Release It, Rack It, or Slap It

[Soysuperhombre]

Everybody recomends that I "slingshot" the slide instead of using the slide release.
When I am practicing rapid fire through my mags I have a problem.
When the slide is locked back I drop the spent mag and slam in the new mag. But only with a full mag and some force this will cause the slide to release on its own and go into battery. Not knowing this because I am trying to go as fast as I can I instinctively rack the slide to release it only to watch good ammo go spinning over my head.
What do I do?
1. Just start using the slide release like everyone tells me not to.
2. Just start trusting that everytime I slap in a new mag the slide will release and chamber a round.
3. Don't change a thing always "slingshot" the slide to go into battery even if it means wasting ammo.

[1of2]

Don't slap the mag in so hard.

[Eric_Oh]

Originally Posted by 1of2

Don't slap the mag in so hard.

sounds like good advice to me.

[ReloaderFred]

Why are they telling you not to use the slide lock/release? That's what it's for. I've shot and taught shooting semi auto pistols since 1977, and that's what the release is for, to release the slide. In actual shooting, when someone is shooting at you, it's much easier to get in the habit of using the slide release than it is to use the support hand to pull back the slide. It's faster, and if the support hand is injured, and you can't use it to pull back the slide, it's just that much more confusing under stress.

I keep hearing a lot of gun range commandos espousing a lot of theories, but most of them have never been closer to a real gunfight than their TV set. I've been there and done that, and I can tell you that everything changes when you're ducking incoming rounds while trying to protect your butt and put the other guy out of commission.

My advice is to use the slide release and ignore "helpful advice" from amateurs. And if all else fails, read the instruction manual that came with your XD, and it clearly instructs you to use the slide release after inserting the magazine. If the manufacturer tells you to do it that way, then it can't be all wrong, can it?

Hope this helps.

Fred

[wfrazee]

I dont remember where but I remember reading that using the release is better than racking the slide anyway. I had the bad habit of doing the same thing. Had to work on it at the range for a while but after a bunch of reload drills releasing the slide with the slide release, its the way I do it now.

Im no expert on why one or the other is better but there are plenty of reasons to just use the release and I havent heard one not to yet....

[The Manager]

When I am practicing rapid fire through my mags I have a problem.

Slide goes forward = back on target faster.
Manual rack = slower back to target.
While competing I thank the Plastic Gun Gods every time my slide goes forward on it's own, if it doesn't I act accordingly. I can only hope that reacting to less than perfect gun actions will be as calculated in a gun fight.
Odds are that if your having to change mags in a gunfight speed will not be what you need, a headshot is.

[Soysuperhombre]

The reasoning they have given to slingshoting the slide is to,
1. It gives the slide a little more length and there by a little more force to chamber off a round helps to prevent FTFeed.
2. Keep your firing hand in the correct position for aiming and pulling the trigger.

I'm gonna look into it some more
Thanks

[Fingolfin]

Originally Posted by ReloaderFred

Why are they telling you not to use the slide lock/release? That's what it's for. I've shot and taught shooting semi auto pistols since 1977, and that's what the release is for, to release the slide. In actual shooting, when someone is shooting at you, it's much easier to get in the habit of using the slide release than it is to use the support hand to pull back the slide. It's faster, and if the support hand is injured, and you can't use it to pull back the slide, it's just that much more confusing under stress.

I keep hearing a lot of gun range commandos espousing a lot of theories, but most of them have never been closer to a real gunfight than their TV set. I've been there and done that, and I can tell you that everything changes when you're ducking incoming rounds while trying to protect your butt and put the other guy out of commission.

My advice is to use the slide release and ignore "helpful advice" from amateurs. And if all else fails, read the instruction manual that came with your XD, and it clearly instructs you to use the slide release after inserting the magazine. If the manufacturer tells you to do it that way, then it can't be all wrong, can it?

Hope this helps.

Fred

I agree. The theory about using a slingshot release is that if you are under stress you are better at doing gross muscle memory movements like shucking on the slide and all this slapping and tapping rather than fine movements like thumbing down the release. I guess there is some merit to that, but I really don't think it matters if you've practiced it either way. I like the slide release because it gets me on target quicker and there's less chance of me shooting my fingers off.

[XD_Dan]

Originally Posted by Fingolfin

...and there's less chance of me shooting my fingers off.

Just how do you rack your slide?

[wfrazee]

Originally Posted by XD_Dan

Just how do you rack your slide?

My guess is a forward-set press check.

AKA the slip-and-remove-a-finger method.