Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Sling shot or slide release lever?

That's definitely me. Glock 17, 19 or 43 for carry. Those are mainly what get shot, too. In the limited range time I manage to arrange for myself, it's hard to justify not shooting the guns that are most likely to matter when the chips are down, so lots of S&W and Colt revolver safe queens now, not to mention 1911s, High Powers, etc..

Talking amongst a number of combat vets, who are routinely training to hone those skills, in the capacity of professional soldiers and/or law enforcement, I will hear some say "slingshot", but it is a given amongst them, that this term does not describe the use of the thumb and finger to pull against the rear of the slide, like a slingshot. To eliminate confusion, you will now hear this poor technique of thumb and finger as being called slingshot, as that is what it mirrors, with the correct overhand technique being described as a power stroke, same as used to clear a malfunction.

Why the slingshot is bad and power stroke is good? Under stress, it is easy to ride the slide home w/ slingshot, not so w/ power stroke. The power stroke uses large muscle groups and gross motor skills. Such power stroke is also the same technique used to clear a malfunction.

Use of the slide lock is indeed a bit faster, but it does carry baggage in combat. It is a weaker technique requiring fine motor skills, and it is a completely different and added technique having no value at clearing a malfunction. Also, it does not maximize slide travel and spring power to aid placing the pistol into battery. Now, the trend is to save the slide lock for timed competition, while saving the power stroke for two way gun fights.

There are some exceptions, such as certain pistol designs can be placed on safe while the slide is quickly worked with a power stroke.

Me personally, I would only consider a combat pistol that could readily be power stroked, either 2-handed, or 1-handed off strong sights. Would not use extended slide lock as it adds risk of engagement with a high straight thumb combat grip.

I always used the lever until I made the mistake of buying a pos Ruger MK III. Among its many faults was a slide lever that was guaranteed to ultimately fail if used for its intended purpose. Anyway, it got me in the slingshot habit before I gave up on it and traded it back to the shop that sold it to me.

I have never tried the "Slingshot" method because I always felt that my support hand has enough to do with the next Mag and re-gripping. It seems to me that flipping the slide lock with your thumb is simpler and quicker TBS if you haven't tipped over the Perp with your first mag you probably are a bad shot, so the split second difference if there is one won't mean didley. As for Lefty's, I can see no other choice. I say whatever is comfortable for you is what you should do. Not what some trainer or coach tries to teach you.

A recent poster (GarryVA) has clarified that what I use isn't correctly called the slingshot, but rather the power stroke.

my powerstroke.....

For the love of all things holy don't allow Travis to post a picture or describe here his "power stroke!"

Sweet Jesus, until this thread came along I never new it was even a question. I figured they put a slide release on a pistol for a reason, so I've always used it.

I do that every morning.

And sometimes at lunch...




Clark

Best left for a PM I think.




Dave

are you saying gavyV was not referring to his chosen process of charging a pistol?

I previously used both methods equally. I have been carrying an Ruger LCP lately (doesn't lock the slide after the last round fired) so have been exclusively slingshoting (verb) lately.

The method of clearing a jam (bumping the mag bottom then slingshot) also made me think it would be a good practice to just use one method to charge a gun whether after a jam or inserting a fresh magazine.

Wow, you really are a genius. With your deductive skills you could be Sherlock Holmes!

Wanting to contribute something intelligent to this thread:

I have found that if racking the slide is especially difficult for you -
You must consciously prevent your finger from curling around the trigger.

<> http://www.corneredcat.com/article/running-the-gun/rack-the-slide/ <>

Sometimes, it's mfgr/gun specific. I believe Glock says to slingshot. Kahr says to use the release, at least on my P380.

"Tap... Rack... Bang!"... is so ingrained in my shooting that if the "TAP" of inserting a fresh mag does not send the slide home my support hand is already moving to "RACK" the slide. Strong hand never leaves its grip position on the pistol.

Glocks are the carry platform.

I carry all sorts of different schit.

Just depends on the day.



Dave

I'm confused now, am I doing it wrong using the slide release.

It's a slide STOP, not a slide release. LOL. Just kidding. I've heard that said before to people who use the slide release instead of manually racking it.

Here's an example of this common refrain.

Link

Wilson is full of crap on this one. I think I'll go with a real gunfighter and follow what he does.