How do you decock your DA/SA pistol?

[webb3201]

earlier this year I started shooting my first DA/SA Sigs and over the course of many range sessions have been perfectly comfortable decocking with my right hand (strong) thumb. I am able to stay on target and do not have to adjust grip after using the decocker. I had a discussion with another shooter this week and his opinion was that I should use my weak hand to pull back the slide to decock. His idea being that in a reload situation I would not be able to handle the small movements needed to hit the level.

While his reasoning seems sound, I can't get that motion to feel comfortable. I use a P239 which is a fairly heavy gun, and I would be more worried about make a mistake pulling the slide in a crisis reload than about using the decocker.

Any more experienced with this systems have any thoughts?

[seamusTX]

Are you talking about decocking or dropping the slide?

In a reload situation, you don't need to decock. It isn't called for unless you are going to reholster.

I always operate the slide release and decocking lever with my right thumb (right-handed). They are where they are for a good reason.

You might want to watch an IDPA match and see how the experts do it. You have to look fast.

- Jim

[webb3201]

yep, I added too much detail and confused the question. I am speaking of dropping the slide when reloading. I was using the lever, he recommended the off hand on pull.

[seamusTX]

I can operate the slide release lever much more quickly than I could get my left hand up to the slide and pull it back. This kind of thing becomes "muscle memory" that may survive even severe brain damage.

(It's not really muscle memory. It's all in your brain, but at a lower level than conscious thought. That's why people with Alzheimer's can still do things like play the guitar long after they think Eisenhower is still president.)

If you practice counting shots, you can drop an empty magazine and reload with a round still in the chamber. Then you don't even have to operate the slide release. I wouldn't bet on retaining that ability in a situation of great excitement, though.

- Jim

[LittleGun]

I don't use the lever to drop the slide. I always use my support hand. The reason I do is that racking the slide is part of a malfuntion drill I was taught. Whether I am clearing a malfunction or reloading, I don't have to think about two ways to do it.

[Beiruty]

both will work. Just make sure that when you drop the slid with the slide release that you do so after the magazine has been well seated. Otherwise, you have to do the the standard clambering by pulling the slide back. Both ways should be fast I men no thought about it. It just automatic.

[joe817]

Dropping the slide was a much talked about topic in what turned into a 5 page thread a few weeks ago. The 2 methods were talked about in length and it's a good read.......

http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... 23&t=26884" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[webb3201]

Great..ill dig into that thread. I was not able to find it in a search for some reason.

[Furyataurus]

I use the slide stop/release lever.