Slamming the slide on an empty chamber?

[heavyshooter]

Guys,

I have heard so many different opinions on this issue that I must bring it to you and see what you think. Today I was on YouTube and I was watching some of RugerSix's videos (Off The Rack) as he regularly gives pretty good information about a variety of guns. I noticed that with a NAA .380, and a Beretta 92FS he consistently violated a law of semi-auto care. He allows the slide to slam shut on an empty chamber. With the NAA he did it about three times and it made my flesh crawl. I was always taught to never dry fire a rimfire and never allow the slide to slam shut on an unloaded gun.

Question: Is this actually damaging to the semi-auto or am I mis-informed?

Heavy

 

[NavyLCDR]

The US Army's official opinion regarding the M9 pistol is that it will NOT damage the pistol by releasing the slide against an empty chamber. It is part of the operational check of the gun to do it twice during the check. Page 3-33 of TM 9-1005-317-10. The US Army officially also says to release a locked back slide by depressing the slide stop.

To be honest, on my guns at home I don't do it.

 

[isp2605]

You don't want to do it on a 1911 model as it can damage the sear. And especially don't do it on one that has been set up for serious bullseye shooting.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Doing it occasionally will do no harm on most guns, and in fact is a legitimate function check for hammer follow. It would probably take hundreds of times to cause real damage. You have way too much time on your hands if you're slamming your slide shut hundreds of times.

Another reason not to do it - this time on someone else's gun - is etiquette.

 

[SuperNaut]

It shouldn't make your flesh crawl, unless it is your gun. On the 1-100 scale of
Stupid Things Stupid People Do With Their Guns, this is about a 2.

 

[AlexM105]

I think this is similar to asking if you can dry fire a gun with an empty chamber. Some guns are cool with it, others not so much.

 

[Ala Dan]

On The 1911's

I totally agree with my friend isp 2605 on this issue; as he made
a very valid point~!

 

[JImbothefiveth]

Not trying to hi-jack, but Ruger says you can dry-fire their pistols, so would letting the slide slam shut(or the bolt in the case of their rimfires) damage those?

 

[9mmepiphany]

dryfiring and letting a slide slam closed on an empty chamber are not related to each other as to the wear they cause.

if you understood why you should not dry fire a rimfire pistol, you wouldn't do it at all.

the 1911 has given modern pistol shooters alot of handling proceedures which we follow without question...but which are really model specific. they aren't bad, just not always needed.

1. not slamming slide on empty chamber
2. not dropping loose round into chamber
3. press check by hooking front of slide and trigger guard
4. holding trigger back when dropping slide
5. a DA accurate 1st shot is slower than a SA

 

[brickeyee]

if you understood why you should not dry fire a rimfire pistol, you wouldn't do it at all.

Ruger pistols have a captive firing pin with a stop that prevents the pin from striking the barrel.

MOST .22 rimfire guns should NOT be dry fired without a snap cap or used cartridge in the chamber.

 

[Steve C]

Not dropping the slide on an empty chamber is mostly a 1911 issue and for most other pistols not an issue. Different and more modern trigger mechanisms on other pistols negate the potential damage you can get if you do this with your 1911.

 

[deesel]

I know a guy that did this regularly w/ an older Springfield 1911 (2 Piece barrel). He dropped it one day and the chamber came loose of the riflings. It was just enough the next time he loaded it jammed the gun up!!

Another guy trying to make a 1911 something that it wasn't we/ a heavy (24lb) recoil spring busted the lower barrel lug off and sent slide and barrel down range.

For me I never drop the slide unless I'm testing the hammer follow. I always help it forward.

 

[mgregg85]

I've heard that it isn't good for 1911 types. Never heard it was bad for any other pistol.

That being said, I wouldn't do it on a high quality, match grade kinda pistol. But with a glock or XD or other duty type gun, I doubt its gonna cause a problem. Of course too much of anything will be bad.