Why do some gun shops not like you to "slingshot" the slide?

[mgmorden]

Why do some auto dealers not want you to squeal the tires on a demo car?

Or worse - do that - or close to it - themselves. I once went into a dealership looking to buy a car. I tend to like sporty cars - had a Mustang at the time (before that, a Camaro), but I don't dog them out. I like to take care of my stuff.

I asked to test drive a used Mazda RX8 on the lot. The "salesman" was looked even younger than me (I was about 23 at the time). I drove it around town. Made sure the blinkers worked, checked the radio, etc. Just basic function tests. Then the sales man asks to switch off so he can drive the car so he could "show me what it can do". After we swap he then proceeds to squeal off and basically dog the car all the way down the street and then back.

Prior to that I had was quite seriously considering purchasing the car - afterwards I had absolutely no interest. If that's the show he's giving every person that looks at the car, then there's no way I want it.

The best part is when a customer comes in after slingshotting the slide of a gun and then says he wants to buy the gun. His question is "do you have a brand new one in back?" Even though he was the only one to handle the firearm we put out that morning.

I think that problem basically stems from the customer mentality. Rather than think of them like the aforementioned car (ie, you're "test driving" the actual product you're going to get), they think of the ones in the cases as the "display models". For a lot of products - cell phones, TV's, even things like fishing reels, the "display model" is expected to be the one that everybody beats up. They look at it like the store's throwaway instance of the product that they're never really going to sell at full retail.

How to get around that viewpoint, I'm not sure, but to a public (who are often ignorant when it comes to guns) where for most other retail items the item in the case is the one that sells for half-price after all the ones in the back are gone, it's a hard thing to get across.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

Ease the slide down by hand. It won't hurt you, and it's the RIGHT thing to do. Trust me.

 

[AethelstanAegen]

We're frankly wasting our time here guys, a rude person is not going to change their attitude because you point out they're wrong, they're going to just call you rude and keep doing the same.

Most guns are built to some very rugged standards to ensure they function in adverse conditions. I'm a very practical shooter, so I love a gun that will function no matter what, however, I'm careful to maintain my guns in top condition so that when it really counts they function as they should without previous abuse. I hear a lot of people that don't clean their rifles or essentially just run their guns hard at all times. That's fine, it's their personal choice as they own the gun. I'm careful with my guns, not because I don't expect them to perform under pressure, but because I want to keep them in prime working order for as long as possible. It's not your gun, it's not an essential test of function (doesn't tell you anything you couldn't learn by being careful) and is frankly disrespectful of another persons property plain and simple.

 

[Bovice]

I'm perfectly fine with agreeing to handle a gun the way a shop owner prescribes. I practically handle them with fine silk gloves when it isn't my gun.

But you're telling me that dropping the slide on an empty chamber "batters" the gun? What do you think happens when you're shooting it? Personally, I don't worry about dropping the slide on an empty chamber. I don't have dainty guns that might get mad about it!

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

"The Surgeon General has issued a warning that slingshotting the slide of certain semi auto pistols MAY be harmful to the fine tuned actions of some pistols. Please read the warning labels issued by the manufuacturers, and heed the warnings and requests of guns shop employees when hendling theri firearms."

 

[Get R Done Guns]

EasyG,

Actually, yes. I have released the slide on a pistol once and it did not go fully in to battery.

And after reassembling a Glock one is encouraged to perform a "function test" by racking the slide and pulling the trigger (on an empty chamber of course) to ensure correct reassembly.

This may happen once out of 5,000 guns honestly. Please show me where Glock, Smith, or any manufacturer says "please slingshot the slide to test for firing function".

If I were trying to sell the weapon to one of those 50 persons, then no, I wouldn't mine one bit.
After all, it will do no harm to any of my pistols.
And if it gives them peace of mind before buying then there's no problem whatsoever.

What peace of mind do you need on a brand new gun that just came out of the case from the factory? If 50 people every day for 50 days came in and SLINGSHOTTED your slide your gun would NOT SELL!!

Again, for the vast majority of modern pistols, it does no harm and does not age he weapon in the least.

Again, please show me one manufacturer that suggests you SLINGSHOT the slide.

No, it is not rude.
If you are trying to sell the weapon you must expect that potential buyers (and possible future owners of the weapon) will want to handle and manipulate the weapon.
The guns are not there to merely "look at"....it's a gun shop, not a museum.
If someone told me "No, you can only LOOK at these guns. If you want to manipulate and work the gun then must go to a shooting range that rents guns", I would take my business elsewhere, and I would also tell all my family and friends to avoid that particular store.

Never said they had to just look at them. They are more than welcome to pull the slide back, look into it or whatever they would like to do. My whole post was on SLINGSHOTTING the action. If you think you need to do this and also your family thinks they need to do this then I would not want you or your family or friends to come in. Ruin one 750.00 gun by doing it and I am better off never having you in the shop. Above was merely an ignorant comment. You have never sold guns in your life obviously.

That's just the price of doing business.
If you really don't want folks handling the merchandise then you should just sell online and get rid of the brick and mortar store altogether.
You would save on overhead too.

Again, ignorant comment from someone who probably does not even own a business. If you did this comment you made would not make sense. NEVER SAID WE DIDN'T WANT FOLKS HANDLING THEM. ONCE AGAIN, SLINGSHOTTING IS WHAT THE POST WAS ABOUT.

Some buyers are just as ignorant as some sellers.

We are very polite to our customers and are well liked by them. We are never ignorant to a client.

No true in all cases.
Some weapons, like Glocks and M&Ps and XDs, are designed so that releasing the slide on an empty chamber does no harm whatsoever on the weapon.

Again, please show us a manufacturer that SUGGESTS you slingshot the actions.

I'm honestly surprised that you're still in business.

You obviously know nothing about selling guns or what it takes to run a business. Again IGNORANT comment from someone who knows nothing about the firearms or retail business.

Everything in the original post was about slingshotting an action. If you close it NICELY we don't mind you look. If you want to abuse them and treat them as your own, please buy them we would love you to. We deal with this on a daily basis and have had many guns damaged to the point of not being able to sell and it doesn't take many before it hurts business. Selling guns is brutal as some people on here know. Margins are slim and a ruined gun from a customer doing things they shouldn't be is sometimes devastating. Please don't post about things you know nothing about, we do this daily and want all customers to be happy with their purchase. We want them to hold and "fondle" the guns, but we were talking about SLINGSHOTTING them weren't we??

 

[CapnMac]

I know of a shop (now gone) that instituted a "no drop, no time ever" rule--and the problem there was they failed to explain the "why" behind the rule.

Came from when Beretta 92's and SIGs came into the market. The lookie-lous would come in and fiddle with the weapon. Far, far too many discovered that "swing-y-around-lever-doohickey."
So, when they tripped the slide release (or, just yanked the slide all the way back) . . . off sails the slide.
Usually onto the nice hard concrete floor (but, once, into the glass case).

So, the rule had good reason.

However, the store owner needed to be around more to explain the "why" (and for better customer care--another, relate, longer, story). The store minions, however, did as they were told, and amplified upon it. Customers were not allowed to do anything to an arm. Would have been as useful to hand them a "blue" version, really. Which is why said store is not in business anymore.

Manners matter, on both sides of the equation.

 

[Get R Done Guns]

Capnmac

Agreed with your statement. Manners do matter on both sides of the counter.

 

[opto_isolator]

I'd like to take a moment to respond to all of the harsh comments.

1. I do respect other people's property.
2. I don't go around and trash other people's guns
3. To jon_in_wv, I'm not all "butt-hurt" over this situation
4. I do this to test how the pistol functions. Being a left handed shooter (with limited options available), I test the ergo's of my weapons before purchasing. If I can't drop the slide with my trigger finger, I'm not interested in buying.
5. To others with the rude comments, please don't post if you are going to be an ass

Thanks!

 

[easyg]

This may happen once out of 5,000 guns honestly. Please show me where Glock, Smith, or any manufacturer says "please slingshot the slide to test for firing function".

Have you ever disassembled a Glock?
After reassembeling the Glock, how did you do a function test?

You can only do a function test by racking the slide and pulling the trigger.

What peace of mind do you need on a brand new gun that just came out of the case from the factory?

Just because a weapon is "factory fresh", that does not mean that the weapon works as designed.
Anyone foolish enough to buy a gun without doing a function test is a fool indeed.

If 50 people every day for 50 days came in and SLINGSHOTTED your slide your gun would NOT SELL!!

Not true.
In fact, refusing to allow folks to manipulate the firearm will severly hamper one's selling of the handgun.
If it does no damage to the weapon, then why not?
Thousands of firearms are sold everyday where the buyer has no idea how many times the slide has been racked and released....yet they still sell.

Again, please show me one manufacturer that suggests you SLINGSHOT the slide.

Consider the Glock....

Let's say you just fired your Glock at the range.
Once empty your Glock's slide locked to the rear.
Now that you're home you want to disassemble your Glock and clean it.
To disassemble your Glock you will need to release the slide (either by sling-shotting or using the slide stop/release) and then pull the trigger.
That's the way the Glock is designed.
It does no harm to release the slide on a Glock.

My whole post was on SLINGSHOTTING the action. If you think you need to do this and also your family thinks they need to do this then I would not want you or your family or friends to come in. Ruin one 750.00 gun by doing it and I am better off never having you in the shop.

To each there own....
But thinking that any modern handgun will be "ruined" by someone sling-shotting the slide is just ignorance and nothing more.

Above was merely an ignorant comment.

Please explain how sling-shotting a Glock damaged that Glock?

It doesn't.
Saying that it does is just ignorant and uneducated.

You have never sold guns in your life obviously.

You are wrong yet again.

NEVER SAID WE DIDN'T WANT FOLKS HANDLING THEM

In your previous post you said:
"It is not your property and the guns are there to look at NOT for people to come in a treat them like their own. We put them out for you to see if the fit and finish is what you are looking for.

Clearly you sound uninviting to customers who would like to actually handle the firearms.

We are very polite to our customers and are well liked by them. We are never ignorant to a client.

If you think that releasing the slide on an empty chamber of a Glock pistol is bad for that pistol or damages that pistol, and you tell the customer this, then yes, you are spreading ignorance to the client.

You obviously know nothing about selling guns or what it takes to run a business. Again IGNORANT comment from someone who knows nothing about the firearms or retail business.

Making such judgements from a few internet remarks is extremely foolish.
If you think that you can read a few posts on an internet forum and know the experience and knowledge of any given poster is beyond ignorant and naive.

 

[psyshack]

The way I handle this is to find a firearm I want. Fit and finish is good, works with my hand in basic grip. We arrive at a price. I show them the money. Then ask if I may function test the weapon with the understanding that it must meet my spec. I also dry fire with snap caps I bring from my collection. If all works out on to the paper work and exchange of money. If for some reason it does not pass my function test I thank the person and move on.

At all times being respectful of the seller, there property and time.

 

[Get R Done Guns]

Have we ever disassembled a Glock? Seriously?? That is a funny question. We do sell these for a living. You keep bringing up GLOCK. This thread is on SLINGSHOTTING A 1911!! Still didn't provide ONE instance of a manufacturer SUGGESTING you do this. I can judge because there are many dealers on here and a few have posted about your knowledge of guns in gun shops. You made judgment on us. We were simply saying that people don't need to slingshot them. It may not be the worst thing that ever happened to some guns but others, internally it will harm.

Consider the Glock....

Let's say you just fired your Glock at the range.
Once empty your Glock's slide locked to the rear.
Now that you're home you want to disassemble your Glock and clean it.
To disassemble your Glock you will need to release the slide (either by sling-shotting or using the slide stop/release) and then pull the trigger.
That's the way the Glock is designed.
It does no harm to release the slide on a Glock.

This is a great example you bring up. YOU just fired YOUR Glock.

We test them by easing OUR slides down and dry firing is fine on a striker fire or similar action.

Not making judgments on you but it is clear that you are not in the firearms business. You can ask just about 99% of owners on here and they will say what I am saying.

As an owner I know that I always treat people with respect and asking them to not slingshot MY slides in MY shop is something they should respect. You do have valid points that some guns don't get hurt by this but if we allow the guy with the Glock to do it, then the guy with the custom 1911 in his hand, standing next to the guy slingshotting the Glock sees him do it then we have them both trying and the 2,500 dollar 1911 could be harmed.

Was not trying to argue with anyone just was answering why we do not let people do it and how some customers just can't listen.

Don't know how it got started into some fight.

 

[Strykervet]

If I can't rack the slide, dry fire the weapon, and possibly even field strip it, particularly with a used weapon or a modified or custom weapon, I'm not buying it. I can purchase one online for less and get as good of an idea about the quality, etc. The whole point of the store is so I can feel it out.

The better ones usually will disassemble the weapon in front of me, let me dry fire, etc. Some even have a good array of rentals to try out first. On the other hand, there is one up the street that could have sold this beautiful, fully engraved Rennaisance Hi-Power with gold trigger they have been sitting on for at least two years. I would have bought it. But every time I ask, they refuse to let me even handle it. This one of course would be handled gentler, but it still needs to be inspected.

On something I will shoot, it absolutely has to be operated and dry fired before the sale in a shop. That doesn't hurt modern firearms, and that is the whole point of going. That is how you fit one to yourself.

 

[mopar92]

Do you take both hands and slam a car door on a car that you are looking at buying? The door is built to be opened and closed right?

 

[Get R Done Guns]

Why do "some" people excluding dealers find it necessary to tear down and field strip a gun on the gun counter or they're not buying it? Do you go take your new TV apart to make sure the soldering is all correct? Tear a motor out of a car that you might buy? Take apart your new digital camera to make sure the shutter is in line? What about when you buy a new lawn mower? Should the tech "open her up" so you can see? Point is that the guns on the counter are still for sale and tearing them down every day puts scratches on them that make them in some cases unsaleable. Why as the consumer are people not getting this? Are the guns behind the counter just things to be thrown away when people don't look at them anymore? Answer is NO. We need to make money off the 600 firearms people look at also. That is a pretty expensive petting zoo.

Wish people were on the other side of the counter sometimes.

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

Why do "some" people excluding dealers find it necessary to tear down and field strip a gun on the gun counter or they're not buying it? Do you go take your new TV apart to make sure the soldering is all correct? Tear a motor out of a car that you might buy? Take apart your new digital camera to make sure the shutter is in line? What about when you buy a new lawn mower? Should the tech "open her up" so you can see? Point is that the guns on the counter are still for sale and tearing them down every day puts scratches on them that make them in some cases unsaleable. Why as the consumer are people not getting this? Are the guns behind the counter just things to be thrown away when people don't look at them anymore? Answer is NO. We need to make money off the 600 firearms people look at also. That is a pretty expensive petting zoo.

Wish people were on the other side of the counter sometimes.

You don't clean your TV or other electronics every time you turn them on either.

I realize you are just venting a bit, but honestly, I tear down nearly every weapon I look at. My dealer has zero problems with me doing it, because he also knows I'm not there kicking tires.

 

[Get R Done Guns]

Yes, I am venting lol. Don't know how average Joe feels but think of it like this. Somebody slingshots the slide drops the gun on the ground dents it. Gun now has little to no value. We realize most of you on here know how to handle guns but a ton of people don't. Imagine someone picking up a 700.00 vase to look at it, examine it from top to bottom and right before it gets back on the table it slips out of their hands. CRASH....then all that gets said is, I'm so sorry, I feel terrible. Then leaves. Should they have handled the vase out of curiosity? Probably not. We do want knowledgable gun buyers to get what they want but a lot of people just are not knowledgeable. So the few we have to make rules for piss the better half off.

 

[Get R Done Guns]

The OP was asking why some dealers don't want you to slingshot the slide. Was just trying to give him my opinion. Then comes the cavalry about what they do with their guns. That's fine what you do with your gun. It's yours, not mine. Some dealers may invite you to tear through their guns. Some won't. Hence the "why do SOME dealers not want you to slingshot"?

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

Yes, I am venting lol. Don't know how average Joe feels but think of it like this. Somebody slingshots the slide drops the gun on the ground dents it. Gun now has little to no value. We realize most of you on here know how to handle guns but a ton of people don't. Imagine someone picking up a 700.00 vase to look at it, examine it from top to bottom and right before it gets back on the table it slips out of their hands. CRASH....then all that gets said is, I'm so sorry, I feel terrible. Then leaves. Should they have handled the vase out of curiosity? Probably not. We do want knowledgable gun buyers to get what they want but a lot of people just are not knowledgeable. So the few we have to make rules for piss the better half off.

And that's the way it goes in today's world. People have no respect for each other or each other's property, and those of us that do pay the price.

 

[Get R Done Guns]

yes sir!

 

[Skylerbone]

I've been on both sides of the counter having worked at two establishments that sold firearms in high volume. Rare were the times a customer wished to tear down anything or even test the trigger in those days. I suspect many were simply looking at or buying what they had seen on TV. We made accommodations for those wishing to inspect bores and generally poke around but most were for used guns.

I saw a few mishandled, a few damaged and a few disassembled by someone who couldn't reassemble afterwards. I suspect with the shift in gun culture to a mentality that critical analysis must be performed that damage and abuse are more frequent of late.

I may be delusional but I've come to believe the members here are more discerning in general about their firearms. Reading post after post about failures or defects of every sort does not always instill trust in our minds. Again I feel the solution for all involved is communication between buyer and seller about the merchandise in hand. If house rules are too stringent for your liking, walk that hard earned elsewhere. Build a relationship with mutual trust and respect and you may find more flexibility in what is allowed.

 

[BCRider]

....But you're telling me that dropping the slide on an empty chamber "batters" the gun? What do you think happens when you're shooting it?.....

When you're shooting it the slide has to work fairly hard to strip a round from the magazine and feed it into the barrel. That slows the slide down a lot so the final "arrival" is at a much lower velocity than if you use the slide lock to release the slide or slingshot the slide with no mag in the gun.

On 1911's if you drop the slide on an empty chamber the gun makes a rather nasty glass strike like sound. Yet with a loaded magazine the sounds of the slide traveling forward as it seats a round are far more muted.

 

[easyg]

Have we ever disassembled a Glock? Seriously?? That is a funny question. We do sell these for a living.

You do?
Really?
This is strange....most gun stores don't disassemble the handguns they sell.

You keep bringing up GLOCK. This thread is on SLINGSHOTTING A 1911!!

Maybe you should go back and re-read this thread.
The original poster never said it was about a 1911.

Still didn't provide ONE instance of a manufacturer SUGGESTING you do this.

You cannot disassemble a Glock without raking the slide and releasing the striker by pulling the trigger.
This by default encourages releasing the slide on an empty chamber.
And Glock recommends doing a function check after reassembling a Glock, which, again, by default encourages releasing the slide on an empty chamber.

I can judge because there are many dealers on here and a few have posted about your knowledge of guns in gun shops. You made judgment on us.

I don't know what thread you're referring to but it certainly isn't this one.
You're reading stuff in to the thread replies that simply isn't there.
You have already stated that you think this thread is about releasing the slide on a 1911 when the original poster never said such a thing.

You're obviously confused.

We were simply saying that people don't need to slingshot them. It may not be the worst thing that ever happened to some guns but others, internally it will harm.

Yeah, I understand what you're saying....and you're wrong.
Sling shotting an autoloader does not harm the pistol.
Stop spreading disinformation and ignorance.

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

easyg, I think you need to calm yourself bud. First, you're wrong on a few accounts. Second, there is no reason to insult another because they have a different viewpoint.

Slow your roll champ.

 

[Powderman]

You can only do a function test by racking the slide and pulling the trigger.

You are mistaken.

You cannot disassemble a Glock without raking the slide and releasing the striker by pulling the trigger.
This by default encourages releasing the slide on an empty chamber.
And Glock recommends doing a function check after reassembling a Glock, which, again, by default encourages releasing the slide on an empty chamber.

Again, you are mistaken. You do NOT have to forcefully drop the slide on an empty chamber to inspect, clear or disassemble the pistol.

1. Check that the pistol is clear by pulling the slide to the rear and locking it to the rear using the slide stop lever. Visually and physically inspect the chamber.

2.Pull the slide to the rear. The slide stop lever will disengage, and you can ease the slide home.

To reset the trigger, all you have to do is pull the slide slightly to the rear. The trigger will move forward and the pistol will be reset. No need to slam the slide.