Kimber 45 - using slide to load weapon

M

mrsparker

New member
Yesterday on the range, I had a armor-smith tell me not to use my slide to load my 45 Kimber because I will damage the release and possibly chip away at the release.

Please advise. I am a new Kimber owner and this is the gun I have always wanted when I purchased my first gun. I have since then purchased a AR-15 Rockriver, Sig P290, Ruger 22/45 and last night a nice Ruger LCR 38 to carry on my ankle. Yes, I am enjoying my 2nd amendment. Feels good to practice with these weapons in safe environments etc.

Back to the initial question is it ok to release my slide to load my gun.

Thank you in advance.

Mrs Parker
 
Don't know about a Kimber, but people do note that doing so can cause wear on the release and the notch over time. How long "over time" is who knows? Personally I never use the slide lock lever to release the slide/chamber a round - not because of concerns about wear but for the sake of consistency across semi-auto platforms.
 
So to be clear. You lock the slide back. Put in a mag an release? This is how the instructions on my Xds say to load your weapon. I would just follow the manufacturers recommendation for your Kimber..whatever that is???
 
A more prudent way to load is to not use the slide release, but to grab the slide pull it to the rear until the slide release clicks off, and then release the slide and it will load the first round for you. The slide release can be used successfully to load the first round, but it does allow some wear to the slide release, and that is why some of us don't use the slide release to load the first round.
 
Um, isn't the gun essentially doing the same thing every time it cycles a round? Lightening fast eject and lightening fast load. I am a Kimber owner of a pro cdp 2 and have never held the slide while chambering a round. I field strip and clean after every trip to the range, no damage as of yet.
 
The 'slingshot' method of racking is the least wear method IMHO and adds a little security in the slide picking up the round and properly chambering it! Your gunsmith is correct.
 
Don't use the slide release, it can get you killed in a defensive shooting situation. Slides don't always lock back on the last round, even those that are designed to do so can fail to lock back. Go through one magazine and drop it, load another and rack. If the slide lock held it open all is great, if it failed, racking means you load the round while just hitting the lever leaves you exposing yourself with an empty chamber. Practice releasing the slide by racking and you will develop a skill that can save your life when seconds count.
 
If I recall correctly, in my manual for my KAHR PM9 it states to ONLY USE THE SLIDE LOCK release method.

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong but I'm late for work and can't check the manual.
 
Mrsparker, madmaf has your solution. Do not get in the habit of doing that. The proper method is to pull the slide to the rear and release. This is the method that is routinely taught in basic firearms classes, firearms self defense classes and tactical firearms classes. It should be practiced until you can do it without thinking.
 
You need to read the manufacture recommendations. I have Glocks and other guns you just rack the slide = no Problem. There are guns like the Xds which recommend to load with the slide lock back. You lock the slide then add the mag then pull back. Not releasing the lock. It's not like you are doing it hundred of times a day. once twice. If you try to do from a closed position the bullet will jam in the chamber. From tight tolerance and large bullet. I would read the manual. Who knows better then the manufacture who engineered the gun??
 
There are two considerations involved here. One is how the pistol is designed to function, and the other is how the human body/ psyche reacts under stress.

There is no difference in loading a round starting with the slide closed on an empty chamber vs with the slide locked back. The force of the slide in loading the round remains virtually the same (enough to satisfy proper function) as the spring compression remains the same. If, as is suggested above, racking the slide over a full magazine results in displacing or damaging the uppermost round so that it fails to feed properly, I would consider that a design flaw. Any failure of the slide to lock back should not preclude the ability to load a fresh magazine before racking the slide.

When you add the human element things can change. Under stress fine motor skills deteriorate and can result in fumbling the slide-lock lever or short-stroking the slide when pulling it to the rear and releasing. Another human error that can enter in is riding the slide forward rather than a crisp release. These of course are training issues and proper training will resolve them.

In summary, with one method you can have failures due to a design flaw which doesn't go away. On the other, you have problems which are correctable with proper training. Therefore, I am inclined to go with racking the slide to load the round.
 
MadMAF said:
Don't use the slide release, it can get you killed in a defensive shooting situation. Slides don't always lock back on the last round, even those that are designed to do so can fail to lock back. Go through one magazine and drop it, load another and rack. If the slide lock held it open all is great, if it failed, racking means you load the round while just hitting the lever leaves you exposing yourself with an empty chamber. Practice releasing the slide by racking and you will develop a skill that can save your life when seconds count.
Click to expand...

Hoganbeg said:
There are two considerations involved here. One is how the pistol is designed to function, and the other is how the human body/ psyche reacts under stress....In summary, with one method you can have failures due to a design flaw which doesn't go away. On the other, you have problems which are correctable with proper training. Therefore, I am inclined to go with racking the slide to load the round.
Click to expand...

There is a valid reason to follow the Manufacturer's instructions: to prevent voiding the warranty.

There is a valid reason to practice the way ou intend to react under stress: to prevent loosing you life.

Your call. IMHO racking is the way to load.

You can reduce wear on your sear by [edited you may ask your gunsmith].
 
Hoganbeg said:
There are two considerations involved here. One is how the pistol is designed to function, and the other is how the human body/ psyche reacts under stress.

There is no difference in loading a round starting with the slide closed on an empty chamber vs with the slide locked back. The force of the slide in loading the round remains virtually the same (enough to satisfy proper function) as the spring compression remains the same. If, as is suggested above, racking the slide over a full magazine results in displacing or damaging the uppermost round so that it fails to feed properly, I would consider that a design flaw. Any failure of the slide to lock back should not preclude the ability to load a fresh magazine before racking the slide.

When you add the human element things can change. Under stress fine motor skills deteriorate and can result in fumbling the slide-lock lever or short-stroking the slide when pulling it to the rear and releasing. Another human error that can enter in is riding the slide forward rather than a crisp release. These of course are training issues and proper training will resolve them.

In summary, with one method you can have failures due to a design flaw which doesn't go away. On the other, you have problems which are correctable with proper training. Therefore, I am inclined to go with racking the slide to load the round.
Click to expand...

Depends on the gun. There is a difference with the XDS. Lock it back put the mag up. Pull back and release it will always load. Like the instructions say to do it. Also says you put the mag in an rack it let it go on it's own = riding the slide. Manual says both ways. So if the OP gun manual says he can load his gun that same way he should be able to. I've been active with semi handguns for awhile and never had a slide stop lever wear out. Just seems ppl over think it at times. I always say follow the manual if you are having problems JMO
 
UATKP said:
A more prudent way to load is to not use the slide release, but to grab the slide pull it to the rear until the slide release clicks off, and then release the slide and it will load the first round for you. The slide release can be used successfully to load the first round, but it does allow some wear to the slide release, and that is why some of us don't use the slide release to load the first round.
Click to expand...


Exactly...Could not have said it better myself....
 
Just as a quick add-on: I had a Colt Model 1903 Pocket .32 that the slide release was so worn that it no longer held the slide back. But then the gun was so worn that I could no longer depend on it (I had replaced the firing pin with a modified nail at one time). The slide release was badly worn, but look at the age of the gun, too. I just want my guns to last forever ... or at least when my kids get them, I want them to still last a long time, also... (grin)
 
I am very, very grateful to all of you kind people to respond to my question. It might be simple to some but it is serious to me as I plan to use this weapon on a weekly basic to practice my marksmanship etc. My husband agrees with many of you that responded that using this procedure is ok.

For the person asking how I use the slide: When I go in my area I secure my weapon making sure it is empty, removing my magazine, my slide is back at this point. I put my ammo in my magazine, and put the magazine into my weapon and press the slide release, this step sends my slide forward making my weapon ready for shooting at this point. I am listening to those who are telling me that this may or may not present a problem in the future. I ask those that have said to only use the pulling back of the slide to load my ammo to ready the weapon, won't that action over time wear the weapon as well? Shooting my weapon over time, will wear it. The part that I touch to release the slide forward, did Kimber make it that weak that it would chip away after time? Just how much time would that take? Because of what you all have told me. I will do what you all suggest and that will be to not do that all the time. I want to preserve my weapon but I want to think the components are not that weak. /bow to all of you, thank you so much again for responding. Mrs Parker
 
mrsparker said:
I am very, very grateful to all of you kind people to respond to my question. It might be simple to some but it is serious to me as I plan to use this weapon on a weekly basic to practice my marksmanship etc. My husband agrees with many of you that responded that using this procedure is ok.

For the person asking how I use the slide: When I go in my area I secure my weapon making sure it is empty, removing my magazine, my slide is back at this point. I put my ammo in my magazine, and put the magazine into my weapon and press the slide release, this step sends my slide forward making my weapon ready for shooting at this point. I am listening to those who are telling me that this may or may not present a problem in the future. I ask those that have said to only use the pulling back of the slide to load my ammo to ready the weapon, won't that action over time wear the weapon as well? Shooting my weapon over time, will wear it. The part that I touch to release the slide forward, did Kimber make it that weak that it would chip away after time? Just how much time would that take? Because of what you all have told me. I will do what you all suggest and that will be to not do that all the time. I want to preserve my weapon but I want to think the components are not that weak. /bow to all of you, thank you so much again for responding. Mrs Parker
Click to expand...

In the forums, if you ask 10 people on how to do something you'll get 10 similar responses. (no disrespect meant to anyone) If your manual says one way, do that. I've been shooting for decades and have yet to break my guns using the slide release or racking the slide. Six one way, half a dozen the other. Your choice.
Safe shooting,
Jerry
 
I heard not to use the slide lock release on an empty chamber on a 1911! Since then I'll walk the slide forward after cleaning any pistol. And then rack it a few times to check function. No sense letting it SLAM forward on an empty chamber!
 
Every time you fire your gun you cause wear. The best way to prevent it is to put it back into its original packaging and leave it alone.

I also heard that if you stand on one leg and wink your left eye while loading you negate all wear caused by chambering a round.

Seriously, if it was bad for the gun it would have been designed to not allow you to release the slide with the slide release. Maybe they would call it something other than "the SLIDE RELEASE" if it caused so many problems. At the very least the manual would have something about it being bad for the gun... Unless it's all a liberal conspiracy to make us all wear out our guns by using the slide release.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New Threads

Members online

Total: 189 (members: 1, guests: 188)

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
49,523
Messages
610,661
Members
74,992
Latest member
RedDotArmsTraining

Share this page

Back
Top