Slingshot or slide release
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first off the hand over slide way of racking isn't considered a gross motor skill. it's a fine motor skill, just like hitting the slide stop/release is, or pulling the trigger is, or grabbing the gun is. Punching, kicking are gross motor skills. anytime you grasp something, or manipulate something it's a fine motor control skill.
secondly, the slingshot method refers to grasping the slide with your weak hand, gripping the rear of the slide between the thumb and index finger, and pulling back and up, until the slides stops and your hand slips off allowing the slide to go forward into battery. This is the method typically taught to people using Beretta's or Baby Eagles or other guns that have slide mounted safeties. If you try the "hand over" method, you will often inadvertently set your safety into the safe position. using the slingshot method you will not as your fingers and thumb will put upward pressure on the safeties. (one reason I went with a G model Beretta, it didn't matter how I cleared a malf, the safeties were under spring pressure to stay up).
the tap rack drill is also often taught using the slingshot for people using the above mentioned guns, but sometimes isn't. Because it is weaker grip on the gun, and if it is truly jammed, you need all the strength you can get to work it.
Thirdly, muscle memory. well, I'll simplify it. Some people argue training one method (for instance hand over rack) for everything, from dropping the slide, to initial rack, to clearing. And the argument is that you will remember this easier. bull####. if that's the case your training sucks. because then how will you learn to apply the slide lock whilst locking the slide back to clear a stage 3 malf? or how will you learn the intricacies of sight alignment, or proper trigger pull and follow through?
train the way you want to train, one method for each type of situation, or train with one for all, the only thing that matters is training. learn how to do it, learn how to tell what's going on with your gun, and to identify problems as they occur.
I use the slide release, it's faster, allows me to stay on target better, and doesn't chew the #### out of my hands on guns with target sights. When shooting my Glock, I'll go hand over if I miss their horrible little release, and with my Beretta I'll use the release, and slingshot on a malf, or a hand over if I default that way.
secondly, the slingshot method refers to grasping the slide with your weak hand, gripping the rear of the slide between the thumb and index finger, and pulling back and up, until the slides stops and your hand slips off allowing the slide to go forward into battery. This is the method typically taught to people using Beretta's or Baby Eagles or other guns that have slide mounted safeties. If you try the "hand over" method, you will often inadvertently set your safety into the safe position. using the slingshot method you will not as your fingers and thumb will put upward pressure on the safeties. (one reason I went with a G model Beretta, it didn't matter how I cleared a malf, the safeties were under spring pressure to stay up).
the tap rack drill is also often taught using the slingshot for people using the above mentioned guns, but sometimes isn't. Because it is weaker grip on the gun, and if it is truly jammed, you need all the strength you can get to work it.
Thirdly, muscle memory. well, I'll simplify it. Some people argue training one method (for instance hand over rack) for everything, from dropping the slide, to initial rack, to clearing. And the argument is that you will remember this easier. bull####. if that's the case your training sucks. because then how will you learn to apply the slide lock whilst locking the slide back to clear a stage 3 malf? or how will you learn the intricacies of sight alignment, or proper trigger pull and follow through?
train the way you want to train, one method for each type of situation, or train with one for all, the only thing that matters is training. learn how to do it, learn how to tell what's going on with your gun, and to identify problems as they occur.
I use the slide release, it's faster, allows me to stay on target better, and doesn't chew the #### out of my hands on guns with target sights. When shooting my Glock, I'll go hand over if I miss their horrible little release, and with my Beretta I'll use the release, and slingshot on a malf, or a hand over if I default that way.
I always hit the release on 1911s.
Then when I started shooting a glock I went to the "grab a handful of rack" method because a lot of guys I knew were saying it was the only way.
Now I am back to hitting the release, although last night towards the end of the night I fumbled on it.
However, rather than go back to the rack, much as I love racks, I am going to throw an extended release on.
I agree the arguments for why the overhand rack is mandatory make no sense, although in lots of cases I am sure the rack is fine.
BUT: If you can't work your fine motor skills enough under stress to run the slide release, how the hell are you going to work the mag release, which is generally used BEFORE the slide release? Or do you guys have giant mag releases you just whack with your support hand?
For that matter, how are you going to properly work the striker or hammer release switch - which is almost certainly going to be used a bit before you need to reload?
Furthermore, I think there is at least as much potential to induce a malfunction with the overhand rack as there is with the release...but the release malf will just be "didn't hit it, hit it again." I think the overhand is POTENTIALLY more of a stovepiper or maybe a double feeder, depending on what your approach to tac-loads is, I guess.
Finally, as an awesome rock star, I have noticed something, and this is something I don't often see mentioned in this type of discussion, but which I think is important.
Sometimes, if I am really distracted or nervous, and I know two extremely similar songs, I have found that I will be playing one, and then when I switch riffs I will go to the right riff from the wrong song.
This doesn't happen with very different songs. I have NEVER been playing Slayer's Dead Skin Mask and then accidentally dropped in a Chuck Berry riff. But I have been playing an old hardcore song from H816 and accidentally dropped into a Trial riff after the solo, because they are so similar.
Where am I going with this? Well, if you train to overhand rack on every motion, I think there is the POSSIBILITY that you may be training all your reactions to look like the same song. So when you want to reload, you will end up popping in the new mag and racking three or four times like it's a malfunction drill, because you are stressed out and you slipped in to the wrong riff in the middle of the song because the intros are the same.
That is just a guess based on my experience doing a completely different set of complex fine motor tasks while stressed right out, but still...I do have a good idea of what stress does to my hands and my brain. I am not convinced that continuity of training as far as always racking the same way is all it's cracked up to be.
No, I order my reloads like I order my massages. With release, please.
Then when I started shooting a glock I went to the "grab a handful of rack" method because a lot of guys I knew were saying it was the only way.
Now I am back to hitting the release, although last night towards the end of the night I fumbled on it.
However, rather than go back to the rack, much as I love racks, I am going to throw an extended release on.
I agree the arguments for why the overhand rack is mandatory make no sense, although in lots of cases I am sure the rack is fine.
BUT: If you can't work your fine motor skills enough under stress to run the slide release, how the hell are you going to work the mag release, which is generally used BEFORE the slide release? Or do you guys have giant mag releases you just whack with your support hand?
For that matter, how are you going to properly work the striker or hammer release switch - which is almost certainly going to be used a bit before you need to reload?
Furthermore, I think there is at least as much potential to induce a malfunction with the overhand rack as there is with the release...but the release malf will just be "didn't hit it, hit it again." I think the overhand is POTENTIALLY more of a stovepiper or maybe a double feeder, depending on what your approach to tac-loads is, I guess.
Finally, as an awesome rock star, I have noticed something, and this is something I don't often see mentioned in this type of discussion, but which I think is important.
Sometimes, if I am really distracted or nervous, and I know two extremely similar songs, I have found that I will be playing one, and then when I switch riffs I will go to the right riff from the wrong song.
This doesn't happen with very different songs. I have NEVER been playing Slayer's Dead Skin Mask and then accidentally dropped in a Chuck Berry riff. But I have been playing an old hardcore song from H816 and accidentally dropped into a Trial riff after the solo, because they are so similar.
Where am I going with this? Well, if you train to overhand rack on every motion, I think there is the POSSIBILITY that you may be training all your reactions to look like the same song. So when you want to reload, you will end up popping in the new mag and racking three or four times like it's a malfunction drill, because you are stressed out and you slipped in to the wrong riff in the middle of the song because the intros are the same.
That is just a guess based on my experience doing a completely different set of complex fine motor tasks while stressed right out, but still...I do have a good idea of what stress does to my hands and my brain. I am not convinced that continuity of training as far as always racking the same way is all it's cracked up to be.
No, I order my reloads like I order my massages. With release, please.
Has anyone else modified their slide stop so that it won't lock open when the mag runs dry? I've had a few stages in IPSC totally screwed by slamming a loaded mag into a locked open gun and the mag goes in too far preventing the slide coming forward into battery.
I can lock it open when I need to, no problem. It just doesn't activate from the magazine follower.
I can lock it open when I need to, no problem. It just doesn't activate from the magazine follower.
