Noob pistol question: Slingshot vs overhand

[brekneb]

So which method is safer/better? I've heard the primary reasoning behind using the slingshot is to prevent lateral deviation of the muzzle whereas apparently, the overhand is more likely to cause this. I've also heard, it's generally a better idea to keep your hand away from the breech (which the slingshot accomplishes.)
So, again, which do you think is generally better? Or do you use another technique?

Up until I started hearing about the slingshot advocacy I always thought it looked/seemed too ganster-like and that the overhand was more 'operator'-esque.

 

[Blackbeard]

I slingshot, because it's more natural to me. I think as long as the barrel is pointed downrange it doesn't matter how you do it.

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

Bah!

CZ.. use the slide release.

 

[ColinthePilot]

on my taurus, if i slam a full mag home, it releases the slide for me...I think i'm calling Taurus tomorrow to see about getting that fixed...

 

[AndyC]

Seen too many people point the barrel at their elbow when they do it overhand - could be messy....

Keep all your parts behind the muzzle and you'll keep them longer.

 

[jrfoxx]

I have always done overhand, as that is just what came naturally for me. I dont see any potential dangers in it compared to sligshot, as I still only really grip with just the same finger tips, and my hands arent particularly big, so they are quite clear of the muzzle, aand I see no risk in getting any part of my palm caught in the breach (ow, I can see where that would hurt, and possibly be a rsik in those with big and/or "meaty" hands), so there's no reason for me to change.

 

[Gifted]

What in the world is he asking about?

 

[average_shooter]

Seen too many people point the barrel at their elbow when they do it overhand

How... wha-... huh!?!

I can not imagine how an elbow would get forward of the muzzle and be in the path of a discharge. I always have the pistol in my primary hand, bring my off-hand over perpendicular to my primary, grab the top of the slide between finger tips and palm, pull back, release.

ETA: I guess I can see how it would be possible to get one's elbow in the way, but to do so seems to involve somewhat awkward contortions to me.

 

[Guitargod1985]

I use overhand and here's why:

With the overhand method of racking the slide, you are able to use the palm of your hand on one side of the slide and your four fingers on the other. Using the palm assists in getting the necessary amount of force if your hands happen to be sweaty.

Unfortunately, with the slingshot method, it can be difficult to rack the slide with a sweaty hand because use of the palm is not natural in this position. A person racking with a slingshot motion must instead use the thumb, which can slip.

This is the way I learned, and I believe it's a practical solution.

 

[siglite]

Overhand provides more speed, strength, and leverage than slingshot. Plus, it is a gross motor skill (easier in a high stress situation) than thumbing a slide stop, which is a fine motor skill.

 

[Packman]

What in the world is he asking about?

I think he's talking about how one releases a locked-back slide after inserting a magazine. Overhand involves using the palm of the hand, Slingshot the thumb by pinching the back of the slide, I assume.

Personally, I rotate the pistol Counter clockwise (i almost said CCW, but then realized that acronym was not "counter-clockwise" on this board) ninety degrees, then use slingshot. sounds a tad awkward, but the muzzle stays on target rather well, and it's pretty quick.

 

[AndyC]

How... wha-... huh!?!

I can not imagine how an elbow would get forward of the muzzle and be in the path of a discharge.

Hard to imagine anyone would be so stupid, ain't it?

Here's how I've seen it done, time and again - point your right forefinger (as if it was a gun) at the underside of your bent left elbow, your left hand hovering above your right as if to cock it overhand.

I don't think there's "The One True Way" to cycle a slide - just personal preference, and if it works for you, great. There are unsafe ways to do it, though.

 

[zigz]

i pull the slide back with my teeth, then release

 

[rellascout]

I use my toes.

 

[MachIVshooter]

If the slide is locked, I use the release as intended. On a closed slide, I generally slingshot.

 

[LawofThirds]

Grasp the slide in your teeth then vigorously smack the rear of the grip with your hand. While the slide is moving forward, do a press check, using your tongue to feel for the chambered round. Repeat until proficient.

Honestly, done properly, both methods are fairly safe and is a personal choice as to which one is used.

I've seen someone do it by hooking their index finger into the breech (in the slingshot position) and then push the gun forward with their dominant hand until the finger pulled back the slide and then slipped out, releasing the slide into battery. Not exactly something I'd want to do with a hot gun but I could see it being modified to use an object like a nail or other protrusion if the gun was unable to be cycled by rear sight or by slide pressing (I can't release a sig slide lock with my left hand) due to design.

 

[brekneb]

Bah!

CZ.. use the slide release.

What? Me no understand.....

 

[LawofThirds]

Drop the slide by pushing down the slide release lever. It's also known as a 'bubba load' and is rough on your extractor, which may result in a fte.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

A lot depends on the gun you are using and the reason for retracting the slide at a given moment. It is next to impossible (for me) to use a "slingshot" grip when manually locking a slide back, e.g., to clear some types of stoppages or "showing clear" for the range officer. The slingshot does work well for chambering a round. Some guns have tall slides with substantial grasping grooves (e.g., SIGs, Glocks, 1911s), others do not (CZ75s). When locking a slide back using an overhand grip, it is possible to point the gun at your elbow if you don't watch what you're doing. Always see to it that the gun is pointed away from your body.

 

[AndyC]

Drop the slide by pushing down the slide release lever. It's also known as a 'bubba load' and is rough on your extractor, which may result in a fte.

Nothing wrong with using the slide-stop because when the slide runs forward, the case-rim slides up from underneath to lodge behind the extractor-claw, as designed. Wouldn't make any difference in this case whether the slide-stop is used or whether the slide is manually cycled - it has the same effect.

What can damage an internal extractor eg. 1911 is by having a cartridge dropped into the chamber while the slide is open and then allowing the slide to slam closed - the extractor, because it's internal, has little room to move sideways (it's blocked by the inside of the slide) to try and snap over the case-rim. That'll do it.

 

[AR]

on my taurus, if i slam a full mag home, it releases the slide for me...I think i'm calling Taurus tomorrow to see about getting that fixed...

Now if you could just get it to fire at the same time, that would be perfect! A true automatic

 

[DLebowski]

Overhand. Allows you to get your weak hand back in firing position more efficiently.

As you release the slide with your weak hand, allow it to rotate back, down/under forward without ever losing contact with your strong hand/wrist.

Takes a few reps, but once you get used to it, it's one fluid motion.

 

[Spartacus451]

With the overhand method of racking the slide, you are able to use the palm of your hand on one side of the slide and your four fingers on the other. Using the palm assists in getting the necessary amount of force if your hands happen to be sweaty.

+1. This is what I teach to new students and it invariably helps the ones who are having trouble racking the slide.

 

[Old Dog]

Perhaps I'm just getting older and the joints are stiffer, but for me, seems I have to bend the elbows much more and break (bend) the wrists to "slingshot" -- feels way more awkward ... back in the day, when we carried 1911s in Condition 3, we were taught, courtesy of the USMC, the Israeli method of drawing and racking in fluid motion (which involved pushing straight forward with the strong hand as you racked the slide overhand). Overhand simply seems to me -- as previous posters have noted -- to allow more efficient use of force to rack the slide, but moreover, can get your sights on target faster.

But, as also said, whatever's more comfortable (so long as it's done safely) for you.

 

[usp9]

If the slide is locked, I use the release as intended. On a closed slide, I generally slingshot.

Me too.

I do have a couple that I push from the front, overhand, when I lock back on an empty mag, but not when shooting..