using the slide release

[potshot]

was talking to a coworker and got talking about reloading and i told him that i sometimes use the slide release to chamber a new round and he goes on rant about how its bad for the gun to chamber a new round that way and you should pull the slide back to chamber a new round so are they any thing behind that or just b.s?

 

[MitchellB]

Technically he is correct. That is not a slide release lever and when my gun was new it would not work as one. However, it will now, but I too made the mistake of using it as one. I was told it is also acceptable to use it as a slide release lever in an emergency situation, but never in everyday use. It causes undue wear on the lever and the slide notch that could someday cause a failure to stay open after the last round is fired from the magazine.

 

[Garpo]

Is that stated in the owner’s manual?

 

[Big Foot]

I was told it is also acceptable to use it as a slide release lever in an emergency situation, but never in everyday use. It causes undue wear on the lever and the slide notch that could someday cause a failure to stay open after the last round is fired from the magazine.

Another fable widely spread on gun forums. Show me one? Never proven by even those that are range rats..It sounds like it would round off the edges, but not with steel...

 

[ralph7]

weren't the 1911's from way back when heat treated in that area to prevent such a problem?

 

[mtngunr]

new and better steels should not require localized hardening to prevent such wear, and if it does wear badly, it's generally poor heat treat.....the primary reason to not use the slide STOP to release the slide is that it is not chambering from a full stroke, and might not fully chamber a round...also, on a couple of guns of mine a looong time ago, i noticed a first-round-flier that mostly went away by retracting and releasing the slide and allowing maximum and more consistant chambering seating closer to what the gun does when cycling.

 

[WR Moore]

We really need a sticky on this subject! The designers/factory nomenclature for a part is generally not a limiting factor in the use. Certainly the training provided by most of the various factories on the use of their weaponry doesn't restrict the use on the part in question to only locking the slide back. There are a few exceptions. In at least one case, the trainers admit that the decision is so that the manufacturer can claim that the slide release is ambidextrous. If your weapon doesn't fully chamber a round when the slide isn't fully retracted, you need a new recoil spring and/or magazines.

BTW, the thought that yanking on the slide uses a different muscle skill/group and is therefore more tactikewl is also bushwa. You used fine motor skills to grasp and insert the fresh magazine (besides operating the trigger & mag release), so now you're suddenly stricken with an inabililty to apply that same skill????????????????

As a matter of fact, at one point in time (WW II) 1911 slides were flame hardened in a specific area. But it wasn't the slide stop notch, it was the front section of the slide and was easily identified by the two toned slide finish. Some parts contractors may have also hardened the slide stop notch, but IFAIK, it wasn't a wide spread practice. It certainly wasn't required under the production contracts.

The original 1911's were made from plain carbon steel and case hardened.

 

[mtngunr]

Mr. Moore, the gun is designed to reliably feed from a full stroke, not a short stroke, as the round's nose hits the ramp, is forced forward and upward, generally the nose of the round striking the upper roof of the chamber, and nosing over the breakover clearance at bottom rear of chamber/top of ramp, and lessening the force/momemtum of slide can cause a gun to fail to fully feed a round against all this resistance....just like limp-wristing can do....admittedly, it SHOULD also feed from the slide stop being depressed, but that will not always be the case due to many variables, ranging from how heavily fouled the weapon is, to variations in ammunition, to how much strength is stored in springs. As for it being "kosher", even the 1940 Army Field Manual mentioned depressing the slide stop to chamber from an open slide....it just may not be best to do so depending on other variables....

 

[Jim H]

My experience:
I use the 'slide release.'
It has always chambered and fired properly using this method.
If it wears out and won't hold the slide open, I'll get it repaired.

There are many paths to the same destination.

 

[austintexas]

My gunsmith had just done a trigger job on a 1911 for me and cautioned me that releasing the slide with the slide release would cause the hammer notches to bounce on the sear and chip it. That has been the only reason I've ever heard not to use the slide release and that was on a 1911.

SWCA 892

 

[bpeddicord]

Over the past 50 years, I have used the slide release to drop the slide when loading a round from the magazine numerous times without a problem. But when shooting in competition or practicing self defense senarios, I don't use it. My reason is that I have short stubby fingers and thumbs and at speed I sometimes missed the slide release especially on some of the polymer pistols. In a life and death firefight, one loses his ability to complete fine motor movements. It's a lot easier to just reach up with the weak hand and pull the slide completely to the rear in a fast motion, ensuring a full stroke of the slide.

 

[cbr6864]

It will in no way damage your gun by dropping the slide, the gun sees far more abuse when firing a round than you releasing the slide.

 

[WR Moore]

Mtngunr, I had to depart the thread abruptly. You are correct in noting that knowing both ways to release the slide is necessary and may be situationally dependent is correct. As an example, heavy winter gloves may make the slide grab the only way.

The invention and perpetuation of myths to support particular methods is both unproductive and unnecessarily limiting.

austintexas-letting the slide run into battery without stripping a round by any manner can cause issues with target trigger jobs on 1911s-largely due to very tiny amounts of engagement of the hammer hooks. It also doesn't do the slide stop and barrel lugs any favors-the closing slap on a 1911 slide is around 800 Gs while stripping a round. Most folks find it easier to just ease the slide closed.

BTW, if the hammer hooks have been left at a proper, non-softball target load height and the sear has been properly relieved, there won't be anything to chip, nor any follow. FWIW, I know of a Swenson 1911 with a 1 7/8 lb trigger that refused to follow and exhibited no chipping. [When it went back to Swenson for another minor issue, it returned with a 4 lb trigger.]

 

[mtngunr]

My gunsmith had just done a trigger job on a 1911 for me and cautioned me that releasing the slide with the slide release would cause the hammer notches to bounce on the sear and chip it. That has been the only reason I've ever heard not to use the slide release and that was on a 1911.

SWCA 892

Dropping the slide on an EMPTY chamber will sure enough mess up a good 1911 trigger job....but not in chambering a round via any means, as the round chambering offers enough resistance to cushion the slide....again, a fine pointer as to why using a short stroke from the stop will not give the chambering authority that a full stroke will....but never never ease the slide home on a round...let the gun chamber it ALL the way.

To be intellectually honest, i often release the slide with the stop, just because i can....but for those of us with short stubby fingers, most guns require an awkward rotation of the gun to reach the stop, and just pulling back the slide allows maintaining a firing grip without such shenanigans.

 

[WR Moore]

There is a way to use the slide stop as a release without shifting the gun hand position: a digit from the hand that just inserted the magazine. If you're a righty, use the thumb of the support hand. If you're a lefty, use the social gesturing digit-or the trigger digit.

 

[W.E.G.]

You'll burn in eternal hellfire if you do.

The man in the cloak at the gun store said it, so I know its true.

 

[Protected]

really the best solution is to just use a wheel-gun

 

[Ceapea]

In any of my gun manuals that I have, it is called a slide stop or lock. Never have I read that it is a slide release. I always use the sling shot method...except for one magazine for my Mk III, it will not release without using the slide lock lever. So, that is the only time that I do use it for that purpose.

 

[Silversmok3]

3 hours ago I was reading a magazine article in American Handgunner( or similar title)and the topic was regarding the 25th Anniversary of Glock pistols in the United States.

The author wrote a well written section about using the slide lock (or slide stop)on Glocks and other pistols.His professional consensus was basically whatever works for the individual shooter.He personally used the slide lock lever and never had a problem with any of his weapons.He also stated matter of fact that using the slide lock lever to send the slide forward was no more complicated than pressing the mag release button under stress,so stating that its a complicated manouver under stress was unfounded.Its also mentioned by the same author that Glock recommends the slingshot method in its literature.

 

[mtngunr]

There is a way to use the slide stop as a release without shifting the gun hand position: a digit from the hand that just inserted the magazine. If you're a righty, use the thumb of the support hand. If you're a lefty, use the social gesturing digit-or the trigger digit.

Sho'nuff...assuming you are after a speedy reload....most times, i am not....and it's been a few since i NEEDED one...