Can I Drop The Slide On An Empty Chamber?
There’s a certain legend around the internet about dropping the slide on an empty chamber? Is it really that important for us to sit here and argue about it? Is this a theoretical problem vs an actual concern? The short answer is yes it is a problem and yes it is also just theoretical concern.
First we need to understand a bit about pistol mechanics most notably on a 1911 since that is the gun that is most problematic with this concern. Before I even dive in there will be a group of old time Marines that will state they did this 1000 times a day on their service firearm with no issue. Rest assured we will address that.
Design Of The 1911
A 1911 utilizes a sear to engage the hammer spur. This means two little metal points interact to create a clean break of the trigger. If one of those points breaks the hammer has a secondary slot called a half cock that should catch before it engages the firing pin. Theoretically this could break and cause a hammer to go forward without pressing the trigger and discharge the firearm. I have never actually heard of or seen that happen which is why it is a theoretical problem. The half cock generally stops the hammer going forward and so too does the safety.
The gun is actually more likely to enter into a full auto mode with the hammer falling forward every time the slide moves forward and engaging out of battery. The sear is hardened steel and is incredibly tough but when the slide is dropped on an empty chamber the sear hits the hammer with substantially more force than if the chamber were loaded. Beyond that we have the slamming of barrel lugs, lock up pins etc. taking added abuse without a round slowing the forward momentum. Any of these components can fail as well, rendering the gun unusable and sometimes non repairable.
Glocks & Other Pistols
I wanted to call this Glocks and Tupperware guns but I figured someone would get their feelings hurt. I love Glocks and for years I did this on my Glocks with no adverse effects until Massad Ayoob made that point that you are adding substantial wear and tear to the rest of the gun for no reason. So even not being a 1911 you can still shear off metal components that eliminate the fighting capabilities of your firearm.
Plastic guns and striker fired weapons are not immune to the problems here because ultimately there is a part of the gun going forward faster than designed and slamming into a component not designed to take that abuse. Metal guns will show peening in some of these spots but not always. Plastic guns will show no adverse affects until something breaks off.
The fact is that it benefits no one to do it and could possibly cause issues even if the chances are remote. You gain nothing from doing it and certainly risk a lot. So what is the risk to reward ratio? Ultimately someone will chime in with the statement earlier about doing this 1000’s of times with no issues.
A few notes on that: 1st I’ve been in my car 1000 times with no problems but I still wear a seatbelt. That argument is flawed and immature logic. Secondly, when you did this in the Marines you had service pistols and armorers. Guns were built to loose tolerances with someone ready to fix it on the taxpayers dime. What you did not have was a highly tuned custom 1911 that cost $1000’s and the sear engagement is refined and polished.
I won’t go so far as to state that dropping the slide makes you an amateur because it simply does not. I will say that I no longer do it on any pistol and I cringe whenever I see it. Will it result in an issue with your pistol the truth is probably not… But remember when you are betting your life on something ‘probably’ isn’t good enough particularly when there’s no benefit to the sacrifice made.
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