Ok to release a pistol slide without a round?

I cut my teeth on the 1911 where it is a faux-pas. Modern guns can take it, but habits die hard.

Most gun shops consider it poor etiquette to do so when checking out a gun they have for sale, so I would not do it there, 1911 or not.
 
The guy I most remember doing this in a 'B' detective movie was the late Lee Marvin. This was really odd as he was known to be an avid gun owner and shooter.

Was it in "The Professionals" were he is doing a demo with the Colt 1895 'Potato Digger'? He was wearing the US Army uniform, hiring out as a mercenary.
 
Depends on the gun, and the owner and various combinations of the above. If it's a 1911 (any 1911) do not drop the slide on empty. Everyone with a reputation who works on 1911's says it's bad for the gun because it imparts stresses on the sear that are unique to the situation and bad for the sear. If it's my 1911 don't do because I will kick your butt, and not in a friendly way. Someone elses 1911 I'll just look at you like you're an idiot. Guns other than 1911's go ahead - if it's your gun, because if it's my gun, I'll kick your butt as mentioned above.
 
Haha... this is why I asked. There seems to be differing opinions but most of the "no"s are probably opinions based on the 1911.
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When there is a round in the magazine, slide slows down as it strips it from the mag and the (soft brass) case absorbs most of the slide closing impact. On the empty mag/chamber slide smacks the breech face on the chamber walls with full speed/force. It's not much different than taking a hammer to those parts. Will it instantly break? No. But would you hit your gun with a hammer for no reason? Well, I know I wouldn't. I've seen police trade in's where most of the wear is on the front of the chamber and breech face. I wonder how that happened...:rolleyes: Bottom line is there is no good reason do it and a few not to. Get some snap-caps if you must do it but why not just 'ease' the slide home?
 
lol Oh man, there are definitely some over sensitive people owning pistols out there :D

If releasing a slide without a round in the chamber damages a hardened piece of steel, then what is the actual firing of the rounds doing to it!!!???

My god we may all be in serious danger here!!!
 
I think the consensus is that on most if not all modern designs it will do little to no physical damage EXCEPT the 1911, my first semI was a 1911 and after several months of dropping the slide I began to notice the hammer following. I sent an e-mail to Gunnar and his first question was "have you been dropping the slide on an empty mag?" So obviously there is a known connection. This was Not a tuned 1911 race gun by anyeans.

I'd say its poor form to do it to any gun other than your own and I will let a customer know if they do it to a store gun not to do so again. Its just useless wear and tear. If you want to do it in your basement with your own guns go right ahead, but don't do it to a stores gun. Please.
 
I don't do it with any of my .22's or centerfires, 1911's or not. I don't see the need. Can it be done and is it okay? Probably in the vast majority of cases, it won't hurt anything but I still don't see the need. It doesn't take much effort to manually control the speed of the release of the slide. Not much more effort than it takes to close a cylinder on a double action revolver. If you feel it's okay and looks cool, go for it, but not if you're shooting one of mine.
 
Wolfstrack said:
yes, all the time is necessary, period ...
anyway you have to rack the slide to check if it's loaded, right ?!
pistols are made to endure the full recoil of spring when you shoot a round and that's how pistols are made, a solid and wonderful piece of machinery!
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It is also part of the design that some of the energy is taken out by the action of loading a bullet
 
enefgee said:
Depends on the gun, and the owner and various combinations of the above. If it's a 1911 (any 1911) do not drop the slide on empty. Everyone with a reputation who works on 1911's says it's bad for the gun because it imparts stresses on the sear that are unique to the situation and bad for the sear. If it's my 1911 don't do because I will kick your butt, and not in a friendly way. Someone elses 1911 I'll just look at you like you're an idiot. Guns other than 1911's go ahead - if it's your gun, because if it's my gun, I'll kick your butt as mentioned above.
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same here... do whatever you like and as often as you like with your own equipment.
Just don't do it to my guns!
 
I think it COULD lead to damage or more wear, but it should be fine. Nevertheless, my guns were not cheap so I ease them forward. With somebody else's gun, I ease it forward and think if you are at a gun store or handling somebody else's gun, you should ease it forward. To me, it would be like checking out somebody's new sports car, looking under the hood and letting the hood free-fall to latch shut. I'm not the kind who gently closes it and then has to push it to latch the hood, but some middlleground is nice.
 
cadgo said:
Haha... this is why I asked. There seems to be differing opinions but most of the "no"s are probably opinions based on the 1911.
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You know what I tell new shooters when they pick my guns up?

"Rack that #####!!
It isn't going to bite you, and you couldn't break it if you tried."

That puts their mind at ease a bit, and lets them focus some attention on the front sight.

I wish I could save some breath and just say "It isn't a 1911", but new shooters don't get that joke right away... :D


A pistol doesn't work if it isn't in battery.
It doesn't get to the end of it's travel(into battery) by stopping on pillows. It slams its self to a stop, grabbing a round with it, and spitting it out for more.
 
I've been taught to ride the slide closed on an empty chamber...on any auto pistol. Same guy taught me not to "Hollywood" close the cylinder on a DA revolver. He explained the reasons, which many here have already cited. My take on it is don't make a habit of it. If it happens every now and again{lending it to a new shooter ect.} don't sweat it, just correct them. I believe it will bend cranes and prematurely wear an auto if this "poor handling" is habitual. My .02 ;)
 
metcalfe said:
You know what I tell new shooters when they pick my guns up?

"Rack that #####!!
It isn't going to bite you, and you couldn't break it if you tried."

That puts their mind at ease a bit, and lets them focus some attention on the front sight.

I wish I could save some breath and just say "It isn't a 1911", but new shooters don't get that joke right away... :D


A pistol doesn't work if it isn't in battery.
It doesn't get to the end of it's travel(into battery) by stopping on pillows. It slams its self to a stop, grabbing a round with it, and spitting it out for more.
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Quoted for truth.
 
Number 1 Cadgo didn't say what make of pistol. If it was a quality gun its considered a no no. I think he is asking about dropping the slide on a empty chamber, not racking.
Ever seen a slide continue right off and hit the floor. He dropped the slide on a empty chamber once to many times I guess. It sheared the slide stop right off.
Don't remember the make of the pistol.
Your call, just find out what spare parts you need to have on hand if the slide stop shears off. And hope your sights make it out ok.
 
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