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In another thread a seemingly popular instructor was quoted as saying both "use the slide catch as often as possible" and "never rack the slide after reloading, and stay the **** away from anyone who does". In every defense training I've been to the instructors advise to avoid using the slide catch for two major reasons. 1; operating the slide catch is a fine motor skill and unless one practices extensively, under stressful conditions fine motor skills go out the window and one can end up fumbling around the slide attemping to release it. 2; Almost no one can reach the slide catch without twisting the weapon, thereby removing the muzzle from the target. I can't tell you how many times I have been barrel swept at the range by people using the slide catch (as well as poor reloading techniques, but that's another rant all together). I'm just curious if anyone can shed some light on why this instructor would say this?
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Everyone has their own experiences and training styles, I for one never instruct to use the slide catch to release the slide. It is just as it is called a "slide catch" not a slide release. Your #1 reason listed is why I train not to utilize it. -
That always made perfect sense to me, and it is how I always practice and drill. I'm mostly curious why an instructor would say stay away from anyone who racks the slide. It's just an odd statement to me as I cannot find anything inherantly dangerous about racking the slide. There were a few other things he was quoted as saying that I didn't personally agree with, but those were easily just a difference in opinion and preferance. Maybe I can just find a way to get a hold of the quoted instructor and ask him personally....ExiledComment
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Saying to avoid anyone who promotes one method or another is awfully extreme!
I used to rack the slide, but have since switched to using the release because it is faster for me. I actually use the thumb of my support hand to release the slide rather than my weapon hand thumb. I have trained & shot extensively with this technique and it is very fast & consistent for me. Some points about it:
* when reacquiring your grip, your support hand is in the vicinity of the release any way so it's easy & efficient to hit the release as you are reacquiring your grip and punching back out
* I don't really buy the fine motor skill argument, after many many repetitions the muscle memory is pretty ingrained at this point... and after all, how can you get any finer motor skill than pressing a trigger properly which every shooter is expected to do? If I can exhibit the fine motor skills required for proper trigger control, I sure ought to be able to hit a slide release!!
But if someone is consistent & quick with racking the slide, I don't see a problem with that. I would just encourage folks to try both ways and see which works better for them.Comment
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This has been discussed to death and will be appearing again and discussed to death and will be appearing again and discussed to death and will be appearing again and discussed to death and will be appearing again and discussed to death and will be appearing again and discussed to death and will be appearing again and discussed to death and will be appearing again and discussed to death and will be appearing again and discussed to death and will be appearing again and discussed to death.
It depends on the design of the gun, your preference.Comment
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LOL, good point, design/type of gun makes a difference too.This has been discussed to death and will be appearing again and discussed to death and will be appearing again and discussed to death and will be appearing again and discussed to death and will be appearing again and discussed to death and will be appearing again and discussed to death and will be appearing again and discussed to death and will be appearing again and discussed to death and will be appearing again and discussed to death and will be appearing again and discussed to death.
It depends on the design of the gun, your preference.Comment
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Just food for thought....if hitting a slide stop is a fine motor skill then what happens when you run out of bullets and have to reload.
Isn't hitting a tiny magazine release also a fine motor skill........
That said there are multiple ways to train with a pistol were you can use both or whichever method your more comfortable with.Comment
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Good for you 45R, an excellent observation... That should always be the standard answer for this all too common topic.Isn't hitting a tiny magazine release also a fine motor skill........Comment
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I wasn't trying to re-open an old arguement, and honestly I don't care about the fine print behind either technique. I train the way I do and others train the way they do, arguing about it won't change any of us. All I am trying to ask is 'is there anything inherantly dangerous about racking a slide after reloading that would cause one individual to want to advise others to stay away from anyone who did this?'. If this is just an individual being pig-headed about his own opinion, that is where my interest in this topic ends. My appologies for opening up an already beaten to death topic.ExiledComment
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Don't go dry is the fastest and don't worry about pinch pull pop/slide catch.
I know this isn't going to happen.
I move slow but I make up for it by shooting poorly.
When I hit the lotto I'm only shooting factory.Comment
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Fryer, don't trip on what you asked..
I feel the issue may be that as some may go to engage the slide lock, if you have small hands, you can easily allow the handgun to be pointed down the firing line. Some who do not respect excellent muzzle control, can even sweep the line briefly.
I have small hands, so I generally have to move my body off the line by twisting my hips to keep my muzzle pointed down range, while locking the slide back.
I would agree that you have to watch shooters closely if they are attempting to lock the slide back to either make the wepaon safe, or clear a malfunction.
In the above situation, it seems some shooters are the most challenged.
I do not usually have that sense if I have a class, and they are just releasing the slide forward.
I certainly have a concern if I have shooters not making every effort to follow ALL the basic firearm safety rules.
Hopefully that addressed that trainer you know in his reasons for concern.
Be well...Comment
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"If Congress can do whatever in their discretion can be done by money, and will promote the General Welfare, the Government is no longer a limited one, possessing enumerated powers, but an indefinite one, subject to particular exceptions."
--James Madison
'Letter to Edmund Pendleton', 1792Comment
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Lining up the sights and a smooth press of the trigger are both fine motor skills. If you can't do that in a fight, you shouldn't be using a gun in the first place. Stick with throwing rocks.
But if you can do that, you can learn to use the slide release after the reload.
Whichever you choose, it doesn't really matter as long as you practice, practice, practice. If either isn't second nature for you to do, then, again, you shouldn't be using a gun to defend yourself.My friends and family disavow all knowledge of my existence, let alone my opinions.Comment
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Practice all the techniques that apply.. It's as simple as that. Anyone advocating one thing over the next is doing themselves a disservice. Learn how to use everything. It's the fundamental reason for why we train/practice- you never know when you'll need that particular skill.
It's like taking a test that covers 10 chapters of a math book.. If you study only a few chapters, you set yourself up for failure if you get tested on the material you didnt study for. Better to prepare yourself and cover as much material as possible.
IE Glocks: Slide release/catch, overhand, rear sight on a belt or edged surface, shoe, behind knee, slamming the magazine in.. Know how to do as much as possible.. Dont' get sucked into thinking one method is vastly superior than the next..Aloha snackbar!Comment
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