Breaking a Slide Release???

[4DSJW]

There are two different camps regarding the use, or not, of the slide release on a semi-auto and I have heard reasonable arguments for both sides. But yesterday when I was renting a few different pistols to see which platform I liked the best I was told something new, to me (from the guy running the rental counter), that using the slide release lever could actually cause parts to break. That the intended function of the part is to hold open the slide after the last round, not release the slide into battery, and the slide should be racked by hand to chamber a fresh round.

That sounded more than a bit odd to me so my question to you CalGunners... is anyone aware of certain makes or models of semi-autos that are prone to actual parts breakage if the slide release is routinely used?

Thanks for your replies!

[Jason.lee740]

I say if a gun breaks from something like that you either have a lemon or the company you bought it from is a POS.

I been using the slide release lever ever since I got into guns (not long) and so far I don't see any cracks, chips or any indication that its gonna break any time soon.

A close friend of mine who's been using guns longer than I do has been doing the same (he's the one who taught me) and no problem on his end.

I could ask him but I doubt he'll reply as fast as you'll like since he's overseas in the military.

[professorhard]

POWER STROKE THAT SLIDE. Don't hit the slide release unless your reaction hand/arm is out of commission.

[drunktank]

The school of though I was taught was that the slide stop/release may be a bit different from gun to gun. Using the overhand or slingshot method is generally less different from gun to gun.

Some people here have 10's of thousands of rounds and have always pressed their slide stops without a hitch. I'm unaware of a certain company or model that tends to have broken slide stops. Curious as well now.

[r3plica]

Slingshot it, don't ride the slide is what I was always told.

[fsx]

I use slide release all the time, even if the SR breaks, I can still replace them. I don't think they are that soft though. You can tell by the design (HK, Beretta...) that their SR were meant to be used.

[4DSJW]

Whoa!

It is not my intention to start a thread about whether or not to use the slide release. There are as many opinions on that as there are posters on these forums. I have been shooting for many, many years and never had a problem using the slide release on any of my steel or alloy pistols.

But I am relatively new to polymer pistols so I thought I would check with the CalGunners to edumacate myself. So again, is anyone aware of certain makes or models of semi-autos that are prone to actual parts breakage if the slide release is routinely used?

Thank You as Always!

[Joe]

Do either, it wont make a difference. Unless the company specifically says one way or the other. Kahr, for example, only recommends using the slide release to release the slide. Slingshotting could cause the gun to jam.

[ojisan]

Waste of time to reach back behind the gun with your off hand and pull back on the slide.
Not done in competition.
If you are not in a hurry and like pulling back on the slide, have at it.

At 0:22, Leatham dumps the empty mag, inserts a new one with his left hand, then the left hand continues up using the same unbroken motion as the reload to create the two handed grip again with a minimum of wasted time. The left hand does not go back behind the gun and retract the slide.
The slide is released with either the left or right thumbs, it's hard to tell he is so fast.



The obvious exception to this rule is guns that have flat slide releases that are difficult to push.

[ojisan]

I know the Israelies and some others teach empty chamber carry for safety, their make- ready method is to pull the slide all the way back then release it to chamber a round.
Makes sense for this carry method.

Also, when you rack the slide to load, if the slide is locked back by the slide stop, you are counting on a usually very small spring to quickly push the slide stop back down out of the way of the slide after you pull the slide back.
If you really want to make sure the slide goes forward fully into battery, you release the slide by pushing the stop down manually, so you know for sure any notches in the slide will not hang up on the stop when the slide goes forward.




Breathless, already beat this one to death a while ago...

[SixPointEight]

wow...that was retarded fast

[Black Majik]

Honestly it doesn't really matter. Whether you choose to use the slidestop (or SLIDE RELEASE) is up to you. You can also choose to slingshot if you wish. It doesn't matter.

I think people get way to caught up in one way being acceptable.


That was a cool video of Rob Leatham's shooting. At 0:22, it looks like he did a speed reload since I counted 6 shots before the reload.

[Saym14]

repost

[ojisan]

I slowed that reload vid down as much as I could and it is still too fast to see to the details.
The slide locks back, there's the reach for the fresh mag, now the mag is gone and the gun is firing again in a two handed grip!
Wow!

[4DSJW]

repost

Honestly it doesn't really matter. Whether you choose to use the slidestop (or SLIDE RELEASE) is up to you. You can also choose to slingshot if you wish. It doesn't matter.

I think people get way to caught up in one way being acceptable.

Not the Question that is being asked! I really do appreciate that everyone has an opinion on whether or not to use the slide release... BUT, that is not my question...

is anyone aware of certain makes or models of semi-autos that are prone to actual parts breakage if the slide release is routinely used?

Thanks for your replies!