I rack the slide unless the slide is already back.

 

Either way works. Just don't manually insert the round into the chamber and then drop the slide, as that can damage the extractor.

 

good

 

Follow what your book says. My Rock say rack the slide. My H&K says use the slide release, so...........

 

Even if the slide is locked back it's still best to pull back on the slide and release it instead of using the slide stop. That way you won't put any ware and tear on the slide stop AND it works for ALL semi-autos. JMHO, YMMV.

 

Agree.

 

You owe it to yourself to try both ways. Figure out what works best for you. Some people who go deep into tactical training/skills would probably say it is possible for situations to arise when one method might be dictated by circumstances -- e.g., use of a boot sight and the slide stop release if one hand/arm is wounded.

(I have a day job, so there's only so much practicing time ,,,,)

 

Starting at the range, Rack the slide. Slam home a round. As the mags get changed out and the slide is at the rear, let her slam home by the release.
Just what I do.
JMHO

Dave

 

I had a gun store employee go off on a rant about this when my wife and I were shopping for a gun for her.

He said, "It's not a slide RELEASE, it's a slide LOCK and you don't chamber a round by using that there lever, you ALWAYS rack the slide to chamber a new round..."

I said I had just watched several competitors the night before loading fresh mags, then releasing the slide with their support hand's thumb on the lever, and it was working well for them. They were 1911 (single stack) shooters.

His response was to grumble, "Different school of thought."

By the way, Mr. Gun Store Employee, the part is called a slide STOP on most semi-auto pistols, and that single part serves as both a slide "lock" and a slide release.

All this was after loudly scolding my sweet wife for daring to touch the trigger on the XDm that had its slide locked back, just to check for finger reach with her small hand, whilst the male neanderthal potential buyers were pulling triggers left and right. And I know from experience that this particular gun store has let me do the same, many times, sometimes acting bemused that I asked permission to pull triggers.

OK now for my own take on it. I've had a couple of failures to feed when I used the lever to release the slide after loading a fresh mag. But I've never had a failure to feed off of a fresh mag when racking the slide all the way back and then releasing it as my hand continued in a backward motion, supporting the principle that with this technique you're using the full potential of the recoil spring to help chamber a round. On the other hand, I think it's faster to release with the lever as the support hand is brought up. So like many are saying, do what works for you.

 

Either way is fine ...and you should train both ways...

 

I always pull the slide back and release on virtually all my autos. Rarely use the slide release. It has just become habit.

 

I hardly ever hit the slide release cause i can see wear and tear on the slide stop. figured metal on metal would round the corners and soon wouldnt keep the slide back

 

This is what I've read and the reason why I pull back on the slide and don't use the "Slide STOP",LOL. you drop the slide with the slide stop too many times and it'll round off and not hold the slide open eventually. Besides, like I said, you learn to pull back on the slide and it'll work for ALL semi-autos so you won't have to relearn where the slide stop is on each and every one.

 

I have ALWAYS used the Rack the slide method because my combat and security instructor ALWAYS told us "You fight like you train" and i want to make sure I am well trained with good habits...

The other reason is during a gun fight or fight for your life you lose fine motor skills so its easier to accomodate gross motor skills such as racking the slide

Just my .02

 

If time is a factor, it takes more time to "slingshot" the slide.

In a match I would not take the extra time to bring my hand to the top of the slide and then back down into shooting position (unless there was a malfunction/problem).

My hand inserts the mag, goes into shooting position and thumb releases the slide as the weapon goes back on target, every millisecond counts in a match or self defense.

Not all semi-autos slingshot, my Baer TRS Commanche does not as was/is the case with most of them.

 

Edit: I reread the question. It doesn't matter.

 

Hand over method is best IMHO. Weak hand over top of slide, rack, fire. It's better for the gun, allowing the slide to get full benefit from the recoil spring tension to chamber the round and go fully into battery. Not to mention saving wear and tear on the slide stop and the extractor. Some guns (such as Glocks) the slide stop lever isn't intended to be used as a slide release, but only as a slide stop for when the magazine is empty. A couple of the Glock trainers at work went to Glock to be certified as instructors, told us that in class. Apparently Glock made them that way for some reason. Been a couple of years since that class. Not pissing on Glocks, actually I like them. They're some of the funnest pistols I have shot. Point is this, the hand over is the best all around method for loading a automatic pistol. JMHO, YMMV

 

If the slide is forward.... rack it(using front serrations)
If the slide is back.... Slide stop if I'm in the middle of a stage... either way if I'm just standing there.

There really isn't a "right" way... and I have yet to hear anyone wearing out a slide stop by using it.

MIke.

 

Try both and see what feels more natural. I use the slide but that's just what I'm used to.

 

I'm just a casual shooter - no fancy drills, no speed shooting, tactical reloading or such. When I empty the mag, I usually remove it, ease slide back in to battery without slamming it, and then rack it once full mag is in place.

 

I think that you will find that it is easier to insert and latch the magazine with the slide locked back. Otherwise as has been said do what is most comfortable and don't stress over it.

 

Always best to slingshot. Rack drills involve slingshotting.....

 

If you're shooting for accuracy, be consistent and chamber the round the same way the gun would do it when fired. That means rack and slingshot.

 

Pretty sure I broke an ejector by slamming home a standard full magazine into a compact gun. Learned how to replace the ejector though!

I don't generally use the slide stop to release the slide. I don't play the racing games either. Can see where that would help cut down time.

 

I always rack the slide. Even if the slide is back and a magazine is inserted. i never use the slide stop.

 

I used to alsways slingshot the slide out of habit; but when I got a Baer Comanche (they don't usually slingshot) I started using the slide stop/release.

It is quicker that way (I shoot IDPA).

The slide stop also is showing no more wear compared to any of my others that I used to slingshot; they all look the same to me.

Rick

 

The slide stop also is showing no more wear compared to any of my others that I used to slingshot; they all look the same to me.

Rick

Even my hard use pistols aren't rounding on the corners, but I keep some kind of lube there. I really don't know if it helps or not, but I know they use grease on high pressure, slow movement machinery (such as the pivot points of a track hoe boom and bucket). I always use the slide stop to release the slide. If it rounds off, I'll fix it.

I thought the OP simply wanted to know if it better to push the mag in with the slide open or closed, not how to release the slide. Oh well.

 

There is no definitive answer.

Whichever way, just make sure it works with your anatomy, works with your gun and you train consistently with it.

I started off using the slide release. Then when I started taking training seriously, I found that racking the slide was more consistent, worked with more pistols and didn't force me to change my right-hand grip. Then I bought more very tight fitting guns, and started doing more competition and, in trying to shave off more time, I'm back to using the slide release.

 

Hmmm I have never thought about this, the whole being consistent part. When I have all my mags loaded on me I slingshot each of those mags but the first mag I load is racked since I load it at a table and walk to where I want to shoot from (it's an outdoor range).

 

Many thousands of rounds through two or three dozen 1911s at a Navy pistol range and I never saw a slide or release wear out or round out. Do whatever works best for you. If you're in the military or law enforcement, do it the recommended way.