Slide Release or Rack It?

[Walleye Hunter]

My buddy's trying to tell me that the one and only way to reload the semi-auto pistol is to seat the new, loaded mag and rack the slide. I have historically just hit the slide release with my thumb after reloading it and all of my pieces slam closed with more than enough force to seat the round and I like being able to do it one handed. Is one way any better than the other?

[bogey1]

Some people dont like to do it that way because they say it rounds off the end of the release lever.
They say to hold open the slide, then hold down the release lever and then let the slide go home.
I'll do that on expensive pistols, but others I do what you do.

[SevenMilePete]

Some people dont like to do it that way because they say it rounds off the end of the release lever.
They say to hold open the slide, then hold down the release lever and then let the slide go home.
I'll do that on expensive pistols, but others I do what you do.

Why would you hold down the release lever? The preferred method for most pistols is to pull back the slide, releasing the stop, and letting it return, without holding on.

[Just1more]

Why would you hold down the release lever? The preferred method for most pistols is to pull back the slide, releasing the stop, and letting it return, without holding on.

If the mag is empty and to release the slide, (which is held back by the follower) that is when I hold slide lock button down to get the slide to ride forward back into battery

[JAKIII]

I do it both ways, depending if I’m at the gun range or defending myself from a home invader.

Racking is cooler though...

[Daycrawler]

IMO the slide release is faster. That is for me and he way I was taught when I was young. However I have been taught several different ways to rack a slide with only one hand.

[Gunowner99]

I rack it to prevent rounding.

[philadelphia patriot]

I rack it. A Glock rep said the slide stops on Gen 1s we’re not meant to send the slide forward. On (at least) the Gen 3 and newer, you can use it to send your slide forward.

[ExFlyinguy]

Depends if it's a 9 or 45

[bluetrane2028]

I rack it. A Glock rep said the slide stops on Gen 1s we’re not meant to send the slide forward. On (at least) the Gen 3 and newer, you can use it to send your slide forward.

My Glocks are all gen3 and newer. That said, I can't say I've noted a distinct difference between slide stops on gen2 vs gen3... they're the same gun except for finger grooves, dust cover rail and an additional pin because .40.

And, Google search suggests that you can use the same part in gen1-4.

Anyways, my answer to this question depends on the firearm and how easy it is to grab the lever. I do either depending.