How does using the slide release damage a glock17?

[nazgulnarsil]

i dont use the slide release or slingshot it. most polymer guns you can just slap the mag in and it loads a round for me.

[Whatisthis?]

While your Glock will most likely be fine from using the slide LOCK, the glock manual calls it a slide LOCK because that is it's purpose... It is not a slide release, however, if you feel you must, you can use the slide LOCK as a slide RELEASE.

[darkhelmet]

it seems to vary by manufacturer/model. i wrote to ruger to ask specifically about my ruger mk3. they wrote back and told me clearly that releasing the bolt by using the slide lock would cause excessive wear.

it also obvious that glocks, and probably other highly durable guns, don't suffer in any meaningful way by using the slide lock to drop the slide. whatever the manufacturer may recommend. far too many people have dropped the slide thousands of time and never had to replace any parts.

there is small 9mm (kahr?) where you are specifically _supposed_ to use the slide lock, rather than slingshotting the slide.

my take is older guns/designs (like my ruger mk3) may experience accelerated wear. newer, indestructible guns don't care.

but if you look at manufacturer's diagrams, it is definitely a slide lock, not a slide release.

[ExtremeX]

On my Springfield XD, I find pulling back on the slide is more reliable for feeding. When I pull the slide stop, the spring fails to push the round out of the magazine about 1/4 of the time. When I slingshot it, it always works.

Your mileage may vary.

On my XD 4" 9mm, 1400 rounds later using both meathods I have NEVER had a single feeding issue...

Most of the time I am using the slide lock as a slide release...

[Ultimate]

I was shooting my g17 at a range the other night and after putting in a new clip, I pressed down on the slide release to chamber a round per my usual routine. The guy watching from behind told me that I should pull the slide farther back and release it to chamber the round instead of just pushing down the slide release and let the slide launch forward on its own. Something about being bad for the gun.

I'm not sure if he's just messing with me, can somebody clear this for me please?

Quite simply... it will cause your glock to blow up throwing shrapnel within a 20 foot radius.

Ok I am just messing around. The slide release is meant to be used as you used it. The guy at the range either had no clue or wanted to mess with your brain. No additional wear will happen to the gun EXCEPT maybe the slide wearing the softer metal of the 3 dollar slide release.

Verdict: Use the slide release as often as you want that is why it is there.

[Wherryj]

Age old debate. Some say it is a slide release, some say it is a slide stop. Releasing the slide from the slide stop will wear the slide notch to the point where the slide will no longer lock back. So you should "sling shot" the slide to return to battery. Dumb. Just do what ever your comfortable with. A slide should never wear that much. You should of told him, "By the time I wear the slide notch down, I would of got my moneys worth and it would be time to buy another one." And then go on to ask him if that were truly the case, then why do they sell "extended slide releases".

Slide catch rubbing on slide notch. Somehow doesn't sound like the kind of wear going on inside the receiver or barrel. I somehow suspect that nearly everything else will wear out before the slide notch...

[l8apex]

Gotta love range shepherds. Always use the slide lock on my Glocks with out issue.

[Ultimate]

On another note if slide releases were only slide stops............

The cut on the slide would be HOOKED instead therefore not allowing a user to use it to release only to lock the slide back.

just food for thought here.

[sniper4usmc]

slide stop cost less then $20,if u damage it,replace it..easy fix

[Grumpyoldretiredcop]

I've also taken Glock Armorer's courses over 10+ years as a firearms trainer for my former department. Each time, the official factory position was reiterated that it's not a "slide release", it's a "slide lock". The reasoning varied by instructor/occasion, usually citing slide stop/slide stop notch wear or the need to get every erg of stored energy out of the recoil spring to move the slide back into battery.

Having worked as an armorer at a public range with rental pistols, I have also seen worn slide notches on Glocks and other makes as well. It takes many, many rounds to do that - far more than the ordinary shooter will fire.

If it's not a weapon you'll be staking your life on, I wouldn't worry too much about it - the worst that will probably happen is that you'll have to replace your slide stop when it wears on the surfaces that contact the slide notch. Eventually, it won't hold open the slide reliably. Looking at the two parts, it's not too likely that the slide notch will wear unacceptably before the slide stop becomes rounded and unusable.

If it's a defense weapon, I'd use it as Glock intended. No fun getting in the middle of something nasty only to discover that your slide stop won't lock your weapon open when it runs dry (not that you should let that happen!).

That being said, I use the slide stop for a slide stop, not a slide release. I take a firm grasp on the top rear of the slide, not the "slingshot grip", pull all the way to the rear and release. I do that on all semi-auto pistols, regardless of make, as a matter of consistency in training more than anything else.

[huck]

I will just add one point. The Glock-34 (AKA competition Glock) is not just a 17 with a longer barrel / slide. It has an extended slide stop lever which sticks out significantly more than the 17. I assume this is to make it easier to find / release in a competition situation.

[ianS]

It is mainly a thing of preference whether one uses it as merely a slide lock or also as a slide release. I wouldn't accuse anyone of doing it wrong if someone used it as a slide release. But for me I'm with those who prefer it as a slide lock. When I shot SIGs, Glocks, and 1911's hand over slide slingshot was the fumble free foolproof method. Now that I mainly shoot Glock its moot. But when I used to use it as a slide release I've had three occasions when the round didnt' chamber all the way from slide lock (as a I recall with my 1911's and a SIG P220ST). When I switched to hand over slide sling shot method that hasn't happened since. (And I've shot WAY more through my 1911's since I've adopted that method) YMMV

[rageagainst1984]

seems like everybody here has their preference as to the do's and don't/s.....

im sure its the same for that guy. So I say the guy should have asked you first if you wanted his personal opinion and assistance in micromanaging firearms training....

[NSR500]

I used to be a slide stop/release guy, but have changed my technique. I did not change because I'm worried about wearing out my gun. I switched because coming over the top and racking the slide helps with training. It's the same motion I'd use in a malfuction, so I figure it best to use the technique.

[rageagainst1984]

I used to be a slide stop/release guy, but have changed my technique. I did not change because I'm worried about wearing out my gun. I switched because coming over the top and racking the slide helps with training. It's the same motion I'd use in a malfuction, so I figure it best to use the technique.

I like this train of thought!