At a gun shop today

[halvey]

I call baloney. If you as a clerk dont want a customer to drop the slide THEN SAY SO BEFORE YOU HAND OVER THE PISTOL. People aren't mind readers and you can't expect them to be. Different shops have different rules as do people. When I go in to potentially buy a gun I try everything. That includes releasing the slide. Why? Because that's how I operate my pistols, and thats how some pistols were designed to operate. I'm not going to plop down a bunch of cash for something as smooth as sandpaper.

How many times is a gun handed over before a sale is actually made? 100's most of the time. How about the customer asks before he does something like that?

What, is the owners supposed to go over all the rules before ever single time?
"Sir, don't point a gun at anyone"
"and no loading guns in the store."
"oh yeah, ask if you want something from behind the counter, I'll get it."
"yes, you will need to pay for the gun with real money."
"please drive on the right side of the road."
"and it's probably a good to brush your teeth ever once in awhile."

Besides, its the gunshops property until its sold. If this guy was serious, then he can ask to drop the slide or not. It's up to the owner to allow it or not.

 

[LiquidTension]

As an aside, actions like OP's are why I rarely buy a gun that's been in the counter for a while. I always ask if they have another one in the back, or if they can order another one. You never know how the things have been treated at the store.

 

[shield20]

It bugs the hell out of me when I see the clerk and/or the client do that - dropping the slide on an empty chamber. SOMEONE will be buying that piece - hope it ain't me. The forces 'bounce' the hammer and sear faces against each other.

It is one of the ways of testing a trigger job a 1911 - to ONCE release the slide forward to check to see if the hammer will follow. If it doesn't then, it won't, and it should not be done again 'cause it can ruin the work.

 

[Nitrogen]

If you're going to borrow someone elses car, politeness dictates that you treat that car better than you'd treat your own. You'd tell the owner exactly what you were doing.

Same thing here; while handling a gun, i'll ask if I can dryfire it. I'll ask if I can work the slide. ASK.

 

[BHPshooter]

The trigger sear is already "locked" (for lack of a better word) into the hammer sear notch, and cannot possibly move until the trigger is pulled.

Not true. When you pull the slide back, the hammer is actually farther back than it would be when resting on the sear. When you drop the slide, the hammer comes forward until it meets the sear. The problem is that the slide has nothing to slow it down when you drop it on an empty chamber, which means that the hammer is hitting the sear harder and faster than it would when loading a round. It can possibly chip the sear, or "bounce" enough that the hammer will come forward to the (hopefully functional) half-cock notch.
The "hammer sear notch" (full-cock notch) is nothing more than a small shelf, and it can move before the trigger is pulled if you continually drop your slides on empty chambers, or even sooner if the gun has had trigger work.

Above all, it's just proper etiquette not to do that to somebody else's gun.

Wes

 

[El Tejon]

FWIW, when I worked the gun counter at Galyan's we told customers not to drop the slide.

Maybe he should have told you, but you should have known. Good news is now you do know.

 

[STAGE 2]

How many times is a gun handed over before a sale is actually made? 100's most of the time. How about the customer asks before he does something like that?

He certianly could have, but since its the clerks policy, its his responsibility to inform the customer.

What, is the owners supposed to go over all the rules before ever single time?

When the "rules" are arbitrary personal standards yes. Safety standards have nothing to do with what we are talking about here.

Furthermore, this isn't akin to borowing someone elses property. This is a potential sale. When a clerk hands over a gun he should expect the person to take the mag out, try the trigger, cycle the slide, and all other sorts of things that involve fumbling with the pistol.

 

[nomadboi]

Well heck, I learned something new today, and I'm not even through my first cup of coffee. Cool.

I've asked at gunshops before if they had a snap cap or anything I should use before testing the trigger, and they generally look at me funny and just tell me to dry-fire it.

I'm curious about the revolver cylinder flick, too- what's the hazard there?

 

[Tory]

"Bogarting" a revolver

I'm curious about the revolver cylinder flick, too- what's the hazard there?

Two potential problems in that bad habit:

1. Inertia means the gun moves while the cylinder hasn't yet - the crane has to take that load and may eventually twist a bit from the torque. This means binding on lock-up.

2. NOT the best thing in the world for the spring-loaded plunger that centers and locks the cylinder into the rear frame.

Like most Hollyweird gun handling, it's done for looks to impress the unlearned (the "great unwashed"). I would no more slam a slide or Bogart a cylinder that I would shoot a gun sideways while yelling "Gat! Gat! Gat!"

 

[Starter52]

Hmmm. I was not aware (until today) that closing the slide on an empty chamber was offensive to some people. I have been doing it for years with never a complaint or comment.

 

[nomadboi]

Yah, well... I do more work with prop guns and indie films than I get to fire my real guns anyway (one pays for itself and then some, the other costs money), so I see all kinds of stupid gun tricks. Hey, if it's not unsafe, they'll pay for any damages, and it's what the director wants to do... that's generally what they do. I'm not too worried about the pot-metal blank firing replicas or airsoft gas-blowbacks, since they tend to wear out in other places first anyway, but I don't want to develop bad habits. While I've yet to yell 'gat, gat' or 'punch' with my shots when firing a real gun, I am guilty of adding sound effects occasionally while in martial arts classes, or putting a little too much acting into my reactions when on the recieving end of a martial arts drill.

 

[EddieCoyle]

I was at my favorite small local shop a while back when "Captain Tactical" walked in and after regaling us with his superior knowledge, asked to see a 4" S&W 500. The owner handed the revolver, with the cylinder open, to the guy and Captain Tactical proceeded to flip the cylinder closed, then open, then closed again. The owner - a slightly overweight older gentleman - moved with the speed and precision of a Ninja when he took the gun away from the clown. My friend then proceeded to read him the unabridged version of the riot act. I thought I was going to have to physically restrain him.

Why do people have to act like they know everything when they have no clue? How are they supposed to learn? (Check that, I know the answer: "The hard way.")

 

[Tory]

As my dear, departed grandmother frequently observed,

"Experience is a hard school, but fools will learn in no other!"

 

[ScottS]

1. It is a slide stop, not a slide release. It is a bad habit to release the slide with the slide stop.

Yeah, I try to only do it on every slide-lock reload. Releasing it with the slide release is bad...why? Is this the "notch wears down" argument or the "you must slingshot" argument?

 

[El Tejon]

Scott, releasing it with the slide stop is a bad habit (it is not "bad" in a metaphysical sense as it gets the job done--but less than optimal and not something one should ingrain). Not all weapons have them in the same location and you may not fight with your own weapon.

Releasing the slide by going over the slide (palm toward weapon) and push-pulling will build in a most useful habit.

 

[SnakeEater]

Years ago I bought my first handgun, a Springfield 1911. I sent this pistol to Mr. Virgil Tripp for refinishing and a trigger job. He must have sensed my newbiness because he sent a note back with the pistol saying "Do not release the slide on an empty chamber, it will ruin the trigger work that I have done". Well, I tend to listen to experts when they speak, you should too.

 

[RH822]

Thanks for the input

This is what I have heard. I have heard that dropping the slide using the slide catch is a evil, inconsiderate, disrespectful, deplorable and horrendable (i made that word up) thing and should never be done because it could cause damage to the gun. I thank you for your opinions, some of you agreed with me, but most disagreed and that,s OK because that's the whole point of discussions. Am I going to stop that bad habit? Probably not, But thanks anyway.

This is what I know. I know that, I'm not dumb, I'm not stupid and I am certainly not an idiot. I don't ride a horse, I think cows smell funny and I couldn't hit the broadside of a barn with an SSA to save my butt, so I'm not a cowboy either. So to those of you who can't seem to post an opinion without being nasty about it.

 

[redneck2]

This is what I know. I know that, I'm not dumb, I'm not stupid and I am certainly not an idiot.

Perhaps not, but you're disrespectful of other's property and stubborn, plus a slow learner.

There are extremely knowledgable people here that have tried to explain patiently. Perhaps sometime in your life you'll learn. Probably not. Some never do. Pity.

 

[Bob F.]

Back to post #3! What is the proper way to "safe" a 1911? i.e. lower the hammer on an empty chamber or go to "condition 3"?

I'd never heard pulling the trigger and manually lowering the hammer at the same time was wrong.

Thanks.
Bob

 

[RH822]

Disrepectful??

Redneck2,
You sir are truly an amazing person, in that you can tell so much about me from the contents of 2 little posts. Disrespectful of others property? No, not by a long shot. When I dropped that slide I had know idea that a person, any person would take exception to my actions. As for stubborn, why yes I am, always have been always will be. If it wasn't for stubborn people this whole country would have the same gun laws as DC.

Thanks for your input.
RH

Slow learner?? Amazing, simply Amazing.

 

[STAGE 2]

Perhaps not, but you're disrespectful of other's property and stubborn, plus a slow learner.

There are extremely knowledgable people here that have tried to explain patiently. Perhaps sometime in your life you'll learn. Probably not. Some never do. Pity.

And there have been others here who thought he did no wrong. Newsflash... barring safety there is really no proper way to fondle a gun. Dropping the slide on a production gun isn't disrespectful and will certianly do no damage to it. If you beat on anything it will wear it down, but doing it once is to be expected.

Just because someone doesn't live by your rules doesnt automatically make them rude or ignorant

 

[History Prof]

I always ask first if I can dry fire once to feel the trigger break.

I do, too. But at the same time, I won't continue shopping there if they *won't* let me dry fire it. I want to know what I am getting, so just as much as I need to respect it while it is *their* property, I hope they respect my testing criteria before making it *my* property.

 

[Falcon]

extremely knowledgable people here

Perhaps... but most seem too judgemental and eager to pounce on someone.

 

[Travis McGee]

If it is YOUR gun, go right ahead and snap the slide shut on an empty chamber, and snap the cyliner shut on your revolver and so on.

But in a gun shop, with brand new guns, treat them properly.

Snapping it shut would be like going to a new car dealer, and slamming the door of the car really hard. Sure, it won't bust the door. But it's not the way to treat an expensive piece of equipment that ain't yours, that someone else will buy. That someone will want a "factory new" gun (or car) not one that has been slammed and banged around.

Just my dos centavos.

 

[MDMadrid]

Snapping it shut would be like going to a new car dealer, and slamming the door of the car really hard.

When you test drive a car,(esp. used) do you baby it and only drive it a half of a mile; or do you really take it out for a spin to see how it really preforms? I am not saying you should mistreat the car (or gun) but you have to see how it is going to preform.

...but perhaps asking is always good advise!