Hard Slide release? - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

aflin · 09-23-2007, 12:02 PM

So last week I went to a gunshow and picked up a XD .45 acp. right after that, I went to the gun range and shot my first magazine. As usual, the slide locks back, I released the mag catch and the magazine fell out. I put in a new one. Then i pushed slide release and found it INCREDIBLY hard to push down! I had to pull the slide back with one hand and use the other hand to push down the slide release. On my sig, I release the slide with pure ease, a simple twitch of the thumb. With the XD .45, I have to continually use the " pull back the slide " method if you will. Has anyone else had the problem? If so, Any suggestions to fix this? Thanks!

btw, My serial number is US649xxx. Is this one of the later generation? i got this used.

manic mechanic · 09-23-2007, 12:30 PM

It'll get looser with time.

aflin · 09-23-2007, 12:41 PM

Do you think I can send it to Springfield for them to fix it? I've also thought about leaving the slide back in the lock position as for wear the spring down a little bit to ease the action of the slide release/lock.

**NC Dave** · 09-23-2007, 01:05 PM

There is nothing wrong with it. Search the board and you will find many discussions on how it is the "slide stop" and not the "slide release."

**mhillsing23** · 09-23-2007, 01:47 PM

My brand new XD-9 is the same way. I am hoping that it will loosen up overtime. It is kind of a pain to have to use both hands to release the slide.

GaryTx · 09-23-2007, 02:53 PM

You shouldn't be using the slide stop to release the slide anyway. The proper way is to insert a magazine and rack the slide with your weak hand.

GoCodeBravo · 09-23-2007, 03:16 PM

+1 on GaryTX...I always pull back on the slide with my free hand. On ALL my semi-autos, mostly because I learned it that way and that every semi-auto I've shot was harder than heck to get the slide to release with the slide stop.

What's odd is that it says in the XD USER MANUAL to do exactly what aflin mentioned in the original post:

"Point gun in a safe direction and keep finger off

trigger. Depress the slide stop lever to allow slide to
move forward and load a shell from the magazine
into the chamber." (pg 16, from "LOADING" step 5)

GaryTx · 09-23-2007, 03:22 PM

You shouldn't be doing it because it causes undue wear on the notch in the slide and the tab on the slide lock lever...with time it will "round them off" to where the lock lever won't lock the slide back.

GoCodeBravo · 09-23-2007, 03:30 PM

Again, +1 to GaryTX. That should about do it for this thread, right? Now, we've got to find out why (other than an NFL game) why neither of us is outside shooting something through our XD's!

**NC Dave** · 09-23-2007, 04:48 PM

One last comment on why you should "slingshot" the slide instead of using the lever...

Slingshoting will work on whatever semi-auto pistol you pick-up. No wasting valuable seconds looking for the danged "release".

09-23-2007, 12:02 PM	#1
aflin XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 4	Hard Slide release? So last week I went to a gunshow and picked up a XD .45 acp. right after that, I went to the gun range and shot my first magazine. As usual, the slide locks back, I released the mag catch and the magazine fell out. I put in a new one. Then i pushed slide release and found it INCREDIBLY hard to push down! I had to pull the slide back with one hand and use the other hand to push down the slide release. On my sig, I release the slide with pure ease, a simple twitch of the thumb. With the XD .45, I have to continually use the " pull back the slide " method if you will. Has anyone else had the problem? If so, Any suggestions to fix this? Thanks! btw, My serial number is US649xxx. Is this one of the later generation? i got this used.

09-23-2007, 12:30 PM	#2
manic mechanic XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: michigan, down the river Posts: 1,117	It'll get looser with time. __________________ The 2nd amendment makes all the others possible. If we ever forget that we're One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under." Ronald Reagan

09-23-2007, 01:05 PM	#4
NC Dave XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 1,244	There is nothing wrong with it. Search the board and you will find many discussions on how it is the "slide stop" and not the "slide release." __________________ David in Carolina ------------------------------------ NRA Life Member

09-23-2007, 01:47 PM	#5
mhillsing23 XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 1,579	My brand new XD-9 is the same way. I am hoping that it will loosen up overtime. It is kind of a pain to have to use both hands to release the slide. __________________ Veritas vos liberabit...

09-23-2007, 02:53 PM	#6
GaryTx XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 1,081	You shouldn't be using the slide stop to release the slide anyway. The proper way is to insert a magazine and rack the slide with your weak hand. __________________ "I have tried to live my life so that my family would love me and my friends respect me. The others can do whatever the hell they please." ~John Wayne

09-23-2007, 12:41 PM	#3
aflin XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 4	Do you think I can send it to Springfield for them to fix it? I've also thought about leaving the slide back in the lock position as for wear the spring down a little bit to ease the action of the slide release/lock.

09-23-2007, 03:16 PM	#7
GoCodeBravo XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Harris County Posts: 198	+1 on GaryTX...I always pull back on the slide with my free hand. On ALL my semi-autos, mostly because I learned it that way and that every semi-auto I've shot was harder than heck to get the slide to release with the slide stop. What's odd is that it says in the XD USER MANUAL to do exactly what aflin mentioned in the original post: "Point gun in a safe direction and keep finger off trigger. Depress the slide stop lever to allow slide to move forward and load a shell from the magazine into the chamber." (pg 16, from "LOADING" step 5) Last edited by GoCodeBravo : 09-23-2007 at 03:18 PM. Reason: clarification

09-23-2007, 03:22 PM	#8
GaryTx XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 1,081	You shouldn't be doing it because it causes undue wear on the notch in the slide and the tab on the slide lock lever...with time it will "round them off" to where the lock lever won't lock the slide back. __________________ "I have tried to live my life so that my family would love me and my friends respect me. The others can do whatever the hell they please." ~John Wayne

09-23-2007, 03:30 PM	#9
GoCodeBravo XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Harris County Posts: 198	Again, +1 to GaryTX. That should about do it for this thread, right? Now, we've got to find out why (other than an NFL game) why neither of us is outside shooting something through our XD's!

09-23-2007, 04:48 PM	#10
NC Dave XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 1,244	One last comment on why you should "slingshot" the slide instead of using the lever... Slingshoting will work on whatever semi-auto pistol you pick-up. No wasting valuable seconds looking for the danged "release". __________________ David in Carolina ------------------------------------ NRA Life Member

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