Stone, its the mass of the real cartridge that slows the slide down and keeps it from jarring the engagement. Some people call it a test to drop the slide on an empty mag, and I suppose it can serve as such if performed once or twice.
Another way to be reassured about the health of your trigger job is to examine the engagement, making certain you have adequate hammer hook height and adequate sear face engagement along with the correct angles.
This whole thing is similar in nature to the dreaded Smith & Wesson "pushoff test". Everyone and his dog seems to know about this "test". What they don't know (usually) is how to do it correctly. Folks, a S&W revolver will eventually push off if you keep performing the test for pushoff. As usual, there is a better way to check out the safety of the trigger. I've had to replace the hammer in more than one revolver that I let someone borrow. (They just couldn't resist....well, you know.)
-Lazarus
"Do not fix that which is not broken."
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