Proper Reloading Method

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I have a Springfield XD .45ACP. It has proven to be a good gun, both accurate and reliable. I do not carry it, though I shoot it a lot. My question has to do with reloading the gun. After I empty the first magazine and reload, what is the proper way of releasing the slide? Should I simply push down on the slide release, or should I pull the slide back to release it? I am not even sure if this an issue. I am not looking to argue with anyone. I have not been to any classes or through any type of training. I was just wondering. Thank you in advance for any valuable input.
 
A firearm instructor once told me that flipping the slide release is alright, but don't use it more than necessary. Using the slide release too much can wear down the mechanical parts, and wear the gun out.

Good idea to slingshot the slide. (Pull back slightly, and then let it go to chamber the round)

No disagreement intended to other users, just what I was taught.
 
Sorry to dissagree with your instructor but I also am an instructor. The weapons were designed to be released by the slide release. I have not seen the slide released on any police range unless the officer was doing a weak hand reload simulating an injured strong hand.
 
golfnutrlv

I'm with you, at least 4 departments that I was associated with mandated your "slingshot" method. Actually H&K and Glock call the lever a SLIDE STOP not a SLIDE RELEASE.

Sorry CA, no offense.


Good Luck & Be Safe
 
My personal preference is to grab the slide, pull it to the rear and let it fly forward into battery. The logic here is that slide locks are little bitty things that require precise placement of the thumb, accurate application of the right amount of pressure to make that little bitty thing move correctly and, with most people and guns that I've seen, shifting of the grip to get the thumb onto the slide lock. Lots of small precise motions (fine motor skills) to screw up when one is reloading under stress.

For me its all about big, strong, aggressive movements (gross motor skills) when working a gun. Much less chance of bobbling the reload. This is also the same motion I use to correct weapon failures so its one less thing my limited, knuckle walking brain has to learn to do under stress.

For one handed reloads I train to either jam the top of the slide flat against the side of my thigh and push the gun in, down and away or I hook the rear sight on my heel. Again big motions instead of fine ones. Extra important if you are hurt that you find solutions that don't depend on little fiddly bits and motions.

Ask 6 different instructors their opinion and they are likely to give you 7 answers.

I too am an instructor, and I approve this post:o
 
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When I took the handgun class at Gunsite in 2001, we were taught to use the slide stop. When I took a class from a local training group with a good reputation (AWT -- http://www.awt-co.com/), they taught us to use the sling shot method. When I took a class from Louis Awerbuck, I don't recall him expressing an opinion. And I recently took LFI-1 from Massad Ayoob, and he prefers using the slide stop. And a fellow I know who is an LEO and LE firearms instructor in the Pacific Northwest also favors using the slide stop.

What I conclude from all of this is that it's primarily a matter of personal preference. I know that each camp has strong opinions in the matter, and it's possible to identify advantages and disadvantages of either method. And if you use different types of guns, it's probably best to train using the sling shot method, because different types of guns have their slide stop in different locations, but the sling shot action will be the same and work for all.

I personally favor using the slide stop because I prefer the 1911, and it's a very easy and quick action for me to hit the slide stop with my weak hand thumb, after inserting the magazine with my weak hand, as it takes its grip over my strong hand.

And then again, I can avoid the issue entirely by using my H&K P7M8 (squeeze cocker) and releasing the slide with the cocking lever. :D

BTW, I'm also an instructor.
 
Reloading

With classes I have taken the instructors all have stated this and to me makes sense. By sling shoting the slide you do NOT have to look down. It can be done by feel. There reasoning is that if you do NOT find the slide lock/slide release with your finger you will wind up looking down at the gun to find the release. They stated this could be a disaster because you have taken your eyes off the target ( BG ). This just the opinion of the instructors that I have had dealings with. They say its human nature to look down if you do not find the lever by feeling it by hand. No need to look with the sling shot method. This method is working for me and I'll stick with it. Oh by the way all this has to be done under STRESS.
 
For a right-handed shooter, the slide stop release is slightly faster than sling-shotting the slide. Your non-dominant hand is much closer to its natural grip support position ON MOST PISTOLS. Now given that some have been trained and are used to the slingshot method, I doubt the time difference is worth the hassle of retraining.

RMD
 
Then you have SIGs slide stops, with which many people have trouble. Since the stop is so far back, many folks trap it down while shooting. So the great irony of having a slide stop conveniently placed for fast access presents itself in the form of interfering with locking the slide back.

FWIW, between the Marine Corps and 6 years as a cop, I sling shot the slide. My primary advantage of doing it this way it it works with pretty much any semi-auto I pick up, and I don't have to hunt for slide stops in different places on different guns.

-Teuf
 
22-Mag said:
...the instructors all have stated this and to me makes sense. By sling shoting the slide you do NOT have to look down...
Click to expand...
Just to clarify, using the slide stop with a 1911, I don't look down (just did a few reloads with dummy rounds to be sure). The gun is in my field of vision in any case. Training, practice and muscle memory are very useful things. But, as I've said, both techniques have their proponents, and I think both are acceptable.
 
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Some manufacturers do not recommend using the slide release to chamber the first round. Some specifically say it's ok. I can see where it would cause faster wear on the slide release latch.

However, in a social situation, you may not have the luxury of using both hands. I practice doing it both ways, and only use the slide release occasionally. One downside - if you operate the slide release with the right thumb before completely inserting the spare mag with the left hand, it's gonna delay reloading even more, since you'll now be forced to completely rack the slide to chamber the round.
 
A lot of people teach the "overhand" or slingshot method because it's a gross motor skill - under stress you're a lot more likely to be able to reach up and grab the slide and let it go forward than you are able to hit the slide release button.

On a 1911 pattern pistol though, the slide release button is positioned perfectly for the thumb on your support hand to nail it as you reestablish your grip on the gun.

On a personal note, I think that hitting the slide release would be faster as there is less overall movement involved - however it takes a lot more practice to master using the teeny button on the side of your gun.
 
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The slide release is just that, a slide release, its put on a pistol to released the slide, and its faster then pulling the slide back and releasing it on a new mag.

Having said that, When I was a LE Firearms instructor I stressed learning to count. Don't let the pistol go dry.

In multi stages of qualification training, I taught, dump the mag. and load a fresh one prior too or moving to the next stage.

Yeah I know, here it comes, you're gonna tell me in a stress situation people wont count. Guess what, people react under stress as they train. Habits are hard to break.

You're gonna practice and train with thousands more rounds then you are gonna shoot in a real situation. Develope good habits, you instill good habits for years, practice them for years, then when and if the SHTF, you're gonna go use the habits you developed over the years whether you realize it or not.

You're gonna shoot thousands of rounds, (hopefully), spend hundreds of hours (hopefully) training, LEARN TO COUNT. Its better to dump a mag with a round or two then get caught fumbling to get your slide forward on a fresh mag.
 
While there isn't a consensus, my experience is that more trainers/instructors suggest pulling back the slide than using the slide lock/slide release. The general view is the pullback and release uses gross motor skills, is easier to do under stress,replicates a common malfunction clearance movement, gives a touch more energy if done right, and is nearly universal in applicability. All those things are good. About the only advantage for the slide lock/release, IMO, is that some find it to be faster by a fraction of a second.
 
Every instructor I have ever known (including cops in 2 states) say to use the slingshot method. One, it is a gross motor skill, using the slide lock (I have always been told it's a slide lock, not a slide release) is a fine motor skill. Two, you keep your eyes on the target and don't need to look at the gun. Three, there is a LOT of stored energy in just that little extra length of the spring used in the slingshot method. Try it with an empty gun, see which closes the slide with more force, slide lock or slingshot. I tried my Sigs and my Colt 1911 and both close a lot harder using the slingshot method.

I am only an expert in my own mind, but its ok they know me here.
 
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The XD's I've handled didn't allow release of the slide, without first releasing some tension from the slide-stop. Has anyone else noticed the same thing? This little quirk is the only reason I don't currently own an XD. I noticed the same thing on several different XD's.
 
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