Pistol Reload: Slide Stop vs. Slingshot (Power Stroke)
by Larry A. Vickers
The gross motor skill argument has been overplayed. The sling shot technique is fine on many different types of pistols; it is definitely slower than using the slide release and on some pistols it is to be avoided ( Beretta M9 for example) as it can interfere with decocker style safeties.
It has been billed as the one size fits all slide release technique and it is not; there is no one size fits all technique for sending the slide back into battery.
The technique I like the least is slide stop release by the strong hand thumb (for most pistols being used by a right hander) – the reason is many/ most shooters leave the thumb in the immediate vicinity of the slide stop instead of moving it away while finalizing the grip after a slide lock reload- this in many cases prevents the slide from locking to the rear when empty or, potentially even worse, bumps the slide stop up into the locked position with ammo remaining in the magazine- I have seen this many times- so much so I specifically recommend against releasing the slide with the strong hand thumb and tell shooters to use the support hand thumb release technique or sling shot only after a slide lock reload.
The best bet is educate yourself on what makes sense for you and the pistol you use and go from there.
Firearm User Network 
hubert townsend
Jul 21, 2014 @ 07:44:21
Do not, do not, do not use slingshot method with a decock pistol. I also have seen, one one way ranges, the decock lever accidently hit to “safe” when using that method and it was done by experienced shooters. The BooBoo speaks Truth.
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Ted A Sames II
Jul 21, 2014 @ 11:35:40
I am always busy so I will come right to the point: Here’s a question to think about: Ever observe a person become so nervous that they “fiddle” and drop their keys after hearing terrible news? Now, someone is attacking you with a 6″ butcher knife and this is not a paper target Bad Guy at the range. He saw you “fiddle” with your reload and now he is advancing rapidly to your position. Under these conditions, it might and probably is impossible to find the “slide release” that is only 3/8″ wide. You collect guns and now you find that you brought a new gun and you are having a difficult time even finding the “slide release”. Or, the H&K pistol has a mag release that is different than your SIG that you normally carry everyday. First, most manufacturers do not call it a “slide release” but a Slide Locking Lever. Using it as a “slide release” places undo friction on the components and they will break. As an Armorer, this part is the most prone for breakage when the Operator has this habit. Read your owner’s manual or take an Armorer’s Class. (During my first class, the Old Timer’s gave me a tongue lashing for this) Use gross motor control and operate the slide as it is more positive and sure. Second: Don’t run your magazines dry so you have to reload and operate the slide or bolt. This action wastes time! Most militaries of the world teach their soldiers to estimate the rounds or bursts (not the same as counting). We teach to empty out the mag and drop it in the mud! Take a M-4 with a 30 round mag: You will have 9 3-round bursts. For a P-226 with a 15 round mag: You will have 7 double taps. Always have a chambered round during a mag exchange. This is why the German G3 (HK 91 and others) do not have a “Bolt Release”–they did not need one and Americans always thought German engineers over-looked this feature. Ted A Sames II, SISSTRAINING.COM
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John Tate
Jul 21, 2014 @ 15:09:14
For a right-handed shooter, after a magazine reload, I like to use the index finger of the support (weak) hand.
Slam* in a new magazine;
Roll the left hand clockwise to build a two-handed grip;
Then simultaneously us the left hand’s index finger to trip the slide lock.
BINGO
* Note the word ‘SLAM.’ That’s exactly what I mean. Get the magazine started in the magazine well, then slam it home with vigor! Why?
I see too many people hit the magazine twice, when once will do. This wastes precious time and is totally unnecessary.
Sometimes, on a gun with a somewhat worn slide stop, the jarring of slamming the magazine home will trip the slide saving you the trouble.
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John M. Buol Jr.
Jul 21, 2014 @ 15:20:02
>> Under these conditions, it might and probably is impossible to find the “slide release” that is only 3/8″ wide.
Makes me wonder how a person is supposed to get the magazine out in the first place under those conditions given the magazine release is as small or smaller.
>> Using it as a “slide release” places undo friction on the components and they will break.
That’s fascinating. I wonder when I’ll see or hear about this ever happening. Guess I’ve just been lucky so far!
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Ted A Sames II
Jul 21, 2014 @ 15:40:28
We can train as realistically as we can…enter into firearms and tactical training or even be a member of a SWAT team. But, no one really knows how they will react in a life or death situation. On Real ER, an alethic man had a phobia of roaches and…a roach crawled into his ear. The man went into a catatonic state until a complete examination was given. The roach was taken out and the man snapped out of it. Personally, AFTER two events, my stomach and upper body became ridged like steel and I doubled over. A well known weapon that everyone loves has this problem. They went ahead and changed the name to “slide release” but they still have a somewhat high wear and failure rate. I have changed many of them. When in doubt, call the maker of the weapon or consult with the owner’s manual. John Tate made a good point: This method can switch the safety “ON” and I have seen it take place too. I select weapons without an exterior safety because of this reason. Ted A Sames II, SISSTRAINING.COM
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John Veit
Jul 21, 2014 @ 21:23:35
Interesting item and discussion. Could be a tempest in a teapot.
According to the NYPD’s SOP 9 study of 6000+ Police combat cases:
The average number of shots fired by individual Officers in an armed confrontation was between two and three rounds. The two to three rounds per incident remained constant over the years covered by the report. It also substantiates an earlier study by the L.A.P.D. (1967) which found that 2.6 rounds per encounter were discharged.
The necessity for rapid reloading to prevent death or serious injury was not a factor in any of the cases examined.
In close range encounters, under 15 feet, it was never reported as necessary to continue the action.
In 6% of the total cases the Officer reported reloading. These involved cases of pursuit, barricaded persons, and other incidents where the action was prolonged and the distance exceeded the 25 foot death zone.
……….
Armed confrontations are rare occurances for Police. And per the NYPD study, reloads in those rare situations, are rare as well.
So there appears to be no real defensive need to be a rapid reloader, unless you are training for a competition or a special course of fire that calls for that.
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Colorado Pete
Jul 22, 2014 @ 12:01:04
@Hubert: Seen the same thing with the ambi decocker. The shooter had actually gotten into the habit of using in the safe position to help push on the slide, and constantly forgot to reset it to off.
@John T.:I prefer to use my support (left) hand thumb to hit the slide stop as I move that hand into its grip. I find that after the magazine seating “slam” that thumb is pointing right at the slide stop, while my index finger is on the opposite side of the gun. My thumb passes right by the lever (standard not extended) on the way to its grip position and I’ve never missed it yet in decades of practice and IPSC matches.
I think all this really boils down to is (AS USUAL!!) proper training and familiarity with your chosen platform. If you are a duffer and intend to remain one, the slingshot will work with about anything.
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Patrick T
Jul 24, 2014 @ 07:24:15
Regarding the article:
A good way of ensuring that the strong hand thumb does not accidentally activate the slide lock while firing (or hold it down and prevent the slide locking open on an empty mag) is to cross it over and let it rest on the support hand, behind the last thumb knuckle. As a bonus, this will also let you know if you’re sympathetically squeezing your whole hand as you pull the trigger, since you’ll feel it on your support hand via that thumb. This is especially needed for Sigs, since they have the slide release located so far to the rear on the pistol.
As far as slide release vs slingshot, I’m faster with the slide release, so that’s what I train for consistently. Is it a small button that requires some fine motor skill? Sure. But so is the mag release. And as far as fine motor skills go, so is good trigger control.
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