Using slide release lever

[mc21]

Well lesson learned. I don't tend to make the same mistakes twice. After the employee told me not to, I haven't done it again. I just wanted a clarification since I've already heard a bit of crap from different LGS on various things before. Thanks for the help!

[dwtt]

releasing the slide without a round in the magazine doesn't hurt the pistol at all. I've been doing this for years while practicing for IPSC, along with dry firing and none of my guns have suffered any damage from this. The guns are designed to handle this type of use, and you're not going to damage it. The only concern is just respecting the gun store's desire to not handle the gun in a manner they don't approve of, but once you buy the gun, you can do this all day long and it won't break. This story of damaging the gun by releasing the slide on an empty chamber is an urban myth, as far as I am concerned, and ranks right up there with the claim that shooting 3000 fps ammo out of an AR with 1:9 twist will destroy the rifling in the barrel. That was another popular myth put out by "experts" back in the late 1980's when the M16A2 was adopted.

[Gryff]

First, it is a slide stop, it's not intended to be used as a "slide release".

EXACTLY! If it was meant to be used to release the slide, they would put serrations on the top of it.

Oh wait...

[CV62]

From the Glock Manual:


4. After the last round has been fired, the slide remains open. Remove the empty magazine from the weapon by pushing the magazine catch (19). Insert a new magazine and then either push the slide stop lever (27) downwards (see photo), or pull the slide slightly backwards and allow it to spring forwards. The weapon is now again secured and ready to fire.

I would assume all handguns are different but per instructions for my Glock I'm gtg.

[Mr310]

The only gun that I slingshot is my 1911 and that's because I can't reach the slide stop/release with my thumb without shifting my grip.

Gryff hit the nail on the head.

[skyscraper]

The only gun that I slingshot is my 1911 and that's because I can't reach the slide stop/release with my thumb without shifting my grip.

Gryff hit the nail on the head.

Use your left hand when regripping (if you are right handed)

[toadman]

Your gun, do what you want with it. Someone else's? Handle it as they want. That's true
of almost anything.

[giantsfan]

No magazine or ammo = no. New magazine with ammo = yes. Simple

[mc21]

No magazine or ammo = no. New magazine with ammo = yes. Simple

Some things always seem simple to you when you know it. It seems a pretty simple thing for me to remember now.

Your gun, do what you want with it. Someone else's? Handle it as they want. That's true
of almost anything.

As already stated multiple times, I respected the LGS's request and never did it again.




It almost seems like some posters are thinking that I'm trying to challenge what the LGS employee told me. No, that's not the case at all. I believed him when he said it damages the gun. Although I was somewhat unsure about it blunting the slide where it catches. The purpose of this thread was just to find out how it damages the slide. Thanks to everyone that replied.

[giantsfan]

Some things always seem simple to you when you know it. It seems a pretty simple thing for me to remember now.



As already stated multiple times, I respected the LGS's request and never did it again.




It almost seems like some posters are thinking that I'm trying to challenge what the LGS employee told me. No, that's not the case at all. I believed him when he said it damages the gun. Although I was somewhat unsure about it blunting the slide where it catches. The purpose of this thread was just to find out how it damages the slide. Thanks to everyone that replied.

If you're new to guns, there is steep learning curve but with a little guidance and common sense, it all works out fine.

[Masada86]

Never understood this problem either. Seems like there are a variety of opinions on both sides of the issue.

But one thing I think everyone is agreeing on, is if it ain't yours then follow the owners wishes on how to handle the gun.

Personally if business has a problem with me handling a gun I'm interested in purchasing I would set it down tell the manager I won't ever be back and find somewhere else to shop.

Now as it relates to slide stop vs slide release argument, I've seen several users comment on here that using the slide stop as a slide release causes wear on the gun. But so does shooting it, so how does that play into the debate? The gun only has a finite amount of shots in it before eventually something or the entire gun has to be replaced due to wear. Based on my experience shooting a pistol I've own for over 10 years now the slide stop/release has fare less wear in it than the barrel that needs to be replaced (HK USP with a 94 date code bought used by me). I shoot and reload exclusively by depressing the slide release when I chamber a new round or release the slide forward from being held open after the last shot and have never had a problem with any of my pistols.

Question for the masses:
Has anyone every seen a pistol that would not stay open after the last round fired or pulling the slide back to slide lock because of someone using the slide stop button as a slide release?

[Tjfearl]

I like to purposefully do it to see if it irritates people and see if they give me "The Talk". I like to act like i have never handled a gun before. I dont bother telling them about the multiple M9's I have been issued and the military training where I have done thousands of dry fires and used the "slide stop" to send the slide home. Ive done it at Iron Sights before then the next day I bring both of my M&P's and my AR's in to shoot. Its fun. I use the slide stop to charge my weapon all the time. If it wears the slide stop out on my M&P then I will replace it. No big deal.

[Press Check]

Among other issues, allowing the action to slam on an empty chamber will cause premature wear to the lower lugs, which will eventually loosen the lock-up on your custom fit barrel, or even worse, further loosen the lock-up on your production pistol with a drop-in barrel. Depending on your spring weight, the energy transferred to the locking lugs is 5-10 times greater than when chambering a round.

Take two hammers and smack them together. That's what just happened to your sear and hammer, and the lighter the trigger, the more damage your hammer hooks, in addition to the stoned angles on your sear. Then, there's the unecessary impact to the slide-stop, barrel link, and the list goes on. Are we talking about MIM components, or tool steel?

To the employee that wants to avoid offending a customer by asking them to NOT slam the action on a 1911, have a dummy round available. To the customer that decides to take their business elsewhere because the employee offended them by asking you not to slam the action on a 1911, you have my thanks. I'd prefer not purchase anything you've fondled.

Slam the action on MY pistol? I'd kindly ask you for the keys to your car so that I can go slam your car door at least a dozen times. Not going to damage your car, but unless you drive a beater, you'd probably cringe while I do it.

[brian5271]

It almost seems like some posters are thinking that I'm trying to challenge what the LGS employee told me....

[Masada86]

I'm not sure we give modern firearm makers enough credit for their designs, durability and materials used to make pistols. If slamming a slide forward is going to cause the gun to stop working over time, then God forbid it get dirt, mud, water and fowling in it. Because we may as well call it a day and just through the gun at the target. To the hammer example, the hammers are designed to take stress and forces like that and so is a gun. It's a controlled explosion inside a metal barrel...if a gun can't handle the slide coming forward with or without a round in the chamber, is that really something you would want to pick up and compete/defend yourself with?

I'm sorry for my sarcasm, but that's the impression I get from the "anti slide release" side of the argument. That the gun will break, fall apart and won't be usable after 100, 1000 or 100000 slide releases.

Now I will stop here and say that we all have our own preferences on how to "handle" a gun. I think this is one of those, it's one persons preference vs best practice.