Jenrick
Member
As Tuner noted in the 1911 it can certainly cause damage to the pistol over the life of the weapon. The majority of common service pistols will experience no damage from dropping the slide on a empty chamber, per the various armorer schools I've attended. How you choose to view it: a bad habit, poor training, inexperience, building muscle memory; is entirely up to the viewer. I personally view it as poor etiquette (similar to slamming a door) in a gun store if it's done with a modern service auto that won't be damaged by it. On the range it doesn't bother me at all.
-Jenrick
-Jenrick