1911 Extended Slide Release helpful or not?

[alpha_romeo_XV]

[GM4spd]

There is a reason JMB did not put this in his original design. Some shooters
(depending on how they hold the pistol) can inadvertently hit the extension
while shooting,causing the slide to lock back when it shouldn't. YMMV
Try it,if it works for you fine,if not it's an easy fix. Pete

[RayB]

I rack the slide on all my 1911s/guns, no, not necessary.

[Citadelgrad87]

I put one on my officers model for a week or so, I have large hands, and I was having trouble not shifting my grip to use it.

The problem, for me, is that extended part is basically a knife edge on the body side of the pistol. It really sticks out to clear the detent spring cover.

All the training I've had taught me to rack the slide overhand, not use the release, so I don't even use the stubby one one.

[bzh362]

Definately better to rack the slide IMHO, but if like my wife she has trouble with that, consider reducing spring power and using only light loads.

[vliberatore]

I have small hands and I don't need one.

[Citadelgrad87]

I have small hands and I don't need one.

I like small hands....

[Inkman]

Smoothed out it makes a great thumb rest. Much better than the slim ones which i do not like.

Only real use for dropping the slide with it is in competition during a fast reload to save a 1/2 second or so if you go to slide lock.

Al

[vliberatore]

I like small hands....

Makes it look bigger?

[jaborni]

She doesn't need one. Extended slide release is for making magazine changes easier when the slide locks back. Home defense you probably wont be doing to much of that , people normally don't care extra magazines. And if your doing a tactical reload , you don't use it at all. Other cons it makes your gun wider , more likely to snag on clothing or holster.

with that being said , they work great , big hands small hands doesn't matter , they create more leverage and are easier to index then the standard slide release.

ya 1911 are picky, you might have to open up the part that catches the slide with a file. The grip area should not be an issue as the slide release rides the plunger tube assembly thing and not the grips themselves.

a combination of extended slide release and extended safety work well.

[XDJYo]

I was thinking about this for a 1911 for my wife. Except her problem is the opposite. She has a hard time locking the slide back manually. Adjusting her grip to be able to manipulate the slide stop causes the beaver tail to ride her knuckle. Makes it hurt after the second or third time.


Sent by a Monkey in Outer Space

[MosinVirus]

Yes, I very much like extended slide stops. No they don't readily clear the grip (wilson combat are the ones I use). By the way, JMB, I believe, designed the slide to be released with a slide stop, not slingshot method.

The Wilson combat extended slide stop pad is narrower than the pad on the Wilson Combat Thumb safety. It doesn't get in my way at all during shooting. And it does aid in slide stop manipulation (both lock and unlock).

Depending on the grip scales you use, the tip of the extended pad will touch the grip scale before the slide stop can lower to its lowest position.

Two ways to proceed. File the grip scale down a little or what I like to do is to bend the pad up slightly.

Reason I bend is that once bent it actually looks a little more aligned with the thumb safety pad.

I will post some pics and video of me doing the work here in a little bit.





Start watching at 0:37


Log Man mod is also shown in this video.

[Citadelgrad87]

Makes it look bigger?

Deadpool reference. Makes it seem huge.

[FeuerFrei]

First things first.
Can she safely manipulate the pistol? If so then carry on sans mods.
If not then offer an assist in shopping for a proper fitting pistol/revolver of HER choice.

The habit of dropping the slide via slide stop is/can be a training scar waiting to happen.
What if she gets her hands on a different pistol and the ST is different or outa place?
I suggest over hand for pistols always. (comp cowboys excluded)

*IMO she should keep it and not use it to fund a pistol either (because of the history), but I've seen it done. Not mentioned, but just putting it out there.

[swift]

I took a friend's wife to the range and found she couldn't operate the slide release or rack the slide even when we tried different ways of racking it. (tried 3 semi-autos)

Can your friend rack the slide and clear a malfunction? If not, a revolver with a reasonable trigger or a shotgun may be better for hd