Watch the Bill Wilson/Ayoob video on this subject. Many of you will say it does no harm. Do it to yours if you like but I’m not going it to mine. You Tube video is titled “Don’t do this to your guns.” Gun Guys episode 17.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: xaircav,

Do what now?

Ya, i agree with Pyker- wtf?

I think he's referring to letting the slide slam shut on an empty chamber in a 1911....I think!

The OP is referring to dropping a pistol slide by letting it slam.

I agree that this is something I would not want done with any of my pistols. Old 1911 guys will tell you that this practice can damage your sear engagement. A very good gunsmith told me this as well.

Let's discuss the subject at hand, please.

From a mechanical/engineering view, not ownership of gun view, I don't see a problem with it as far as potential damage being caused by the act.

Every time regardless of the method, the slide will return with the force designed by the manufacturer based on the spring installed.

Slamming, or Slinging or pressing the slide stop lever or firing a round doesn't increase the force at which the spring returns the slide into battery.

It's the same rate of close that happens when the spring returns the firearm to battery during operation. It's an engineered specification.

Figured, who'd know more about it than the company that makes the firearm. Checked a couple of manufacturers manuals and did not find any reference to never slam/sling a slide closed, that damage was to be had from returning an open slide to battery from pulling back to release the slide stop or depressing the side stop lever.

In fact the manual for Glock 17 Gen 5 Download Manual Link states that either pulling back and releasing the slide by hand or pressing down the slide release lever are accepted methods.

Either way the slide is going to move back to battery based on the manufacturers designed velocity which is controlled by the spring weight that they specified for that firearm.

quote:

If the slide (1) is in the forward position, hold your GLOCK pistol with your firing hand and, while keeping your finger off of the trigger and outside of the trigger guard, grasp the rear of the slide at the serrations with your other hand and pull the slide fully back (Picture 7) and then release it, allowing it to return to the fully forward position (Picture 8).

or

If the slide is locked in the rearward position, either press the slide stop lever (27) down to release the slide and return it to the fully forward position or grasp the rear of the slide at the serrations with your other hand and pull the slide fully back and then release it, allowing it to return to the fully forward position. The pistol is now loaded and ready to be fired by pulling the trigger.

Basically Gaston says, go for it, then again it's a Glock

Now having said that, I don't treat others property that way and I don't do it when fingering new firearms at an LGS, UNLESS, I'm checking out a new purchase.

If I'm buying the gun, I'll check fit, finish, and cycle the slide using the slide stop in order to check function.

After disassembly and cleaning mine, I will cycle the slide by hand a few times basically to check function and move the oil, grease, lube, and I will lock it back and release the slide stop as designed. Again, making sure it functions.

I too was taught that dropping the slide on an empty chamber was bad for the gun, especially for 1911s. No experience with any actual damage though. But I still avoid it.

The Boss explained the intent of my post perfectly. I should have been more clear in the OP.

I don't see the point or imagine situations where I'd be slamming slides on an empty chamber. It's not like it's a fidget gadget.

Maybe it's one of the first lessons I learned. I don't remember the specific instance of having learned it.

I do continually go through the 5 safety rules of gun handling in my mind.

This is another firearms myth that has its basis in a fact.

Dropping the slide on a centerfire pistol will not damage the slide. As HRK noted "Either way the slide is going to move back to battery based on the manufacturers designed velocity which is controlled by the spring weight that they specified for that firearm."

Now this does have some basis, in that dry firing (aka dropping the hammer) on a rimfire pistol is a bad idea. The reason is the firing pin has a broad enough tip to erode the edge of the chamber after a MST of dryfire. That broad tip extends to the rim of the case (hence rimfire).

All that said, I am a big advocate of using good quality snap caps when dry firing.

A very long time ago I took my armorers course and a dim fire class in Exeter. I bothered the head instructor to let me try one of their 40’s. (That is a story in and of itself) The head instructor was a fairly serious, former Seal who eventually loaned me his personal firearm. He stressed that it was his and should be treated accordingly. That included post firing cleaning to HIS standards. When I returned it I let the slide go forward on the empty chamber. He rhetorically asked why I did that when the slide is designed to go forward while picking up the round from the magazine, not with unimpeded velocity. He wasn’t smiling. Never have done that again to any firearm.