Aftermarket slide stop levers for XD

[Dreaded Claymore]

Does anyone know if there are any aftermarket, extended slide stop levers for the Springfield XD, that would make it easier to release the slide when it's locked back?

[MA2]

I do not have either, but see good reviews on both...

http://xdguys.com/shoppingcart/products.php?product=XDguys-Extended-Slide-Stop

http://www.pistolgear.com/proddetail.php?prod=00PG037

[pontiacpratt]

That's funny I just replaced my Storm's standard lever with a slim one. The large lever it came with dug into my thumb. I really never used it so I figured I'd make it smaller.

[CGT80]

I love the pistolgear slide stop and maximum mag well.

[Soldier415]

Does anyone know if there are any aftermarket, extended slide stop levers for the Springfield XD, that would make it easier to release the slide when it's locked back?

Not to sound like a Richard Cranium, but it is called a slide stop for a reason.

Proper method for release of slide is by pulling back and letting go.

[sd_shooter]

Not to sound like a Richard Cranium, but it is called a slide stop for a reason.

Proper method for release of slide is by pulling back and letting go.

+1. If anything, the XD could use a smaller slide stop so it would be out of the way!

[CGT80]

The pistol gear slide stop is smaller and bigger at the same time

It is thinner than the original. It does not extend down the frame, from the slide, as far as the factory part. Some people find that they are less likely to accidentally hit it with their thumbs. I haven't had that problem though. It is longer, front to back, which makes it easier for people with smaller hands to release or lock the slide. Also, the stop is wider than the factory one. It extends out to the side further. It is as if there is a shelf for your thumb to push up or pull down on.

I use the slide stop as a slide release for competition. It is much faster than racking the slide. I can and will rack it if I have a failure, but so far I have not had any problems and others do the same, however, my gun is setup as a race gun, not a self defense gun. If it breaks, no big deal. It seems similar to the dry firing topic. Some people do it and some don't. On a carry or home defense gun I wouldn't blame a person for not dry firing or releasing with the slide stop, unless necessary.

[Gryff]

Not to sound like a Richard Cranium, but it is called a slide stop for a reason.

Proper method for release of slide is by pulling back and letting go.

Incorrect. The proper method, for some people, is pulling back and letting go. For other people, it's using the release lever. What's most important is picking one, training like crazy with the technique, and then sticking to it.

+1. If anything, the XD could use a smaller slide stop so it would be out of the way!

Agreed. If you you are right-handed and use a thumbs-forward shooting grip, your support hand thumb tends to rest right on the release lever. This will often cause the gun to not lock back after firing the last round. You have to teach yourself to actually move that thumb out away from the side of the gun to solve the problem.

[Sunday]

Pull the slide back.

[HkFan416]

As Sunday said, I think you should learn to start applying your hand to the rear of the slide and pulling it back. The reason I advocate this is because its ambidextrous.

A good idea for the extended slide release, however, is that usually on the XD's (when shooting right handed) your thumb will sometimes engage the release once you've expended all of your ammunition. This can be a pain since you would have to rack the slide back again to chamber a new round from your new magazine.

[Bob Hostetter]

When reloading any pistol under conditions where time is important, it is much faster to release the slide by using the slide release then by pulling back on the slide manually. It add's seconds to an act that should take barely over a second to begin with.

Training provides individuals with the skills necessary to manipulate the controls on their firearms under stress.

[Gryff]

As Sunday said, I think you should learn to start applying your hand to the rear of the slide and pulling it back. The reason I advocate this is because its ambidextrous, in case your strong hand has failed for some reason.

If your strong hand has failed, how are you got to use it to grip the slide and pull it back? It would be faster to hook the rear sight on your belt/pocket and pull it back that way.

As an aside, everyone should give thought to what the will do if they lose the use of their strong hand in a fight. How are you going to reload? Clear a malfunction? These are not difficult things to do with only your support hand, but you really want to know how to do them before your life depends upon it.

[HkFan416]

When reloading any pistol under conditions where time is important, it is much faster to release the slide by using the slide release then by pulling back on the slide manually. It add's seconds to an act that should take barely over a second to begin with.

Training provides individuals with the skills necessary to manipulate the controls on their firearms under stress.

When shooting IDPA, I don't notice a difference. To me it's just a lot faster and simpler to use and in case I have to transition to weak hand shooting, my muscle memory would still apply.

[HkFan416]

If your strong hand has failed, how are you got to use it to grip the slide and pull it back? It would be faster to hook the rear sight on your belt/pocket and pull it back that way.

As an aside, everyone should give thought to what the will do if they lose the use of their strong hand in a fight. How are you going to reload? Clear a malfunction? These are not difficult things to do with only your support hand, but you really want to know how to do them before your life depends upon it.

Yeah Gryff, you're pretty much right. I guess what I meant to say was that its ambidextrous in the sense that if you have to transition to shooting with your weak hand, your muscle memory would still apply.

[Bob Hostetter]

I have actually practiced and timed doing it both ways, and it is measurably faster to use the slide release (averaging about a full second faster). I can measure the difference in both IDPA and USPSA competition and that can mean the difference between winning and not....