For the life of me I cannot use my thumb to release the slide on my G21SF, unless I’m wearing gloves. I don’t think it’s a lack of strength, but more a lack of knowledge of the correct technique. I’ve searched around for steps to the proper technique and, other than the slingshot method, I can’t find anything. I don’t see the need in buying an extended slide stop if it’s not necessary. Can anyone help me out?
Are you pressing downward on the slide stop, or pressing inward? Are you trying to drop the slide on an empty mag, loaded mag, or no mag?
An extended slide stop is not absolutely necessary, but can be of real help for one handed operation. Otherwise, you can use your left thumb on the release, while mainaining your firing grip with your right hand.
The slingslot is considered the proper tecnique. I’m a lefty so use my trigger finger to release the slide lock if not using the slingshot method. As an FYI my duty Glock 23 has dropped the slide on magazine insertion for the last 10,000 or so rounds. In order not to develop that into a habit I now make sure I train with my my 19 and 35 regularly. You might try an extended slide stop. I think Glock purposely developed it to be small to discourage using it as a slide release instead of a slide stop.
I just hit it with the thumb of my support hand as I bring it up to its proper place as part of my grip. That way I don’t have to change my strong hand grip to reach the slide lock with my strong hand thumb.
Many top tier trainers would disagree.
The slide stop is easier to drop with a loaded magazine. I use an extended slide stop and it works very well for me. I am a lefty, so most of the time, I do use the slingshot method, but I also spend time practicing strong hand only or other strong hand only, so in those drills I use the slide stop. When I use my thumb to actuate the slide stop, I find it easier to sweep the thumb in a downward motion, starting the downward stroke from a thumbs up position to give me some momentum. Not sure if that’s right, but it does release the slide on a consistent basis.
I place the point of my thumb that naturally fits on the top corner of the slide stop and firmly and quickly sweep it both down and in. Almost like I’m trying to touch with my thumb, the joint where my pinky is attached to the rest of my hand. It made my thumb raw for a couple days but it’s no problem now.
Which ones recommend using the Glocks’ slide stop as a slide release?
Larry Vickers would strike me as one, since he designed an extended slide stop.
Please list those “top tier” trainers whom you know for a fact, that teach using the slide stop rather than using the slingshot method.
I’m a glock armorer and we were taught that glock’s prefered technique is the overhand method. Glock basically designed the pistol to be ideally racked this way, not via the slidestop or the slingshot method.
Trainers have various opinions but you need to find what works for you. There are 4 basic ways to release the slide for a right handed shooter.
- Slide stop with primary thumb.
- Slide stop with support thumb after mag inserted.
- Slingshot.
- Overhand.
These are in order of fastest slowest and also most difficult to least. If you train a lot and you can physically do it, 1 is ideal. Buy most people don’t train like that and as soon as stress is added, they start messing up that fine motor skill application. That said, 1 is what I use. I train and dryfire regularly an have been able to hit it with acceptable consistently while muddy, oiley, bloody, and while under stress. What constitutes acceptable consistency is up to the shooter.
Again, maybe your finger can’t physically use 1 consistently (too weak, fingers too short, etc…). Every method doesn’t work for everyone. Try something else. Don’t worry about what all the top tier trainers preach as the right method because they will all tell you to use what works for you after showing you the options and giving their pros and cons.
Vickers
Defoor
Add Falla to that list as well I think. Been a couple months since attending one of his pistol classes. But I always use the slide stop to release the slide just because it’s faster.
No, it is not.
I can’t believe people STILL argue about this. Use what works the best for you.
Also, search YouTube for top competitive shooters and count the number of times you see them use any method other than the slide release.
I’ve tried the glock extended slide release and it worked great for it’s intended purpose, but I hardly got a chance to use it. My thumb always rode on it holding it down and preventing slide lock. I would like to try one of LAV’s levers and see if I have the same issue.
I don’t think it’s you. I really suggest that you get an extended slide release. Regardless of what technique you use or intend to use, you want to have something that works for you with no issues whenever you use it.
I use Glock’s extended slide release and it works fine for me. I’ve never used Vicker’s. But I assume it works fine too.
Joe Mamma
I do a combination of downward and inward when pressing it. I have struggled dropping it on a combination of the three, but I can occasionally get it to work with a loaded magazine.
How would left-thumb operation be any easier?