Locking the slide back, Question!

[BabySpice]

I have an XD 40 with a compensator that I got for Valentines Day. I love it!

I am having a real hard time locking the slide back. (read impossible to do) I can rack the slide all the back and hold it there, but moving the button up to lock it is proving impossible. Can't seem to get enough leverage on it.

Hubby thinks I would fare better with an XD 9mm. I was hoping to add a 9mm to my 40, not trade for one.

So any tricks? Something I am missing? Is it just a matter of practice and strength?

I do practice racking the slide, dry firing and drawing for about 15 minutes a day. But I am having to rely on an empty magazine to lock the slide back. Cheating, yes, but for now it works.

Of course Hubby says that if I cannot use a gun and all its functions then I should switch to one I can. Is he right? Would I be better off with a 9mm? Would change the barrel out help? Or should I just go for the 9 and live with the fact that I just couldn't get the 40 down?

Thanks guys!

[Kaboom]

Why do you need to lock the slide back with the mag in the gun?
btw, it will get easier over time.

[shyi3t]

yes it gets easier overtime .. had the same problem but if i get stuck i let my husband do it for me .

I use both hands .. holding the gun with my right and then with my left hand i grab the back part of the slide and pull back and once i have it back , i use my right thumb to push the slide release up to hit that slot to hold it back. you kinda have to slide your right hand a little bit around the grip to get the leverage for your thumb

most often i can do it but there are times i dunno . my strength disappears and then i can't do it.

or you can you use on empty mag and when you rack it back it stays lock back

hope that helps.

* i took pics . sorry it's in a weird angle . my sisterinlaw was sleepy when she took it, she didn't want to get up

i grab the slide in around the middle or so cause (that's where i feel i could push the slide back with my hand strength) but make sure you have it where you don't pinch yourself.



then i use the side of my thumb to push it to the slot once i got the leverage from the slide to push it in the slot.

[Breadfan]

XDs are known for being sturdy and their slides pretty hard to rack. I have over 1,000 rounds in mine and it still requires a strong pull.

[1lowlife]

Originally Posted by shyi3t

yes it gets easier overtime .. had the same problem but if i get stuck i let my husband do it for me .

I use both hands .. holding the gun with my right and then with my left hand i grab the back part of the slide and pull back and once i have it back , i use my right thumb to push the slide release up to hit that slot to hold it back. you kinda have to slide your right hand a little bit around the grip to get the leverage for your thumb

most often i can do it but there are times i dunno . my strength disappears and then i can't do it.

or you can you use on empty mag and when you rack it back it stays lock back

hope that helps.

* i took pics . sorry it's in a weird angle . my sisterinlaw was sleepy when she took it, she didn't want to get up

i grab the slide in around the middle or so cause (that's where i feel i could push the slide back with my hand strength) but make sure you have it where you don't pinch yourself.



then i use the side of my thumb to push it to the slot once i got the leverage from the slide to push it in the slot.

That is how I do it.
Nice post shyi3t.....................................

[shyi3t]

Originally Posted by 1lowlife

That is how I do it.
Nice post shyi3t.....................................

thx . i thought pictures would help.

[Cumminalong]

Which one are you having trouble with?

Is it a problem reaching the lever or is the lever itself hard to move.

The lever itself should have nearly no resistance at all.

I actually have more problems hitting it during firing with my thumb and engaging it than anything else.

But, really, switching to another model of an XD is not going to alleviate the situation. The only way you may be able to get more leverage on the slide and make it easier to engage the slide lock is to go with a full length guide rod and play with the recoil spring weights to get it to a point where it's manageable. BUT, then you run into a problem using full power ammo and the slide hitting the action block and slamming into with every shot.

Really, if you are unable to fully function the weapon, you should get one that fits you. Sorry, but hubby may be right on this one.

Why do you need to be able to lock it back with a mag in. Hellooooooo, stove pipe. Nothing says kick my arse more than someone with a gun that has to drop the mag to clear it in a bad situation. Besides, then the mag becomes something else in your hand.

[Philadelphia]

Originally Posted by BabySpice

I have an XD 40 with a compensator that I got for Valentines Day. I love it!

I am having a real hard time locking the slide back. (read impossible to do) I can rack the slide all the back and hold it there, but moving the button up to lock it is proving impossible. Can't seem to get enough leverage on it.

Hubby thinks I would fare better with an XD 9mm. I was hoping to add a 9mm to my 40, not trade for one.

So any tricks? Something I am missing? Is it just a matter of practice and strength?

I do practice racking the slide, dry firing and drawing for about 15 minutes a day. But I am having to rely on an empty magazine to lock the slide back. Cheating, yes, but for now it works.

Of course Hubby says that if I cannot use a gun and all its functions then I should switch to one I can. Is he right? Would I be better off with a 9mm? Would change the barrel out help? Or should I just go for the 9 and live with the fact that I just couldn't get the 40 down?

Thanks guys!

Try this:

1. hold gun in right hand (I assume you are right handed), trigger finger straight along frame but not touching frame. Bring the gun in to your "workspace" -- near enough so you can see it well in your peripheral vision without losing target awareness while manipulating it.

2. with the side of your right thumb where it naturally falls along the left side of the frame, stroke the slide stop lever upward (the lever will move up a little even though you have not yet moved the slide back). Do that at least three times -- watch your trigger finger -- it should not move. All you are doing is teaching your thumb to lift the slide stop lever while at the same time not moving your trigger finger down toward the trigger guard (which it will tend to naturally want to do).

3. now grip the top of the slide with your left hand, placing your left hand over the top of the slide gripping it between your fingers and the meaty part of your palm, fingers back from the ejection port (don't cover the ejection port with your fingers if you've decided you always want to keep them ). DO NOT allow the muzzle to cover any part of your body (a lot of people end up sweeping or actually pointing the muzzle at their own left arm -- don't be one of them). DO NOT allow the muzzle to swing away from whatever (safe) direction your were pointing when you started all this.

4. Rack the slide back while stroking the slide stop lever upward, exactly as you practiced with your right thumb a second ago. Do not move your trigger finger while doing this. Viola. The slide is now safely locked back.

[shyi3t]

Originally Posted by Philadelphia

DO NOT allow the muzzle to cover any part of your body (a lot of people end up sweeping or actually pointing the muzzle at their own left arm -- don't be one of them). DO NOT allow the muzzle to swing away from whatever (safe) direction your were pointing when you started all this.

+1 on that . on my pix it kinda shows the muzzle going by my wrist but it's like that cause of the weird angle my sister in law took it .. but when i really do it .. the muzzle is away from any of my body parts.

all you gotta do is practice and you get stronger.

[BabySpice]

Originally Posted by shyi3t

or you can you use on empty mag and when you rack it back it stays lock back

Thanks for the pictures that is what I was doing. And I have been using an empty mag to lock it back. However, hubby says it is cheating and if I can't fully function the gun, then I shouldn't have it. This is the only obstacle in my way.

Originally Posted by Cumminalong

Which one are you having trouble with?

Is it a problem reaching the lever or is the lever itself hard to move.

The lever itself should have nearly no resistance at all.

It isn't that I can't move the lever. It is true that there is no resistance. It is reaching it in a way that I am still holding the slide back and keeping the gun pointing in a safe way (ie away from body parts and downrange).

Originally Posted by Philadelphia

1. hold gun in right hand (I assume you are right handed), trigger finger straight along frame but not touching frame. Bring the gun in to your "workspace" -- near enough so you can see it well in your peripheral vision without losing target awareness while manipulating it.

2. with the side of your right thumb where it naturally falls along the left side of the frame, stroke the slide stop lever upward (the lever will move up a little even though you have not yet moved the slide back). Do that at least three times -- watch your trigger finger -- it should not move. All you are doing is teaching your thumb to lift the slide stop lever while at the same time not moving your trigger finger down toward the trigger guard (which it will tend to naturally want to do).

You know I think I do want to keep my fingers.

But seriously. I am a lefty (oops, should have mentioned that). So I am using my trigger finger for the slide lock. And my right hand is being used to pull the slide back. It does look like it would be easier if I was a righty, sigh, as do most things doing with shooting.....

It did take some practice after I first got the gun to even be able to pull the slide all the way back (without locking it). I did work on that, and eventually got it. The slide lock is still giving me hell!

It just seems that the way I have to hold the gun and the grip to get enough leverage to pull the slide back, I can't seem to move that finger up to lock the slide back without losing my grip almost. Does that make any sense?

But I will practice with gripping the gun and moving the slide stop lever without actually moving the slide back. I think that may help get the movement down at the very least.

Thanks all!