The safety issue is being beat to death. Suffice to say.
1. Following the four rules perfectly will result in NO NEGLIGENT DISCHARGES EVER.
2. Humans are fallible! That is why there are FOUR rules. Should you mess up on ONE of them the other THREE will prevent you from doing irreparable harm.
3. It takes cajones to step up to the plate and admit error. Thanks to the OP for doing so.
That all said THIS is what peaked my interest...
There is absolutely no reason to do that. The weapon is designed to be left in the ready to fire state. If you wish to leave the chamber empty then fine but DO NOT PULL THE TRIGGER.
Mechanically you are accomplishing nothing since with properly designed springs it is CYCLES which result in fatigue far more than STAIN in any one position within design limitations.
From a human elements standpoint you are conditioning yourself to "Drop Slide, Pull Trigger." You have probably done this time and time again and the basic neuro-impulses are burned into your brain. Hence when you went through your "routine" as you always do your body did exactly what you had trained it to do on autopilot in that situation (going to bed), "Drop Slide, Pull Trigger."
Never pull the trigger when you do not have a valid reason to. Relieving strain on the spring is NOT a valid reason.
In addition to the safety advice you have already been given you need to immediately "re-train" yourself to NOT pull the trigger on that Glock when you put it to bed each night.
1. Following the four rules perfectly will result in NO NEGLIGENT DISCHARGES EVER.
2. Humans are fallible! That is why there are FOUR rules. Should you mess up on ONE of them the other THREE will prevent you from doing irreparable harm.
3. It takes cajones to step up to the plate and admit error. Thanks to the OP for doing so.
That all said THIS is what peaked my interest...
I used the slide lock release to drop the slide, and as per usual, pulled the trigger to put the spring at rest.
There is absolutely no reason to do that. The weapon is designed to be left in the ready to fire state. If you wish to leave the chamber empty then fine but DO NOT PULL THE TRIGGER.
Mechanically you are accomplishing nothing since with properly designed springs it is CYCLES which result in fatigue far more than STAIN in any one position within design limitations.
From a human elements standpoint you are conditioning yourself to "Drop Slide, Pull Trigger." You have probably done this time and time again and the basic neuro-impulses are burned into your brain. Hence when you went through your "routine" as you always do your body did exactly what you had trained it to do on autopilot in that situation (going to bed), "Drop Slide, Pull Trigger."
Never pull the trigger when you do not have a valid reason to. Relieving strain on the spring is NOT a valid reason.
In addition to the safety advice you have already been given you need to immediately "re-train" yourself to NOT pull the trigger on that Glock when you put it to bed each night.