slide release question

[TargetTerror]

I am thinking of buying a used shotgun for trap and skeet, and looked at the Remington 870 and Mossberg 500 series. I liked the Remmy better except for one thing - the slide release.

The release button is on the left side of the gun in front of the trigger. I can't fathom how one engages the release while in position, as the trigger guard blocks the trigger finger from reaching/engaging the slide release. The Mossberg had the release behind the trigger, on the left, and seemed much more accessible.

I also noticed a lot of other shotguns had the slide release in the same place as the Remmy. Why do manufacturers put the release there? Am I missing something about how to engage the release while in position?

 

[vesmcd]

Gotta agree with you. Mossberg bolt release position make a lot more sense.

 

[mnrivrat]

I can't fathom how one engages the release while in position,

I guess I have to ask what position you mean here. If your talking about while up to your shoulder, I wonder why you would need to push the release button from that position ?

 

[mattw]

Think about when you would ever need to release the slide when you are in a firing position and you will realize that it does not matter where that little tab is.

 

[vesmcd]

True, Matt, but it is easier for me to release the bolt on a Mossberg when not in the "engagement" position(or "in the position" for that mater). Unless one can come up with a statement from the manufacturer as to "why", then it's all just speculation. Could be design patent, manufacturing cost/ease, whatever. I have seen many design peculairities that seemed to me to be downright retarded, but someone deemed them to be worthy of production. Personally, I prefer an 870 over a Mossberg, except for the bolt release.

 

[TargetTerror]

Think about when you would ever need to release the slide when you are in a firing position and you will realize that it does not matter where that little tab is.

Don't you have to hit 2 targets from some stations in skeet? If I used a pump shotgun, I'd want to be able to rack the slide while the gun was still mounted in position to save time.

Or suppose I'm hunting and want/need to get a second shot off quickly, wouldn't it be a lot faster to be able to rack the slide with the gun still mounted in position?

Or suppose someone (or a couple of people) break into your house. I would want to be able to chamber a fresh round as fast as possible.

 

[Ditchtiger]

After you have fired a round just pump the action. The slide release is used to unlock the bolt on a cocked gun wiithout touching the trigger

 

[Oldnamvet]

For unloading I always thought you dismount the gun, point it up and away from you, turn it over so you are looking into the bottom, and then push the release with your right thumb while pumping the action. You are looking into the action and magazine so can be sure that all shells are removed. I have seen people just shuck the gun a few times and when nothing else comes out, they consider themselves safe. I once saw a person do that and later find that a shell had stuck in the magazine and moved into the chamber on the last shuck. Really scared him and made him change how he unloaded. Fortunately, we always double check before we put the guns in the cases and into the car. The look on his face when he shucked it once and that shell popped out.

 

[mattw]

Don't you have to hit 2 targets from some stations in skeet? If I used a pump shotgun, I'd want to be able to rack the slide while the gun was still mounted in position to save time.

Or suppose I'm hunting and want/need to get a second shot off quickly, wouldn't it be a lot faster to be able to rack the slide with the gun still mounted in position?

Or suppose someone (or a couple of people) break into your house. I would want to be able to chamber a fresh round as fast as possible.

I guess you don't own a pump shotgun...

Just pull the trigger and then you can pump. The slide release is ONLY for checking the chamber or ejecting an unfired shell. Basically opening the action without pulling the trigger.

If you're using a shotgun for home defense shouldn't you already have a round in the chamber and put it on safe? Or some people just like to leave the action open with a shell waiting. Some may like to have the action closed and shells in the mag. In that case close the action, pull the trigger, load up your mag, then all you've got to do is pump the forearm and you're ready to rock and roll!

Oldnamvet's got it right though.

 

[TargetTerror]

Touche, I said I was new to this

I did not dry fire the shotguns I played with at the gunshop, so that would explain why they would only cycle when I hit that release. I see now why its positioning really isn't that important. Thanks!

 

[theCZ]

I like shotguns with the slide release closer to the slide release so I can practice pumping with the gun up to my shoulder, otherwise the location really isn't of any importance. On the BPS you have to load the magazine, and then pump back and then forward to load and chamber a round. That gun has the release right close to where a thumb can release it while you have the gun mounted.

 

[kirbythegunsmith]

Small detail

The operation of the Browning BPS and cousin Ithaca 37 will allow a shell to be dropped into the open port, without needing to insert the shell into the mag. tube.

The action must be pumped fully to the rear, then pump forward just enough to have the carrier (shell lifter and ejecting flinger) drop all the way down (when seen with the frame upside down) so that the tips of the carrier are in the tiny notches provided in the upper side of the frame interior. Now you have clear passage for a shell to be dropped into the open port and awaiting chamber.

The bolt face should be no further forward than the end of the trigger assembly housing at the rear of the port. Any more forward position may have a hindering effect to the loading process.

This is not meant to seem to be a speedy way of loading, just a way to bypass the tube and feed system.

The real pain to load in this manner is a mostly-worn-out Remington Model 10 or 29, since there is barely enough room for the rim to clear. The load must be dropped in almost flat, without nosing the shell in crimp first at an angle, or else the rim is not at the rear edge of the open port, and may get wedged there in the tight spot of the port.

[email protected]

 

[theCZ]

Well I'll be, Kirby, it does work! I just tried it out on my 28 and 20ga BPS's. Before I could just push a shell through the ejection bars in the 28ga with the pump all the way back, but not with the 20ga. I've gotten used to pushing shells into the magazine without turning the gun over and then just using the slide release to chamber a round.