Ok to release a pistol slide without a round?

[Greenhorse six]

IIRC this is more to do with Browning type designed pistols, 1911's and such, as it's hard on the slide stop cross pin,link and link pin, they take a lot more force then when loading a round,which cushions and controls the blow somewhat.

 

[jason113]

I really dont care about this. I think every modern firearm design will take care of this. If the slide can take the blow back of ammo, then normal use like manually open and close the slide wont do any harm to the firearm.

And usually to make sure the slide is closed nice and tight I do release the slide lock without a round in it on purpose. Nothing scary happens...

 

[burnaby]

Modern firearm rack away to your heart's content.

 

[Silverback]

If it's your pistol that is fine, personally I don't do it though.

 

[FightingIrish]

I dont drop the slide on a empty chamber but ill rack the piss out of it.

What's the difference between dropping the slide and racking the piss out of it? Seriously, I don't know.

 

[Sambaru]

only time it is really an issue is on 1911s with a good trigger job, doing it to much to them will ruin the trigger job and cause hammer follow

My philosophy as well. Glock or M&P? Go nuts. Do it to a 1911 and I'll spank you. In my opinion, slamming the slide on an empty chamber with a 1911 is a sign of a novice just like wrist flipping the cylinder of a revolver shut.

 

[ipscgraz]

I don'r see a need to do this.

You can rack all day and lower the slide under control with no issue, and the rebounding firing pin doesn't mind dry firing. But I have Brownings and a 1911.

 

[BCRider]

On many pistols the slide seems to jump forward with a sound which suggests that there's enough things going on that the slide is cushioned. On 1911's and a few other special cases the slide being dropped on an empty chamber sounds like striking a couple of glasses together. That sort of sound is never a good thing when it involves metal meeting metal.

To those that say that there's a lot of energy in the bullet going off you're right. But that energy is cushioned by the recoil spring during the rearward travel and on the return the action of stripping a round out of the mag and pushing it up into the chamber provides a cushion to the motion as well.

 

[bscout]

Here's an excerpt from the CZ75-85 manual on unloading the pistol.
- Let the slide snap fully forward
- Depress the trigger (dry fire)

I like the let the slide "snap" part and also the dry fire which I do both of.

 

[TheGamerXxX]

I honestly dont believe there to be much difference in dropping the slide, and riding it forward.

I mean if you look at casings after being spent, there is no "visible" show of the slide somehow cushioning on the back part of the casing.

In my opinion any gun that required me to "ride it gently forward" doesnt belong in my shooting collection.

 

[mlehtovaara]

In my opinion any gun that required me to "ride it gently forward" doesnt belong in my shooting collection.

I pretty much feel the same.

Only exceptiom might be a tuned 1911 with a ridiculous target trigger, but then again I don't feel the need for such a gun in the my safe anyways.

I always tell people handling guns for the first time that they shouldn't be scared to break it. This isn't a sport for white cotton gloves and soft hands.

Rack that slide, slam those mags home, and don't think twice about it!

 

[tjhaile]

Dropping the slide on an empty pistol is a safety test. The hammer absolutely must not follow the slide forward when this is done. That said, I wouldn't make a habit of it and it is generally considered bad gun-handling manners.

The recommendation against dropping the slide on an empty gun originated with 1911s built for bullseye shooting with ultra-light trigger jobs using either GI or factory Colt hammers and sears, which are relatively soft compared to quality modern parts. Outside of this context, I would not be too concerned about damage.

 

[brownie]

is it ok to release the slide on a pistol without ammunition in it?

I've owned pistols for years but never quite sure about this.....

no!

 

[metcalfe]

Is it ok to release the slide on a pistol without ammunition in it?

I've owned pistols for years but never quite sure about this.....

yes!

 

[luke s]

If you have a 1911 with a trigger job, which usually involves cutting the hammer hooks between .18 and .20 I wouldnt do it at all. It might cause your hammer to follow and slam your sear into the half #### notch.

yes, this is correct I would say. I wouldnt do it on a tuned 1911, but many people do anyway and are fine

 

[ghostntheshell]

Yeah they can handle it. Could you be more gentle? Sure. I say do as you please.

 

[Sharps '63]

Dropping the slide on a locked back 1911 using the slide stop release without a loaded mag has always been considered bad form. Do it on one of my guns and it will be for the second time - the first and last! But feel free to beat the hell out of your own guns.

It ranks up there with snapping a revolver cylinder open and shut with one hand, like Humphrey Bogart.

There is considerable resistance when the slide is dropped with a loaded mag in the gun, a cushioning effect that prevents battering.

 

[IM_Lugger]

I can see how a noob might think its cool to do that but id never do that with my guns.

 

[Johnn Peterson]

Dropping the slide on a locked back 1911 using the slide stop release without a loaded mag has always been considered bad form. Do it on one of my guns and it will be for the second time - the first and last! But feel free to beat the hell out of your own guns.

It ranks up there with snapping a revolver cylinder open and shut with one hand, like Humphrey Bogart.

There is considerable resistance when the slide is dropped with a loaded mag in the gun, a cushioning effect that prevents battering.

Well said and echos my sentiments exactly. There was another dips**t that did the cool Humphery Bogart revolver trick. Mannix, a detective TV series, played by Mike Connors in the mid 60's I believe.

 

[Halger280HVMag]

^^^^^ What he said!