Slide release or rack the slide??

[Tarmy]

Slide stop release...I have never once, with my guns, experienced a failure with that technique. As others mentioned...if the spring is functioning properly, this should not be an issue to ready the gun for discharge.

[anonymouscuban]

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.

Wait. Now im confused. I was using "slingshot" to mean using the the slide stop/release. But now that I think about it, it makes sense that to slingshot is to pull back and release the slide. Duh.

I will go back and edit my replies so not to confuse others.

And you're right. I just shot my first USPSA match last Sunday and not one person used the slingshot method when in slide lock. And this also confirmed the training I've received and all the practice I've done to prep for competition. And you're also right that most reloads are tactical. I think I went into slide lock once during the whole match and that's because I blew my load on a Texas Star. LOL

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[walmart_ar15]

Depending on what you are training for:

• Speed shooting, slingshot with support hand thumb on slide release
• Combat shooting, over hand rack with support hand.

In competition, missed release just cause you time. In combat missed chamber may cause your life.

It is known that slingshot will also wear the slide notch and slide release that eventually will cause it to malfunction (failed lock back). But that would be thousands of cycles that most causal user will never see.

Bit of anecdote, once shotbuff pad were popular with the 1911. However, older 1911 slide will not travel back far enough on lock open to release the slide release. So slingshot with slide release was the only way to release the slide.

[dragon7]

I use the slide release. If you’re not supposed to use the slide release why do gunmakers put them on all their pistols?

[walmart_ar15]

Its called a slide stop, or slide lock. Its there to stop/lock the slide open after the last round is dispensed. It can be used as slide release as well.

[Notpc]

I have trained to rack the slide (over hand). This is the same movement required to clear a malfunction. Funny, now that I think about it, I was using the slide stop/lock yesterday. Darn, need to train more!

[boopiejones]

I always rack the slide using an overhand grip (not a slighshot). This can also be used to clear many malfunctions and it works on all guns. No need to fumble for a slide release which isn’t in the exact same spot on all guns.

[omega]

I prefer the over hand rack the slide method, and also to prevent excess wear on the slide release so my slide doesnt slip everytime I insert a loaded mag.

[Stanze]

This guys does it with one hand.

[omega]

one handed loading

This guys does it with one hand.

I wonder if he has a standard wt recoil spring?

[S.A.]

Rack. Insert new mag, move hand over to slide without adjusting my grip.

[Dano3467]

1911...always rack

Everything else, slide release

[AregularGuy]

I always rack. It minimizes the chance of malfunction FTF, out of battery, etc.

I had Ruger SR45 that did the same if I used the "slide relese". Their customer service told me it was a slide stop and to pull the slide back and release after loading new magazines. It worked and no more malfunctions.

[enorbit3]

On Glocks I just slam the mag in and go.

THIS.

slamming the mag in usually releases the slide

[TMB 1]

Slide release everything that has one.