random, unimportant 1911 question

[tmckay2]

i have a springfield 1911 and am VERY careful with it at all times. one thing i noticed is in the manual it says never to let the slide go forward on its own, even when chambering a round or replacing an empty mag. as such, i have always released the slide manually and guided it forward with my hand. do you think this is really a big deal, or is it just springfield being extra careful?

[theGinsue]

Sounds a bit overcautious to me. If it ever had to be fired in a combat or defense situation, I wouldn't want to be focusing on gently allowing the slide forward. It's a semi-auto. After every shot the slide springs forward just as forcefully as it would from a magazine change, et al.

I can't possibly imagine that the gun could be adversely effected by allowing the slide to go forward on its own. If this is really a factor, it's not a gun I'd want to own.

[sniper7]

I was always taught you let it slide fast...what do you think it does when you shoot the gun?

are you sure it didn't say to NOT ride the slide.

Doing so puts uneven pressure where the barrel mates to the slide causing uneven wear eventually hurting the tightness of your gun and the accuracy.

[tmckay2]

thats what i thought too, but im telling you, im looking at the manual right now and it actually says, when loading the gun not to let it go forward on its own. it does state this is the case with an empty chamber as well, which is understandable, but it says to load it, put in an empty mag, lock the slide back, take out the empty mag, put in a full one, pull gently on the slide and release it slowly. i don't see why you don't just put in a full mag, cock it and let it roar. worst case id think you could lock it back, put in a mag and then let it go forward on its own power. like i said, its not important but it was something i felt was odd and counter intuitive. thanks for the clarification though.

[sniper7]

call them and ask. I think that is wrong, but I may have done this wrong my whole life...who knows!

[GunTroll]

I have never heard of that but believe you if you say your reading it. Pull it back and let her fly home. If it breaks or gets damaged from doing this send it to SA. They will warranty. And besides as the point was already made, between firing this happens anyway. Hell I might even let it slide forward a couple hundred times (on a dummy round/snap cap) to see if the damn thing fails you for the one time you need it to work.

[10x]

Hard release of the slide via the slide stop or sling shotting the slide with an empty chamber causes battering of the sear and the hammer notch. Doing too much of this will mess up a light trigger job.