M&P Slide Release - A problem for IPSC

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I don't shoot IPSC, so I will not speak with regards to the rules of the game and if it's an issue. The M&P may not always auto forward for everyone and more often than not the immediate reaction is to strike the bottom of the mag again, and again if needed; not great for both muscle memory and if you're on the clock.

As mentioned already, the malfunction drill is "tap, rack, bang/shoot", commonly used for either a magazine that wasn't seated properly or a bad primer/light strike. Working the slide during a slide lock reload is a way and not the only way to release the side.

A "slide lock" will also release the slide, don't get caught up in the name, if it functionally works, use it.

For those saying that the slide is larger and therefore easier to manipulate, here's some food for thought, when was the last time you didn't release the magazine when you intended to? When was the last time you intended to break a shot by squeezing the trigger and failed to do so? Both those parts are relatively the same size as a slide release; but I'd figure a high percentage of people have rarely (if ever) missed them because they were small. Not trying to be a ####, but give it some thought; consistent training can attentuate possible fumbling under stress.
 
hoochie said:
I cant think of anyone who shoots competitively or who carries for a living who would even think of using the slide release as a release.

There is a drill called "tap, rack". slam the mag home and rack the slide. this is how the gun should be operated anyway.
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That line of thinking stems from an old wives tale that it would round off the notch on the slide. It doesn't. I have done this literally thousands of times on my glock and I so no wear whatsoever.
 
heavenIsAlie said:
tap rack is a malfunction clearance drill not a reloading drill.
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I know what it is. but the drill is nothing more than repeating the steps taken to place the gun into battery. we carried the M&P .40 at work, never learned to shoot it using the slide release, never taught anyone to do it that way either. And for someone with small hands, and there are lots out there, the glocks. M&P's etc have such a small release lever its difficult for them and they often have to resort to 2 thumbs. Grabbing the slide takes far less time.
 
hoochie said:
I cant think of anyone who shoots competitively or who carries for a living who would even think of using the slide release as a release.
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Ok, What great shooters shoots IPSC competitively and doesn't use the slide lock?
The other part is moot, this thread is about IPSC, "operators" and "ninjas" are not included :)
 
Slide lock manipulation is unnecessary
In fact, slide manipulation is unnecessary

Just harness your inner Ninja.

[youtube]D7stLQvsDX8[/youtube]
 
As ODPL/IDPA shooters we always shoot to slide lock. I find it MUCH faster to hit the slide release as my weak hand reassumes the grip during a reload instead of moving the weak hand up and rearward then back down and forward. Almost everyone we shoot with uses the slide release.
 
the lever is there for a reason, it's to be used. Even using my weak hand thumb to hit it on my Shadow while re-establishing my grip is faster than racking the slide. Much, much faster. I've got a female student with very small hands that could manipulate her HK no problem and her current CZ as well. The HK probably had the hardest slide release of any gun on the market, yet this small women with tiny hands could do it with zero issues. If you can't manipulate the lever you are going to have problems with the trigger and mag release as well.
 
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Speaking ONLY about 1911's - the slide lock back is a function of the magazine follower contacting the slide release "projection". Given the variations that can and WILL exist between magazines over time - some mags would cause a lock back on last round - others would not. Consequently I always "modified" the slide stop so that I knew FOR CERTAIN the slide WOULD NOT lock back on last round and if I shot the gun "dry" - the training that several previous posters alluded to, would initiate the "tap rack bang" drill. The "lock back" function still existed for locking the slide back manually and intentionally.
 
I wouldn't say it makes sense to shoot to slide lock, anytime you do that in IPSC it's a risk. you are either trying to avoid a reload on a short 11 round stage or trying to change where you do the reload on larger stages due to excellent stage design by a crafty MD. But it's always a risk playing the last round game like that.
 
I hate watching people use a slide lock/stop as a "release". If you do it because you think it's faster, that just tells me that you need more practice on the proper operation of a pistol.

Releasing the slide with your thumb is a fine motor skill and it can easily be missed. Grabbing the slide and ripping it back is a gross motor skill and will likely never be missed. In a time of stress, you should never attempt a fine motor skill.
 
reading your post tells me you don't understand what fine motor skills vs gross motor skills actually means. Anything that requires grasping or manipulating of an item is a FINE motor skill. Hitting, punching and kicking are gross motor skills. Further if your fine motor skills degrade so poorly under stress that using the slide release is not possible how are you ever going operate the trigger or mag release? Under some arguments for Fine vs Gross, hitting the slide release could actually be a Gross motor skill function, but that's a debate for another day.

You should probably try reading a bit more and try training with people that actually know what they are talking about before you try to become an internet expert.
 
Slavex said:
You should probably try reading a bit more and try training with people that actually know what they are talking about before you try to become an internet expert.
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In his defense, I was under this impression as well, and this thread has been a learning experience. With that being said, I've always shot using the slide release when screwing up a stage lol
 
But you didn't make an "I'm an expert post" about a subject, with words you don't understand. You were the smart one and sat back and read and learned so that the next time the question comes up you can educate someone properly.

there is a time and place for over hand and or slingshot racking of the gun. Getting back into battery at slide lock is not one of those times for me. Have I done? Yes, I've suffered through multiple days of Tactical Response courses doing it, because they ask us to try it, during their course. Once allowed to go back to my method guess what? Pistol performed exactly the same. That's while being punched and kicked and thrown around and having to do IAs and shoot little targets, or make sure I didn't shoot the photographer etc.

This while fine motor control skill and gross motor control skill comes from early child education, From Wiki (yes I know, Wiki, however it matches the material presented at numerous reputable shooting and defensive tactics classes I've taken);
Motor skills are movements and actions of the muscles. They are categorized in two groups: gross motor skills and fine motor skills. Gross motor skills involve movement of the arms, legs, feet, or entire body. This includes actions such as running, crawling, walking, swimming, and other activities that involve larger muscles. Fine motor skills are the small movements that occur in the hands, wrists, fingers, feet, toes, lips and tongue. They are the smaller actions that occur such as picking up objects between the thumb and finger, using a pencil to write carefully, holding a fork and using it to eat, and other small muscle tasks that occur on a daily basis.

These two motor skills develop together and strongly involve coordination. Through each developmental stage of a child’s life, toddlerhood, preschool, and school age, motor skills will gradually develop and between age 6 and 12 children typically will have mastered basic fine motor skills. They will keep developing with age and with practice and the increased use of muscles while playing sports, playing an instrument, using the computer, and writing.
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So please, lets stop the myth and the legend that you won't be able to use the slide release. It is so so stupid and so many people don't understand why.
 
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