Chorizo

I am with Rocky. Practice like you are going to fight and I might have to fight one handed.

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P-12 45acp
CZ 2075 40 S&W

Devone6

The training I have recieved has been to not use the slide stop to drop the slide after a mag change, if it can be helped.

I do agree however, to do it as you have been trained or feel most comfortable with.

SixBravo

FWIW:

The slide lock is only designed to be just that - a slide lock. All rounds should be chambered by racking the slide in a normal manner.

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foob

Dude it's chunk of metal. It's built to handle stress. I can understand babying a safe queen, but a carry weapon? Next you are going to say don't shoot your weapon, you'll wear out the springs, the trigger assembly, and the firing assembly. Or don't use a holster, else it'll wear out the finish. Or only insert the magazine slowly, so you won't damage the lips.

The slide stop will wear just by shooting to slide lock. The slide impacts the slide stop everytime that happens.

Er... is that why you only lock your doors, but never unlock them? Do we have to call them "unlocks" before we can unlock them? Hehe. And who's calling them slide locks, are you sure all firearm designers designed that part to be only used for locking the slide? If I didn't want people using it to release the slide, I'll make it internal, or as a push button so I can only lock but can't release.


I think both methods are perfectly fine. As others have mentioned, it's a matter of tradeoffs, and I think there are no significant benefits or disadvantages to either.

SonofASniper

I use the sling shot method for two reasons:

1. You don't wear the parts prematurely. Some guns are more susceptable than others, and some are easier to fix. One problem with the part wearing down is that the gun may stop staying open when the magazine is empty. This would slow your reload reaction, expecially if you are not used to reloading with the slingshot method. Your gun may also fail to remain open for any number of reasons.

2. When clearing a malfunction, you have to slingshot the action. That little lever on the side won't do you any good. It is good to become proficient in what is going to save you in combat. If you start introducing 2 or more methods for the same task, you only serve to confuse yourself when you need clarity.

Some people refered to the possibility that they may be reloading one handed so that you should use that lever. Out of curiosity, I wonder how many people here know how to a one handed malfunction drill?

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foob

Just use the edge of your shoe and push with your rear sight.

QKShooter

"One problem with the part wearing down is that the gun may stop staying open when the magazine is empty."

Sorry but, that particular problem is NOT caused by using the Slide Stop to release the slide. Nope!


Some small parts of some 1911 format pistols are of lesser quality than the identical part in another "make" of pistol.
Concerning the Slide Stop;
If the slide stop on a carry pistol ever shows any sign of metal deformation then it should be switched out for a higher quality properly hardened part.

A properly machined and hardened Slide Stop should not deform.
The part should be properly hardened to a degree that it will not wear or deform.

The Slide Stop Notch on the slide will usually show a tiny bit of normal deformation in that you may at some point notice a small raised edge.
That does NOT happen from using the Slide Stop as a Slide Release.
THAT happens gradually as the slide is stopped by the Slide Stop (during the normal functioning of the handgun) and does not affect the operation or functioning of the pistol.

As modern slides are now harder and tougher than the older slides it is not so common of an event anymore but, it means nothing regardless.

There should be NO problems with using the slide stop as a slide release if the shooter wants to use it as a slide release.

Sling shotting your slide as part of your training regimen (and to develop desired muscle memory) is fine and dandy.

Do it for the correct reason though.

Do not do it because you think you are "SAVING" your pistol from any sort of unnatural or undue wear or "STRESS" to either the Slide Stop or the slide by releasing the slide using the stop.
That is just not so.

If your Slide Stop is wearing or think it is being "Stressed" then you need to do some shopping at Brownell's for a higher quality hardened and tougher part.

Some people will always want to baby a pistol & nurture it and Kiss its A$$ because they think it is beautiful and they paid a lot of money for it.
That is their personality & That is fine with me but, what is NOT fine is that they invent things that "should and should not" be done...for the "good of the pistol" that have no real basis in historical or mechanical fact.
Then the myth feeds on itself and finally it becomes so common that it's accepted as truth.
If using your Slide Stop as a slide release damages or deforms parts on your pistol then you either have a sub-standard pistol or a pistol with sub-modern-standard parts.

pistola

QKShooter, You said it well....Afterall this part is what holds the barrel in place, and what the barrel pivots on.

SonofASniper

Yep thats one way.


QK, good description on a 1911. What about other weapons where that is not the case, or the part is so easily replaced.

I will stand on that a stop is for "stop", not release. Secondly, the slingshot method, IMO, is the more sound method. Anyone can raise their thumb up and pull down to release the slide. Many people think Bruce Willis looked really cool in Last Man Standing doing that. However just because anyone can, does not mean that it is the best method. Learning how to do sling shot (which it has to be learned) will uniformly be a much better method for reload and malfunction clearing.

And I have seen weapons fail to lock in the open when they are empty because the slide stop is damaged, but I will admit that is probably not the common problem of that happening. Such things as the last round was a light load can cause it, limp wristing your last shot, or a dirty weapon can cause it to happen. Knowing how do to a proper tacticle reload/malfunction drill can be the difference in saving your life.

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lightningstrike02

I paractice a a SLAP RACK AND BANG drill .It clears alot of simple /common type of malfunctions.(induced malfuntions for training, not commonly a problem). When working this drill hard, with full magazines you can find the point of force that slapping in a magazine will release the slide consistently. Not a recommended drill for new shooters, but an option for one handed clearing or reload.Also not recommended for shooters who cant diagnos weapon malfunctions,parts replacement and discussion with others who watch and just think its cool.

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