Sling shot, or slide release?

[garandman]

After you run it to slide lock, and put a fresh mag in, do you chamber the next round, by hitting the slide release, or by grabbing the slide and letting it fly sling shot style?

[NC Dave]

Oh goodie. We haven't beat this one to death in at least a week!

[mcb]

Where's the option, "Don't shoot to slide lock?" I rarely use my slide release since I rarely shoot the gun to slide lock. I do my best to count and reloaded before that so I don't have to mess with it.

mcb

[Fish609]

I hit the release button. What is the difference and why does it matter. I hope I did start another clip/mag debate or lord forbid 9mm vs .40 debate.

[Liquid Rhino]

For me, it really depends on how fast I need to shoot/reload. Being a lefty, the slingshot method is the only real way to do it w/o switching hands. But even the switch for the slide lock doesn't bother me much and find myself doing it often at the range.

[mrwildroot]

Originally Posted by Fish609

I hit the release button. What is the difference and why does it matter. I hope I did start another clip/mag debate or lord forbid 9mm vs .40 debate.

You did...
This is the "slide lock"/"slide release" recurring nightmare thread that appears at least once a month somewhere...
mrwildroot

[garandman]

I looked in the FAQ, but didn't see it.

[bartonmd]

I always did use the slide lock release, but the way the defensive pistol class I took tought it, they said it's better to do the slingshot, for a few reasons:

1. Adrenaline kills your fine motor skills, so under a REAL stressful situation, you generally have what are referred to as "adrenaline claws" because your individual fingers don't take commands well.

2. If somebody is shooting back at you, they usually end up shooting at the gun instead of "you" so it's very common to have fingers or hands taken out of comission, and how do you release the slide lock with no thumb? Hell, if you don't have a hand, you can release the slide by rubbing it and catching the sights on your sleve.

3. Like anything mechanical that holds a spring load, if you just move the catch while the spring load is applied, it will round the edge of the stop over time, and it will be less reliable.

Mike

[mrwildroot]

Originally Posted by garandman

I looked in the FAQ, but didn't see it.

Don't sweat it...it is not in the FAQs and the search feature leaves a bit to be desired....
Guess we'll go over it again....

mrwildroot
PS: Slingshot (hehehe!)

[bountyhunter]

Originally Posted by bartonmd

I always did use the slide lock release, but the way the defensive pistol class I took tought it, they said it's better to do the slingshot, for a few reasons:

1. Adrenaline kills your fine motor skills, so under a REAL stressful situation, you generally have what are referred to as "adrenaline claws" because your individual fingers don't take commands well.

2. If somebody is shooting back at you, they usually end up shooting at the gun instead of "you" so it's very common to have fingers or hands taken out of comission, and how do you release the slide lock with no thumb? Hell, if you don't have a hand, you can release the slide by rubbing it and catching the sights on your sleve.

3. Like anything mechanical that holds a spring load, if you just move the catch while the spring load is applied, it will round the edge of the stop over time, and it will be less reliable.

Mike

IMHO, it is faster to use the slide stop because after you lock the new mag in you can regrip with your left hand as you drop the slide using either thumb. If you slingshot, you are forced to use the left hand to do that and then waste more time regripping after that task is done.

As for the slide stop wearing out, it is designed to do that job so it likely won't wear out in our lifetime..