Chambering A Round

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sailor353

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What is the proper method of chambering a round?
1. Hitting the slide release
2. Pull back the slide and release it

I have 8 pistols and I have gotten in the habit of doing the second method because I think I read somewhere once that was the proper way to do it. Does anybody know the pros and cons for either method?
 
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I do the second method, often called the slingshot method. I think of my slide catch as a slide catch, not a slide release, and have heard anecdontal stories about using as a slide release can result in premature wear on the slide catch to the degree that it can become unreliable.
 
While I don't know the pros or cons when my agency transitioned from revolvers to semi autos we were taught to retract the slide and release it. We were issued the Glock 23 so a cocked hammer was not a problem. Hope that helps.
 
I was taught the same way as oldcop. I also transitioned from revolvers to a DAO 5946 9mm. When I got a cs45 i had to ask members of the board if it was ok to decock it and have the safety in fire position, and still carry it safely. I kind of thought I was correct, but I made sure with the forum members who are vastly more experienced with weapons than I am.
 
With the slingshot method, you don't have to worry where the slide lock is on the piece that you happen to be using. It's universal with autos, or at least any auto that I can think of that's geared towards defensive use.
 
I have used a wide variety of auto loading handguns over the years. Though relatively speaking the slide lock is almost always positioned at about the extent the average thumb can reach, this is not always the case, sometimes its closer, sometimes its further. Also these days there are more pistols being produced that don't even have a slide lock. To me it just makes sense to get in the practice of using the sling shot method. Afterall, the end of the slide is always in the same spot. That way you have one less thing to become accustomed to in transitioning from one style of pistol to another.
 
I use whichever method I feel like using at the time I need to do it. Both work fine. My Glock 30 manual says either way is okay, so...
 
Welcome to the forum Sailor, and good question. I use the slide release, since my left thumb is there with nothing else to do. In fact, I never even thought about the slingshot method.
 
In Basic Pistol, I always teach loading from an open slide without using the slide catch because everybody needs to know this universal method that works on everything, every time.

However, it will not hurt your gun to close it after a load by using your thumb, and that is what most competitors do. If you try closing the slide on an empty gun using your thumb, some guns are very hard.

Some guns will close merely with a brisk insertion of the loaded magazine, which is nice in competition.
 
slingshot method has two advantages:
1) it's universal to all autoloaders
2) the slide has slightly more velocity going forward

so for "real world" use, it's a better technique

that said, using the slide stop to release the slide is generally faster and you see that a lot in competition.
 
the Israeli IDF train their folks to carry mag inserted, no rounds in chamber and safety off. They can draw rack and fire in less than a second. That way it doesn't matter what kind you are carrying or where the safety is you can get the round off in time.
 
Prior to 9-11, when we had M-9s, we carried with the chamber empty and were taught to draw, and slingshot the slide. It's not as slow and clumsy as it sounds. These days, I still pull the slide back and release it when inserting a fresh mag, as opposed to tripping the slide release.
 
Using slide release is faster, and consistant, no finger fumbling do to added factors; there is a list. Undrer the stress of injury it is easier to perform, especially for those with some phisical challenge. Flapjack.
 
I'm a southpaw, so when carrying or competing my left trigger finger automaticly uses the slide release as a rest when changing mags, or if I have to show lock and clear. Its what I've learned from years and years of carrying a 1911 for Uncle Sam. The only guns I have to slingshot is my Walther PP series of guns and my SIG P225.

PS, If John Browning didn't think it needed one, he wouldn't have put one there, it would have been set up as something similar to the Wather PP series.
 
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I use the slingshot when just routinely chambering a round to save wear on the slide stop. I use the slide stop when doing drills or just shooting at the range.
 
I use both, and have stayed at many Best Western's over the years.

Be aware that its hard on a 1911 to let the slide SLAM forward on an empty chamber. Wish I was smart enough to tell you why, but learned this fact at one of the 4 pistol classes I've done at Thunder Ranch, so feel safe repeating it as fact.

Emory
 
I was curious as to what the manual said to my CS9 being it is in the drawer next to me and it says:

To make sure that the magazine is fully and securely inserted, apply some removal pressure to the exposed portion of the magazine butt plate. PRESS DOWN ON THE SLIDE STOP to release the slide and allow it to carry fully foward. This strips a cartridge from the magazine ad seats it in the chamber of the barrel.

So S&W is telling owners to thumb down the slide stop to release the slide.
 
at-home-daddy said:
I do the second method, often called the slingshot method. I think of my slide catch as a slide catch, not a slide release, and have heard anecdontal stories about using as a slide release can result in premature wear on the slide catch to the degree that it can become unreliable.
Click to expand...

With that said, anyone here ever wear out their slide catch from to much shooting?
 
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