Slide release is a two thumber!

[willie]

Just picked up my first 1911 (YAAA!) from a member here. It is a Norinco and in good shape as far as I can tell. Haven't shot it yet. Tomarrow. The slide release is very tight. Definatly not with one thumb or at least mine. My guess a spring change would correct this. Am I right, and if so any suggestions as to what. Thank you in advance and happy to finally be part of the club.

[Joni Lynn]

If your magazine has a plastic follower that is what is causing it to release with such difficulty. When the slide stop pushes down on the corner of the follower it causes it to bind in the mag tube.
How does it work when there are rounds in the mag?

[willie]

metal follower in 3 different mags. It was a little easier with a round in the mag, but still seamed stiff. Is this how they are or should they be fairly easy to release?

[egumpher]

Hello,

I don't want to go too far out on a limb here but it is a slide stop not a slide release. I have never changed my grip to reach around with my thumb to try to release the slide with the slide stop. It is much more reliable to rack the side with your weak hand.

Sorry I didn't help.

Rgds
Eric

[Joni Lynn]

Hmmm.............It shouldn't be all that difficult to move the slide stop.
The heavier the recoil spring is the more difficult it will be to use the slide stop to close the slide. You might put just a touch of lube in the slot on the slide it locks into.
Is it just as hard to release with the mag out of the gun?
As just mentioned, the best way to release the slide is to pull it back and release and not use the slide stop.

[egumpher]

Hello,

OK there is a first time for everything. I just released the slide on my New Agent using the slide stop with a full stock mag. I just barely had to push on the stop to release.

Still no help Eric.

[1911Tuner]

I don't want to go too far out on a limb here but it is a slide stop not a slide release.


Of course it is. The checkering on the pad isn't there for decoration. It should function reliably either way. No need to reach around to release it with your right thumb. Reach up with your left thumb as you slap a magazine into the well...just as you roll the gun back into firing position. Faster than either of the other methods.

Willie...If you're trying to release the slide with an empty magazine in place, it's gonna be hard to depress the stop because you're fighting the mag spring. Releasing the slide at full speed on an empty chamber is a terrible thing to do to a 1911.


If it's still hard even without a mag, it's likely that the stop and the notch have some roughness in the two mating surfaces. Norincos ain't exactly known for their fine finishes. Good pistols as a whole...but a bit rough around the edges. They'll polish themselves out with a little use.

[egumpher]

Thank you for the information

Rgds
Eric

[willie]

I was looking at an extended slide stop to see if I could get more leverage. Thanks for the help all. Is slamming the slide on an empty chamber bad only in the 1911's or everything? I have a Star M-43 that I have been doing that to for years. OOPS

[John]

Of course it is. The checkering on the pad isn't there for decoration. It should function reliably either way. No need to reach around to release it with your right thumb. Reach up with your left thumb as you slap a magazine into the well...just as you roll the gun back into firing position. Faster than either of the other methods.

Amen on both issues brother!

[log man]

I was looking at an extended slide stop to see if I could get more leverage. Thanks for the help all. Is slamming the slide on an empty chamber bad only in the 1911's or everything? I have a Star M-43 that I have been doing that to for years. OOPS
Willie, adding an extended slide stop is adding another set of problems. If yours is sticking and hard, find out why. With the slide off and slide stop in will it go up and down easy, could be the slot in the lug is too tight.

Slamming a slide is bad for all pistols no matter how long you've done it. Remember it's never too late to do something right.

LOG

[willie]

LOG

adding an extended slide stop is adding another set of problems.
Why?

With the slide off and slide stop in will it go up and down easy, could be the slot in the lug is too tight.

As easy as my first girl friend. Only resistance is the plunger. Very slight.

Nice tip. Any others?

Tuner suggest a rough fit, but it's not too bad IMO. Remember, I'm new to th 1911 world so I could be 100% wrong, but am 90% sure.

[log man]

adding an extended slide stop is adding another set of problems.
Why?
Because they are seldom well made and the added weight of the extended lever can cause the follower to not push it up and it's in the way of most hand holds and will be blocked by your thumb. As can be seen in this picture of a high hand hold there isn't any room for the extended lever.

http://i472.photobucket.com/albums/rr85/logpics/20081224_1.jpg

LOG

[willie]

Took it out this afternoon for a 100 rnd try out. A full mag was what it needed. Released good, shot good, no malfunctions. Grouping not the greatest at 20 yards but maybe when I get into reloading, the'll tighten up. Thanks for everyone advice.

[tonka]

The slide stop was designed to be utilized by a man with a set of reins in his off hand, so consider it OK to drop the slide with it. Practice both methods; you never know which one will come in handy.

Wow....Eric wasn't any help AT ALL.

[egumpher]

The slide stop was designed to be utilized by a man with a set of reins in his off hand, so consider it OK to drop the slide with it. Practice both methods; you never know which one will come in handy.

Wow....Eric wasn't any help AT ALL.

But I told you I was no help in the post? No suprises. #;-)

BTW. Target shooting aside. A well respected firearm trainer and I agreed that when and if you need to replace a magazine defending you life you can't rely on finding the diminutive/little slide stop. I certainly know where it is but practice racking the slide with my off hand because it works every time and is much easier. To me this is a no brainer. Rack-it don’t smack-it.

No searching in the dark for the little button.
Eric

[egumpher]

Hello,

Interesting that Colt doesn’t even mention a "slide release" method in their Owner's Manual:

5. When you are ready to shoot. grip the slide as described in Step 3 and pull it
fully rearward to cock the hammer. Release slide to feed a round from the
magazine into the chamber. THE PISTOL IS NOW LOADED, COCKED AND
READY TO FIRE.

Neither Does the Springfield 1911 owners manual:

4. Point gun in a safe direction and keep finger off
trigger. Pull slide back and release slide smartly to
allow slide to move forward and load a shell from
the magazine into the chamber.

How about Smith & Wesson? Nope not here either.

With the muzzle still pointing in a safe direction, grasp the
serrated sides of the slide from the rear with the thumb and
fingers as shown in figure 10, and briskly draw the slide fully
rearward and release it. This strips a cartridge from the
magazine and seats it in the chamber of the barrel and at the
same time, fully cocks the hammer.

Hum.....every owner's manual uses the rack-it method?

I must be missing something?

Hey, I just found a maual that mentions the slide release. It is a Umarex .45. But they even mention that the rack-it method is better (This will ensure a reliable closing of the slide):

In case you intend to continue shooting, replace the empty magazine with a full one. Press the slide stop lever (fig. 8), the slide will travel forward and load the chamber with the first round. Try to refrain from slowing down the slide with your thumb when releasing the slide stop lever. You may find it more effective to drop the slide by pulling back the slide and releasing it. This will ensure a reliable closing of the slide.

Rgds
Eric

[willie]

That's interesting. I was always under the impression that you are to use the slide stop to release the slide. I wonder if the manufactures are trying to lessen the wear between the slide and stop?

[log man]

Hello,

Interesting that Colt doesn’t even mention a "slide release" method in their Owner's Manual:

5. When you are ready to shoot. grip the slide as described in Step 3 and pull it
fully rearward to cock the hammer. Release slide to feed a round from the
magazine into the chamber. THE PISTOL IS NOW LOADED, COCKED AND
READY TO FIRE.
The fact that it says cocks the hammer makes it definite that the directions are for loading from slide forward not at slide lock when the slide stop serrations meant to give a grip is pushed down.
Neither Does the Springfield 1911 owners manual:

4. Point gun in a safe direction and keep finger off
trigger. Pull slide back and release slide smartly to
allow slide to move forward and load a shell from
the magazine into the chamber.

How about Smith & Wesson? Nope not here either.

With the muzzle still pointing in a safe direction, grasp the
serrated sides of the slide from the rear with the thumb and
fingers as shown in figure 10, and briskly draw the slide fully
rearward and release it. This strips a cartridge from the
magazine and seats it in the chamber of the barrel and at the
same time, fully cocks the hammer.

Hum.....every owner's manual uses the rack-it method?

I must be missing something?

Yes, it says cocks the hammer, again from slide forward, and pushing down on the slide stop when the slide is forward really is lame.

Hey, I just found a maual that mentions the slide release. It is a Umarex .45. But they even mention that the rack-it method is better (This will ensure a reliable closing of the slide):

In case you intend to continue shooting, replace the empty magazine with a full one. Press the slide stop lever (fig. 8), the slide will travel forward and load the chamber with the first round. Try to refrain from slowing down the slide with your thumb when releasing the slide stop lever. You may find it more effective to drop the slide by pulling back the slide and releasing it. This will ensure a reliable closing of the slide.

Rgds
Eric
So, you've just given evidence that the manufactures expect the slide stop to be used to close the slide at lock back. Okay.

And this from Niemi, Army FM 23-35 in our Tech Issues section describes both methods for manually chambering a round:

• Page 11, gun empty & slide's forward, insert loaded magazine & rack the slide.
• Page 14, gun empty & slide's locked aftward, insert loaded magazine and depress the slide stop.


LOG

[kenhwind]

Well; you have to pull the slide to the rear to load the 1911. The cartridge should always be chambered from a magazine. OK; I know that we are aware of this.
It is probably better to retract the slide to the rear to diengage the slide stop, when the slide is locked open. This would save wear on the slide stop notch.
A lefty can also reach up with their trigger finger and release the slide stop, or reach over with right hand and release it.
I was under the impression that shooting your defensive firearm empty was a no-no.
Isn't that is why they teach mandatory reloads.
But I would agree that practicing different methods is a good thing.
We were trained to use the slide stop / slide release, but that's the military.
So all of the above.
Ken

[A.B.]

...Reach up with your left thumb as you slap a magazine into the well...just as you roll the gun back into firing position. Faster than either of the other methods.Exactly what a whole lot of people were trained to do. I always use the slide release, when the gun is locked back (for whatever reason), and I have inserted a charged magazine. Strangely enough, the Army FM I have says exactly the same thing, as does the original Army manual for the M1911.

NDs are known to occur, when people are playing with the gun (and damaging the mechanism) by using the slide release when "empty." People do this repeatedly, then mix in a loaded magazine, I am told. I believe this is why mfgs. don't mention the procedure. I am fairly sure that you won't find "press check" in the mfg. manual, either.

[niemi24s]

FWIW, Army FM 23-35 in our Tech Issues section describes both methods for manually chambering a round:

• Page 11, gun empty & slide's forward, insert loaded magazine & rack the slide.
• Page 14, gun empty & slide's locked aftward, insert loaded magazine and depress the slide stop.

Interesting to note the method for preparing the gun with 8 rounds: lock slide back, put round in chamber, release slide, insert full magazine. Of course those were back in the Neanderthal olden days (before modern metallurgy & manufacturing techniques) when extractor hooks could apparently handle the stress of snapping over the case rim. ;)

Regards

[A.B.]

Right, thanks for the exact ref....Of course those were back in the Neanderthal olden days (before modern metallurgy & manufacturing techniques) when extractor hooks could apparently handle the stress of snapping over the case rim.Priceless, my thought exactly.

We were Neanderthals about a lot of things. :p

[niemi24s]

That was supposed to be little tongue-in-cheek snide comment about present day extractors - where the front part isn't even supposed to touch the case bevel for fear it will break off the claw.

My idea of the modern extractor is a MIM or cast part made from ground-up fenders off an old rusty Subaru! :D

We may have been Neanderthals back then, but at least we could make things that were durable.

Regards

[A.B.]

It was very droll, Niemi, I had pictured a new, modern one snapping--I mean, breaking :p --when I refreshed my memory of the manuals a while back.

I do always flinch at reading the 8-round procedure, that shows how the worry gets into you after nearly a generation of modernity-ness :rolleyes:

Hey, the old Subaru steel rusted real good! :p

[egumpher]

Hello,

I agree with everyone that pressing the slide stop to release the slide is a very fast and popular way to release the slide on a full magazine. As far as I know all of the champion shooters use this method.

My point is that pulling the slide back to drop the slide is more reliable, takes less training and will be easier under stress. I have no desire to speed shoot in competition so I choose the most reliable method to drop the slide which is to pull the slide back with my weak hand. To me it's a no brainer, rack-it don't tap-it.


Curious about the military training mentioned above: does the military expect you to count each discharge so we can reload before its empty (yikes).

Rgds
Eric