Slide release or rack the slide??

[LuckyGuy]

I agree

It depends.

If the chamber is empty and the slide is already locked back when I insert a loaded mag in the gun, I use the slide release to close the slide and load a round in the chamber so that it is ready to fire.

If the chamber is empty and slide is already closed when I insert a mag in the gun, I rack the slide to load a round in the chamber so that it is ready to fire.

If there is already a round in the chamber and the slide is closed when I insert the mag in the gun, as would be the case when doing a tactical reload, I do nothing at all because the gun is already loaded and ready to fire.

This is the way I do it. Never had a problem.

[LuckyGuy]

Dang

Hitting the slide release is really hard when your hands are wet or covered in mud.

If it gets that bad then do what ever it takes.

[anonymouscuban]

If the slide is locked back, I use the slide release. However, I was taught to use my support hand thumb. This reduces the risk of releasing the slide too soon, before the mag is seated, and having a FTF. This also helps on pistols that have a slide release that is more forward on the slide or if you don't have big hands.

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[TrappedinCalifornia]

Slap it hard... Rack it harder.

If it works for jam clearance, why not simply use the muscle memory already there?

[VictorFranko]

I've seen a semi-auto fail to return to battery too many times when using the slide lock to release the slide.
I was taught and prefer the overhand slide rack.

That said, here's a nice short video comparing the two methods.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=88&v=dvvo7s-yK2k

[anonymouscuban]

I've seen a semi-auto fail to return to battery too many times when using the slide lock to release the slide.

I was taught and prefer the overhand slide rack.



That said, here's a nice short video comparing the two methods.







https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...&v=dvvo7s-yK2k

The way they do the slide release technique is how I was taught. They use the support hand thumb to release the slide, once the mag is seated and you've regained grip.

As I said before, using this technique eliminates the risk of releasing the slide too soon, before the mag is completely seated, causing rhe round not to chamber. This can easily happen, especially during stress, when you use your strong hand to release the slide. You press the slide release before your support has is done seating the mag. And now the round either doesn't chamber at all or its jammed.

As the video demonstrates, this technique is much faster than the over hand rack. It is only a fraction of a second slower than doing a tactical reload. We get your grip back and target acquisition much faster with less movement.

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[LTC-J]

I rack since it is gun universal. Slide stops move gun to gun.

It is also one less fine motor skill I have to 'memorize'.

[Mayor McRifle]

I used to always grab the slide with my left (or off) hand over the top, pull it back and release, but once I got going in USPSA I started using the slide release with my left thumb. Now both techniques are built into my muscle memory, so I’d say it depends on the situation and I don’t really think about it.

[plumbum]

Rack.

I find the slide lock lever to be unnecessary.

[Robert1234]

Slide stop is quickest, so that's what gets used.

If you're talking about just loading a pistol that was previously not loaded, mag in, rack slide. Again, quickest and most efficient option.

Too many people spend too much time treating these things (guns) as if they were delicate, mechanical contraptions that require great care when operating. They're not. They're designed to run under adverse conditions, with ammo that may vary in power. Stop overthinking it and have fun.

[ABR]

The slide on my VP9 releases when I slam a full mag into the gun..

Same with my USP compact.

[Preston-CLB]

At low ready, I hit the slide release on my G17. The slide gets a little assist from gravity.

If I started getting FTF or not going into battery, I would suspect the recoil spring is getting weak.
-p

[IVC]

I think OP is referring to slingshotting the slide not racking the slide.

Yup, and it's a different concept - "racking" is when the slide is closed (used not only to load rounds and cock the hammer/pretension the striker, but also for clearing malfunctions), while "slingshot" is a method for getting the slide stop out of the way of the slide.

[IVC]

Using slide stop (release) is provably faster. People in competitive shooting measure these things and I am not aware of a single gun (with exposed slide stop) that is faster to slingshot during timed slide-lock reload.

In USPSA we rarely go into slide lock and most Open and Limited guns won't even lock on the last round (the follower is very thin to allow extra capacity at the cost of not locking the slide). Since I currently shoot L10, every few matches I might go into slide lock when things don't go as planned. During "fast reloads" I always use slide stop to release the slide.

Outside of the "fast reloads," when shooting at the local range or just having fun, I always use slingshot. It's a more robust way, particularly on service-type guns and compacts with strong recoil springs or hard to operate slide locks.

Overall, you should be familiar with both methods and use them in appropriate situations.

[SnWnMe]

Pull and release