GOOD NEWS! Using the slide stop...

[jyo]

I'm an old guy---been shooting for decades---all kinds of guns---I go back so far revolvers were the main guns sold and shot! Then came WW2 and bunches of surplus guns---mostly semi-autos---and lots of cheap surplus ammo... If a semi-auto is fitted with a "slide-release", I've always used it, but the slide can still be manually operated, but I used the slide-release as a slide-release---we're talkin' 1911s, P35s, P38s, P1s, P5s, HKs, Sig, CZs---EVERYTHING---really no issues---no damaged notches on slides, but have seen such on cheap Spanish guns with soft metal slides... Yes, and only drop slides on loaded magazines!

[Preston-CLB]

I was taught to only drop the slide to chamber a round stripped from the magazine. Otherwise, control the slide as it returns to battery in an unloaded pistol.

Watching the vid, we see that Bill Wilson and Ken Hackathorn confirm this. Never drop the slide on an empty chamber. It can damage the sear/hammer interface.

This is what I was taught, as well. My G17 is pretty tough, but I don't want to risk any damage, since it's my SD gun.
-P

[naz]

I was taught to only drop the slide to chamber a round stripped from the magazine. Otherwise, control the slide as it returns to battery in an unloaded pistol.

Watching the vid, we see that Bill Wilson and Ken Hackathorn confirm this. Never drop the slide on an empty chamber. It can damage the sear/hammer interface.

+1, that is what I have been taught for 1911/2011 handguns (and don’t bend the ejector by jamming in a magazine with excessive force when the slide is locked back)

For Glock, have at it! Lol

[Barang]

I drop the slide on most of my handguns, buuutt........

good info! except for where the front of the gun was pointing few times.

[FalconLair]

Depends on the gun.

Some are intended for a slide release and some are not.

As others have said, depends on the gun. Kahr tells you to always use the slide release

i have a Kahr CM9 and they preach using the slide release - i've done it both ways but i have noticed if you don't get enough behind a manual release the round might not seat properly