Slide Lock Reload

Amp Mangum

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Mandy Bachman and Larry Vickers take you through, and help teach the nuances of a good slide lock reload.

 
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Heck, most of my guns are so shot in it slams home on the reload. But I don't shoot competitively and don't baby mags on reloads. For the better or worse.
 
Is it a 1911 thing or just a LV thing to use the support hand thumb to release the slide?
 
Is it a 1911 thing or just a LV thing to use the support hand thumb to release the slide?
The technique was developed back in the day with the 1911 but it works very well with other pistols also. It is a very efficient way to release the slide after seating the magazine.
 
I'm beginning to think I'm the only person that puts extr mags in the holder with the bullets pointed to the rear. I've tried guys but the way I do it seems more natural to me.
There's a reason I find it easier that way but y'all wouldn't believe me anyway
 
I'm beginning to think I'm the only person that puts extr mags in the holder with the bullets pointed to the rear. I've tried guys but the way I do it seems more natural to me.
There's a reason I find it easier that way but y'all wouldn't believe me anyway

:)

It's because you keep your skoal can in your back left pocket and you already have muscle memory for a reach in that direction.
 
Is it a 1911 thing or just a LV thing to use the support hand thumb to release the slide?

Short answer, it has the same velocity as a sling shot reload without the chance to ride the slide. And you already have your grip established as the slide drops instead of having to establish it after the sling shot.

Personally, sling shot done right, slide release, or slide drops on the mag change will all do the exact same thing. The slide starts from the same position at slide lock, is under the same pressure, and travels the same distance on all of them.
 
I don't do either - I sweep the slide stop with my strong thumb. Most shooters I have observed either sling shot or sweep. I can't recall ever seeing the left hand thumb poke in person. So I just wondered if this was a quirky Vickers thing or do I just need to get out more?
 
Her hands may be too small to sweep with the strong hand without moving her grip. I use my strong hand most times too if it does not drop when I reload.
 
I'm beginning to think I'm the only person that puts extr mags in the holder with the bullets pointed to the rear. I've tried guys but the way I do it seems more natural to me.
There's a reason I find it easier that way but y'all wouldn't believe me anyway

Better be a good reason as I can’t think of a single good comp shooter who uses bullets backward on a pistol mag.

But yer good in AR mags!
 
I don't do either - I sweep the slide stop with my strong thumb. Most shooters I have observed either sling shot or sweep. I can't recall ever seeing the left hand thumb poke in person. So I just wondered if this was a quirky Vickers thing or do I just need to get out more?

Get out to matches and you won’t see hardly anyone doing either of those methods.

Because the clock tells no lies. I used to slingshot but......timer.
 
I don't do either - I sweep the slide stop with my strong thumb. Most shooters I have observed either sling shot or sweep. I can't recall ever seeing the left hand thumb poke in person. So I just wondered if this was a quirky Vickers thing or do I just need to get out more?
When you seat the magazine in the gun your thumb is very near the slide stop. I seat the mag and as I'm placing my left hand back on the gun, I roll into a firing grip and hit the slide stop with my left hand thumb.

 
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When you seat the magazine in the gun your thumb is very near the slide stop. I seat the mag and as I'm placing my left hand back on the gun, I roll into a firing grip and hit the slide stop with my left hand thumb.
And he does it PDQ ^^^
 
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Guess since my 2011 cannot go into slide lock that it just doesn't matter.
 
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I'm no expert, but this method causes a lot of problems on the little guns. Between a G26, Shield, G43, Ruger LC9, Kahr P9, and Kahr PM9, I have found overland/slingshot reloads work best. Don't ask me why, I don't know why...but once I go bigger like a Glock 19 size...problems go away.
Anything small...slingshot for me. Of course, with the small mags, every mag change is a crap shoot.
 
I'm no expert, but this method causes a lot of problems on the little guns. Between a G26, Shield, G43, Ruger LC9, Kahr P9, and Kahr PM9, I have found overland/slingshot reloads work best. Don't ask me why, I don't know why...but once I go bigger like a Glock 19 size...problems go away.
Anything small...slingshot for me. Of course, with the small mags, every mag change is a crap shoot.
I only use my support hand to release the slide stop with 1911's, my strong thumb for all others (meaning striker fire, and small pistols), but I have good sized hands.
 
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The three general methods to releasing the slide are:

dominant hand thumb depresses slide stop - overall fastest method however shooter can have a tendency to ride slide stop after reload which can create problems for future reloads. This is also the prefered method for guns such as the Sig P series and 320 that have slide stops located further to the rear of the frame than other brands.

Support hand thumb reload - second fastest method, shooter doesnt tend to ride slide stop, shooter doesnt have to compromise master grip to depress slide stop

Overhand - slowest method, can also lead to malfunctions if shooter rides the slide forward.



Things that influence which method you should use include:

hand/finger size - dont move the gun or your hand just to get in position to depress the slide stop
repeat-ability/consistency - can you do it every time you reload
which gun are you using - as mentioned above, certain guns are set up for certain methods better than others (Sigs better for dominant hand thumb, 1911s better for support hand)


When it comes to having a handgun magazine with bullets facing to the rear, it isnt done since it generally causes the shooter to reopen his hand, place it further down on the mag tube, and then finish pressing the mag all the way in. With the bullets facing forward, the shooter simply opens his hand, the base of the mag rests on the heel of the hand, and he simply pushes the magazine into the gun in one efficient movement.
 
I’d have to see a timer show me that strong hand thumb is fastest.
And if it were, it would only be on some guns with some hands, so I’d say rarely rather than generally.
If it were generally faster you’d see it most often in competition and it seems like I never see it.
Just thinking out loud.
 
I’d have to see a timer show me that strong hand thumb is fastest.
And if it were, it would only be on some guns with some hands, so I’d say rarely rather than generally.
If it were generally faster you’d see it most often in competition and it seems like I never see it.
Just thinking out loud.



First what kind of competitions are we talking about and which guns are these guys using? In USPSA the slide lock reload tends to be something that is rare and undesired.


Second, if you think about it from a pure economy of motion perspective, the dominant hand thumb would be fastest since it has the fingers moving the least amount of distance (for most people) to get the slide going forward which frees up the support hand to re-establish the two hand grip in a quicker manner.


If keeping it in the realm of right hand shooters, the only time the gun is going to favor the support hand thumb is the 1911 and some of the smaller pocket size guns


And shot timer evidence has been supporting my view for years. Its always good to reconfirm things from time to time though
 
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First what kind of competitions are we talking about and which guns are these guys using? In USPSA the slide lock reload tends to be something that is rare and undesired.

Second, if you think about it from a pure economy of motion perspective, the dominant hand thumb would be fastest since it has the fingers moving the least amount of distance (for most people) to get the slide going forward which frees up the support hand to re-establish the two hand grip in a quicker manner.

If keeping it in the realm of right hand shooters, the only time the gun is going to favor the support hand thumb is the 1911 and some of the smaller pocket size guns

And shot timer evidence has been supporting my view for years. Its always good to reconfirm things from time to time though

Well, as far as what kind of competitions and what guns: you tell me. You're post seemed very definitive about what was fastest and made no mention of different competitions and only touched on guns.

I am just making the point that the timer will quickly and easily tell you what is fastest for you. There is a lot of time between when you insert the mag and press the gun out and breaking the next shot. Being a fraction faster with weak hand may not provide any actual time benefit at all, as you are likely still pressing the gun out and rebuilding your grip and preparing for next shot.

EDIT: Also, there are many guns beside pocket guns and 1911's that use safeties and would be impossible for anybody to use the strong hand.
 
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Well, as far as what kind of competitions and what guns: you tell me.


The competition angle was brought up by you and ran atypical to what I see hence the reason I commented on it. So which competition are you looking at where you see support hand thumb being used more than dominant hand thumb?


You're post seemed very definitive about what was fastest and made no mention of different competitions and only touched on guns.


My post was indeed pretty definative.
 
The competition angle was brought up by you and ran atypical to what I see hence the reason I commented on it. So which competition are you looking at where you see support hand thumb being used more than dominant hand thumb?


My post was indeed pretty definative.

Not sure what you are getting at. Many of the people in this thread are competition shooters. And this is of course a topic that would be relevant to competition shooters on a gun forum.

You made a definitive list of what was “fastest”. Not what was fastest for combat/competition/self defense.

If you must know what competitions I’ve shot, I have and do shoot: Idpa, Uspsa, steel challenge, 2gun, outlaw 3gun, 3gun nation, various rimfire matches, and various other tactical matches.

In the bulk majority the top shooters either don’t have a slide release at all (depending on division) or use weak hand on the slide release. Of course, some do not. I am not saying it is a certain way. You are.
I was taught to use weak hand by one of the top shooters in the country and a world champion.

What matches and competitions do you shoot?

Edit: not trying to get into a pissing contest here. Just think conversation is good. For the record I am just a hobbyist.
 
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Not sure what you are getting at. Many of the people in this thread are competition shooters. And this is of course a topic that would be relevant to competition shooters on a gun forum.

I never said it wasn't applicable to people shooting competition since it is certainly applicable.

You made a definitive list of what was “fastest”. Not what was fastest for combat/competition/self defense.

Correct as it applies across the spectrum of most shooting applications.

If you must know what competitions I’ve shot, I have and do shoot: Idpa, Uspsa, steel challenge, 2gun, outlaw 3gun, 3gun nation, various rimfire matches, and various other tactical matches.

Thanks. Knowing the competition you are talking about helps understand frame of reference and other things.

In the bulk majority the top shooters either don’t have a slide release at all (depending on division) or use weak hand on the slide release. Of course, some do not. I am not saying it is a certain way. You are.

Odd in that when I watch guys doing slide lock reloads in USPSA and IDPA matches, they will typically depress the slide stop with their dominant hand thumb unless they are using a 1911/2011. This is done since it is faster for most and allows the shooter to get rounds on target quicker since the slide go forward sooner and the two hand grip is rebuilt quicker.

Think about this from an economy of motion perspective. Depressing the slide requires less overall motion since the dominant hand thumb depresses the slide stop while freeing up the support hand to rebuild the two hand grip. Using the support hand thumb involves more motion in the hands/fingers since the support hand thumb has to track up the frame, stop, go in the opposite direction to depress the slide stop, and then start moving toward the front of the gun. Overall we are looking at fractions of seconds, but those add up.


I was taught to use weak hand by one of the top shooters in the country and a world champion.

Did he shoot 1911s a lot by chance? Using the support hand thumb isn't wrong; it simply isn't the fastest for most.

What matches and competitions do you shoot?
- Shot IDPA for a bit before moving to USPSA. Ive also done a few two gun and carbine matches.

Just think conversation is good.

As do I
 
I never said it wasn't applicable to people shooting competition since it is certainly applicable.



Correct as it applies across the spectrum of most shooting applications.



Thanks. Knowing the competition you are talking about helps understand frame of reference and other things.



Odd in that when I watch guys doing slide lock reloads in USPSA and IDPA matches, they will typically depress the slide stop with their dominant hand thumb unless they are using a 1911/2011. This is done since it is faster for most and allows the shooter to get rounds on target quicker since the slide go forward sooner and the two hand grip is rebuilt quicker.

Think about this from an economy of motion perspective. Depressing the slide requires less overall motion since the dominant hand thumb depresses the slide stop while freeing up the support hand to rebuild the two hand grip. Using the support hand thumb involves more motion in the hands/fingers since the support hand thumb has to track up the frame, stop, go in the opposite direction to depress the slide stop, and then start moving toward the front of the gun. Overall we are looking at fractions of seconds, but those add up.




Did he shoot 1911s a lot by chance? Using the support hand thumb isn't wrong; it simply isn't the fastest for most.

- Shot IDPA for a bit before moving to USPSA. Ive also done a few two gun and carbine matches.



As do I


Good points all.

I think IDPA is where the most slide kick reloads seem to happen. And I’d bet Glock and similar shooters may be doing that a lot more than others, it would be interesting to hear some chime in.

I would consider doing it that way with a gun that allowed it, but even with a size L hand I find them few and far between. I cannot do it on Glocks comfortably.

Clearly, the economy of motion is less. But my point is that from a time perspective, you still have to press the gun out. Both thumbs are right there as you are doing so. So, the time you save is just while you are pressing the gun out, thereby really not saving you any time.
 
I think IDPA is where the most slide kick reloads seem to happen.

Yep, you see a ton of slide lock reloads there due to the magazine size restrictions.



And I’d bet Glock and similar shooters may be doing that a lot more than others, it would be interesting to hear some chime in.

I generally see it done with Sig 320s, P series Sigs, M&Ps, Glocks, CZs, etc. In fact, its the most common reload I see done.



Clearly, the economy of motion is less. But my point is that from a time perspective, you still have to press the gun out. Both thumbs are right there as you are doing so. So, the time you save is just while you are pressing the gun out, thereby really not saving you any time.

Not really. You are still going to be slightly faster on the first shot post reload with whichever method gets the slide forward faster. This happens since it gives you time to concentrate on reacquiring focus on the target and not rebuilding grip, depressing the slide stop, etc
 
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