot.

Some handguns, such as the 1911, have a functional slide stop and can be used to drop the slide into battery. Most, if not all, newer designs have little sheet metal appendages that are hard to use with any speed at all. If it weren't for the use during malfunction drills, they'd be completely useless. That's not entirely a bad thing. For general training and if you have any possibility at all of having to use a "found" handgun, train to slingshot. It will work with any autoloader. If, however, you use only a handgun with a workable slide stop and have no anticipation of having to use a partners gun or a pick-up, the slide stop is faster.

Every school I've been to teaches the slingshot method due to the commonality.

 

[johndoe1027]

In my M&P9c I just bump the mag hard enough to not need either. I figure thats faster than anything. Of course I'm sure someone out there will explain to me why that's bad for it.

In my 1911 (3") I rack the slide most of the time because I have to shift my grip slightly to reach the slide stop with my right hand.

ETA; Pax said it best. I was just posting what I do and what works for me.

 

[Spartacus451]

I'm with Pax on this one. There is no wrong way. Each has advantages and disadvantages. I am a gamer so I use the slide stop because it is faster and disturbs my grip less.

 

[MassMark]

I agree with the shorter 1911 theory. My old Colt 1911 is flawless with a slide stop release, however my ParaCarry is not reliable using this method - especially with hollowpoints. So, I slingshot my Para until it breaks in a bit more....

 

[Im283]

For me I guess it depends on the pistol. One I have has no slide stop and the other does. I shoot left handed and it is very easy on the Sigma to use my index finger to release the slide.

But there is a lot of valid information in this thread to use the slingshot method. Might need to rethink my method.

 

[Sniper X]

To load a round either work fine, it is and has been said and I agree, that you should not use the slide release to let the slide close on an empty chamber.

 

[j_miles]

At Valhalla we teach over hand, manually racking the slide.

It has already been pointed out that Glocks do not technically have slide release, they are slide lock levers, small and hard to hit. Manually racking the slide does give you a little more travel and spring tension. It is also a gross motor-skill.

Probabaly the most important reason we teach this is consistency. The racking of the slide works on most auto loading pistols. The more consistency you have in training, the more efficient you will be during a dynamic critical incident. If you have 3 different guns that you put into battery 3 different ways, you can confuse yourself, especially if someone is trying to kill you or someone you love. If you have 3 different guns and only one way of putting it into battery, obviously you are more consistant/efficient.

If you pick up a Walther PPK, there is no slide lock lever at all. If you have been training using a slide stop, you are going to have a hard time getting the gun into battery.

j_miles
www.valhallatraining.com

 

[Langenator]

The Army teaches the slingshot method for use with the M9. I believe this is primarily because the size of the pistol makes it difficult for a lot of users to reach the slide stop/release with their thumb.

Me, I've got no problems reaching the stop/release, but I still use the slingshot method. The only problem I have using that method is if I'm not careful, sometimes I grab the safety/decocker in the process and put the pistol back on safe. Quite annoying in the middle of a string of fire.

 

[CountGlockula]

Either method works for me on my Glock 35. My extended slide release works great.

I usually use the slingshot method when my mags are fully loaded.

 

[Clipper]

When all else fails, read the instructions. That being said, I have never personally seen an owner's operating manual that does not offer the slide release as the preferred (as in the first mentioned), indeed often the ONLY recommended method of chambering...

'Instructors' don't cut any ice with me. They can be just as full of it as I can...

 

[mjrodney]

Using the slide stop will eventually round off the corner of the slide where the slide stop touches.

Dragging that slide stop against the spring loaded slide is grinding the metal on both parts.

I met two range rats with high dollar pistols (and high round counts) who complained to me about having rounded the slide notch corner in this manner...and they had to send their slides back to the manufacturer for repair.