Reloading my CZ

[The Lone Haranguer]

I always keep the gun pointed straight ahead and away from my body, of course.

 

[1SOW]

I use Walt's "overhand" weakhand against the rear sight. I don't move the weak hand, just thrust the pistol straight forward. This works for me and allows quick sight recovery.

 

[ROCK6]

For me the slide-stop release is often faster, but since my malfunction drills include the over-hand method, that's what I train to use. It also uses less gross-motor skills than the sling-shot method and I have to both rotate my wrist to excute the sling-shot vice a single fluid move with my arm/hand with the over-hand method. CZ's are a little tricky as they do have a narrow slide and smaller gripping surface, but the rear sight is a good catch to assist.

ROCK

 

[Walt Sherrill]

For me the slide-stop release is often faster, but since my malfunction drills include the over-hand method, that's what I train to use. It also uses less gross-motor skills than the sling-shot method and I have to both rotate my wrist to excute the sling-shot vice a single fluid move with my arm/hand with the over-hand method. CZ's are a little tricky as they do have a narrow slide and smaller gripping surface, but the rear sight is a good catch to assist.

You mention GROSS-MOTOR SKILLS, but in these discussions, it's FINE MOTOR SKILLS that are most-often mentioned. I wonder if that's what you meant, when you said the over-hand method requires less. If so, I would agree.,

I've seen quite a few comparative studies, and while many folks claim that the sling-shot method requires LESS fine-motor skills (and is, therefore, better in stressful situations,) it would appear that the sling-shot method is really no better in that regard. Grasping in the sling-shot style requires a precision release for it to be effective. Don't let the slide go just right, and the slide won't go into battery all that well. Hitting the slide release with a finger is often considered a fine-motor skill, but probably isn't. Using the trigger IS, arguably, a fine-motor skill and we all do that -- with vary levels of competence.

There are options.

As I've noted in this type of discussion before --and I may be repeating myself here -- an acquaintance (a IPSC professional shooter and instructor who works with and trains Special Ops troops at Ft. Bragg has told me that the military has changed the recommended slide release method and longer advocates using the sling-shot method of slide release. That's because too many problems were occurring under battle-field conditions (in the two "sand boxes", with slides not fully going into battery. Part of it may have been the wide-spread use of gloves. But, the solders were, too often, wasting a round (and time,) getting the weapon back into action.

The hand-over approach can be effective. The sling-shot can be effective. Using the offhand (if your gun doesn't allow a convenient strong-hand release by using your thumb) can be effective.

I found, personally, that using several fingers of my offhand, to make a de-facto wide single finger, lets me release the slide on any weapon I use, reliably and quickly. And finding that "small" release isn't a problem done that way. It's quick, too: slam the mag home, and twist the loading hand, and move the fingers to find the slide release.

The trick is to find out what works best for you, and to NOT RELY on the "experts" who take an advocacy position to tout their own favored practice. Try'em all, and do it a lot, and see what works best for you. But also practice your TAP, RACK, BANG failure drills using your chosen method. That will probably be a variant of the sling-shot or hand-over method, as you've got to grab the slide to clear the weapon.

I don't think any one approach is necessarily better for everyone. The US Military does seem to think that the "sling shot" is definitely NOT better for everyone.

 

[ROCK6]

You mention GROSS-MOTOR SKILLS, but in these discussions, it's FINE MOTOR SKILLS that are most-often mentioned. I wonder if that's what you meant, when you said the over-hand method requires less. If so, I would agree.,

I've seen quite a few comparative studies, and while many folks claim that the sling-shot method requires LESS fine-motor skills (and is, therefore, better in stressful situations,) it would appear that the sling-shot method is really no better in that regard. Grasping in the sling-shot style requires a precision release for it to be effective. Don't let the slide go just right, and the slide won't go into battery all that well. Hitting the slide release with a finger is often considered a fine-motor skill, but probably isn't. Using the trigger IS, arguably, a fine-motor skill and we all do that -- with vary levels of competence.

Yeah, that's what I meant; thanks for the correction. Regardless of the method, muscle memory is key. I've just found the "sling shot" method awkward when doing some drills as it requires me to either change my body position or the way I handle the pistol. The over-hand rack is just seems more natural...but again, muscle memory.

ROCK6

 

[Nordeste]

Use whatever you're more comfortable with. That will be the more "tactical" method.

In my 92FS, I use the slide release. If I use the overhand or slighshot method, more than once I have flipped down the safety and found myself with an unoperating pistol. I can reach the slide catch easily with my thumb, so that's how I do with that pistol. This said, the 92FS will release the slide back to battery if you slam the mag with sufficient force. I tried this and found it quite useful during tactical/emergency reloads at the range.

OTOH, in my STAR 30M, I use the overhand method, works perfectly.