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I have noticed that some people, especially competitors, are able to rack their 9 mm pistol slides, often Glocks, with their offhand fingers in almost a firing position and their off hand thumb on top of the slide in front of the breech.

The rationale is that doing a press check or even a first round administrative load with the slide starting closed is faster. The off hand is almost in proper position already and only the thumb needs to be brought down to the side of the gun.

I’m not sure any of these folks actually do any other more critical slide manipulations in this fashion. It appears to be purely administrative. I wouldn’t use it for tactical/emergency reloads or to clear a malfunction or lock a slide back for a stoppage.

I thought I’d give it a try. Nope. I can’t budge the slides on two full sized M&P’s and even a .380 EZ out of lockup using only my thumb for rearward pressure on top of the slide. I didn’t bother to try it on my Kahr TP as that slide takes a gorilla and a six pack of bananas to manipulate on a good day. I have average strength in my hands, no arthritis.

One person using this method said he uses skate board tape on the top of his slide. I’m not willing to tear up my skin with that “fix”.

Perhaps these guys have loose lockup’s? Reduced rate recoil spring and light competitive reloads? I have standard springs and tight lockups.

Maybe I don’t understand the technique, or maybe I should just forget the whole idea.

Comments welcome.

I didn’t understand the technique.

It’s actually the web of the hand between the thumb and palm that contacts the slide with pressure in front of the chamber. The thumb is on top of the slide, but the fingers are extended under the front of the gun, ready to pop back into a two-handed grip. This gives enough grip to move the slide out of battery. The pressure is more on the top corner and side of the slide than just on the top.

I can do a press check/striker reset (dry practice) this way, but not yet a full cycling of the slide. It is fast to reacquire a proper firing grip.

Attached Images

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I use my shooting hand to move the slide back slightly by leaving my thumb in place below the beaver tail and rotating the hand upward. Then I put the 4 fingers and palm over the top of the slide in front of the rear sight and pull back slightly, about 3/8" to view into the chamber. If needed, I'll use my support hand thumb over the slide foward of the ejection port to add extra support if it's a heavy recoil spring.
It works for me and keeps my hands away from the muzzle.