I don't think it is a big deal, but it is probably going to less wear on the slide release lever and the notch that holds the slide back if you release the slide using the "sling shot" method.

Edit to add: If you use the sling shot method, be sure to release the slide, and not follow it forward with your hand.

 

It isn't the Mechanical he is worried about. With novices he is worried about the ergonomic manipulation of the weapon in chambering the round and wants to avoid a Negligent Discharge. Someone with weak hands may grasp the weapon with finger against trigger, and the shock could cause movement in the hand and kick a round off. Have seen it happen. Sling shot gives better grip control.

 

Either way, if you have your finger on the trigger, you are asking for trouble.

Keep your finger off the trigger!

 

An experienced armorer who has spent a career working on heavily used pistols will tell you the same thing, after all it is metal sliding on metal. But chances are you can do this your entire life and still pass down a fully functional pistol to your children.

 

Either way is fine.

 

In general either way is fine...but there are some guns (kahr and maybe others) that say don't slingshot. Tried with a an old kahr and would occasionally not feed right when using slingshot. So generally read manual for warnings against but use what method works for you.

 

The instructor is wrong if he said never. There are guns that, as designed, should be be chambered via the slide stop and some properly functioning samples must be chambered via the slide stop to reliably feed. Kahr immediately comes to mind. The manuals for xds and xd also specifically recommend feeding via the slide stop.

 

I had a XDm I would sling shot but the target sights sometimes would bite me. You do save a split second if you can run the slide stop and better yet if you can get your gun to go into battery when slamming a new mag in

 

As many have said - keep your finger off the trigger. On the slingshot vs. slide stop issue - I've never seen anyone fail to feed a round fully using the slide stop to release the slide but I have with the slingshot method. The slingshot method may be the tacti-cool way to do it but it requires practice for the novice to not ride the slide forward, the slide stop method does not. Both work, and both work best with fingers off the trigger.

 

No it's fine, some people think the firing pin will "fly out" and hit the primer due to the "force" of the slide going into battery, so...yeah.

 

I teach 3 methods, slingshot (index /thumb squeeze), the slide stop technique that competitive shooters use and the gross motor Over Hand Grip and rip method (my favorite). I feel pulling back on the slide puts more tension on the spring which ensures a round gets chambered.

Many ways to do the same thing and each has their pros and cons. Hunting for a small lever with gloves on or moisture on hands (sweat/blood) sometimes makes hitting the slide stop a hit or miss technique... it's a finer motor skill than gripping and ripping the slide (push/pull).

Sling shot works well for women and older folks that don't have a lot of grip strength (please don't take that as an insult for those that do that method).

Slide Stop Method...Hit the lever and hold on...

Slingshot Method (Thumb/Index Finger)... Just like pulling back and releasing a slingshot, lol.

Over Hand Grip & Rip Method...Firm grasp on top of slide pressing the palm and finger tips into the rear slide serrations...

Only handgun I don't Grip & Rip is Beretta 92 models with open top... the Slingshot Method works better and saves your skin, lol.

Just my 2 cents.

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Kahr Arms says not to slingshot, but to use the slide release at all times for proper functioning.

I've got two Kahrs I've carried over 10 years and the reality is that if you have a good slingshot technique, it works just fine with them. The mention in the manual of using the slide release is because a lot of people have poor slingshot technique and Kahr wants to avoid the 10,000 tech support complaint phone calls from those people.

A larger concern in my mind is that using the slide lock is a fine motor skill compared to slingshotting with the overhand method and if that's all you do, you may have major problems if you're ever in a bad situation and you have to do an immediate action drill.

 

I've seen both methods taught and I suspect you'll figure out for yourself what works best for you.

However, I recall once a 1911 guy telling me that the Browning 1911 was not designed to chamber a round with slide lock but slingshot slide.

Thoughts?

 

Years ago an old gunsmith told me that the gun (a 1911) was designed for the round to be stripped from the magazine by either slingshotting the slide, or by releasing it from the locked position. Some prefer to use the hand to pull and release the slide while some use the lever to trip the slide. Either way, as you said, it's really up to the shooter to determine which is better for them. On a 1911 I tend to grip and release b/c the slide lock lever is a little too far forward for me to reach it without turning the gun nearly sideways, but I suspect someone with larger biscuit grabbers can reach it more easily. Preference.

 

Either way is fine, as others have said.

Tactically/ergonomically though, if using the slide stop, many instructors/operators claim that using the weak hand to perform this function prevents "breaking" your grip in order to reach the stop with your strong/trigger hand thumb. This prevents needing to reacquire a proper grip position before initiating next round of fire.

I practice both ways, and usually use my weak hand to release when using the stop.

 

The Army trained me to always use the slingshot method. You don't ask why ...

As to wear on the slide stop / slide notch, if you should happen to have a Sig (GSG) 1911-22, have a look at the notch. I'm on the third slide in about 10k rounds total. They wear out pretty quickly, even slingshotting. I hate to think what it would look like using the stop as a release.

I did get in a dust-up over on the H&K board, as they refer to the stop as a "release" in their manual, but offer no preference.

 

Sounds to me like a Chevy VS Ford thing.

I will continue to "slingshot".

 

Another advantage to the slide stop method is that it is accomplished one-handed.

 

You can slingshot one handed. Clint Smith did a whole video about that once.

 

I think there is a discrepancy in what people are referring to when they say "Slingshot". The slingshot is the method of holding the gun with the strong hand while grasping the back of the slide serrations using the side of the support hand index finger and thumb... just like you would grasp a slingshot as you pull it back.



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I think that's what everyone is talking about...

Your earlier photos demonstrated the three methods very nicely. What you call the "grip and rip" is what I've always been trained on, which everyone calls the "C-clamp method".

 

O.k.... that's what I thought.

I've been through many LE instructor schools and that is the preferred method I've used and teach. It's called many things by many people... it's an over hand grip technique that utilizes better leverage by pulling the firearm closer to the body where you're stronger instead of extending out to sling shot the slide.

All different ways to accomplish the same goal. When I heard C-Clamp I automatically visualized the thumb over grip on an AR-15, lol.

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If you're shooting the gun right handed and go to reload when you insert the magazine look and see where either of your thumbs are. Right next to or on top of the slide release.
The quickest and safest way to drop the slide is with the lever. JMB designed it like that for a reason.

 

Exactly what I do. But explained better

 

I just say "rack the slide" to refer to the act of sending the slide home, lol. Much like the immediate action drill is referred to Tap, Rack and Reassess (or Bang).

The other terms are specific techniques to complete that task.

Guess it's like the "magazine" or "clip" debate.

Interesting article on this subject...http://www.gunvaluesboard.com/gunfi...ber-a-cartridge-3-methods-of-slide-release-for-semi-automatic-pistols-1908.html

Just wondering.

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The slingshot technique I've heard called the Israeli method.

The overhand method of racking the slide I've heard referred to as the American power stroke.

Anyone else ever heard these terms?

 

"..the American power stroke" :lol:

Never heard that...I think I would've remembered that one.

 

I personally prefer slingshot but would use the slide stop too if the situation called for it. One problem I see with less experienced shooters is that they turn the gun sideways to find/mess with the slide stop. Not cool at the range.

 

"The slingshot technique I've heard called the Israeli method.

The overhand method of racking the slide I've heard referred to as the American power stroke.

Anyone else ever heard these terms?"



The Israeli Method is carrying an unchambered firearm... upon removing the gun from the holster, the shooter turns the gun sideways (port side up) and uses the slingshot technique to chamber the first round before firing.

I've heard the Over Hand Grip method referred to as "Power Stroking" the slide.

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Interesting. I tried each of the methods today at the range. Only one had my hands in the ready position to fire properly when the weapon returned to battery. Guess which one? I also helped an older fellow clear a jam today. The fellow was using one of the other methods for "racking the slide". Guess which one?

I'll be plain with folks. I'm not a LRRP, Delta, Ranger, SEAL, or other elite operator. For that that are - good for you and use whatever technique you're using because your training and ability are amazing. For those of us that aren't, I find trying to emulate those that are to be fantasy at best and, often, dangerous at worst. I'll stick with slide releases because I know that my weapon is most likely to return to battery ready to fire out of the possible methods discussed. Have a great evening.

 

Good discussion, and thank you. I have taken the responsibility to teach good gun safety practices to my girlfriend in order that she is safe and confident, especially as she is a novice shooter and getting used to a new gun. I had never come across anyone who expressly taught against dropping the slide release as a viable way to to return the gun to the ready. I am glad to hear your perspectives and your reasoning, based on your knowledge and experience. Always looking to learn, so please keep it coming.