Henry Rifle Forums

https://youtu.be/Op1167lTVmI It's okay it is a well built machine!

Subtle, ain't he?

RP

This myth has been cycling around since the beginning of time. It will never die.

Paul

I have a pre-war Colt National Match 45 with a very lite trigger and it can do that without harm to the pistol.

I started with 1911s in the Corps in the 70s and have been shooting them ever since. Including my match guns, the Corps' match guns, and others. I have always dropped the slide that way after clearing the firearm before returning it to the case, the rack, or the safe. Never caused any damage. Never had a cracked slide or other issues. (I don't make a habit of constantly dropping the hammer on an empty hammer on my match guns... just me.)

Now, as a young shooter I once tried to load a semi-auto in front of one of my veteran shooter buddies by dropping a round in the chamber and closing the slide on that round. I thought he was going to have a stroke. HE was a former Marine, the Range Master for the Department and a Patrol Sergeant. I didn't make that mistake ever, ever, ever again. After his heartrate returned to normal he explained that in most semi-autos, the extractor is designed in a manner that the round being stripped from the magazine slides up behind the extractor. If you put a round in the chamber then close the slide, you force the extractor to bend out around the rim of the cartridge and snap back into place to grip it.

This can cause failure to extract if the extractor doesn't properly grasp the cartridge, weaken or stress the extractor by causing it to bend outward, and if you have made a habit of this practice, eventually cause the extractor to break...Usually at the most inopportune time. For example, during a string in the middle of a state championship match, during a mid-stage of a testosterone driven bet over who's the best shot, or ... perhaps during a life or death struggle in a dark alley when backup is still two minutes away.

Yeah, letting the slide home on an empty chamber... That's a yes.
Letting the slide home on a chambered round? Ah... nope.

How about not using the charging handle on an AR15 to release the pressure off the bolt release to put the bolt in battery?

Sir Henry wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 27, 2022 8:37 am

How about not using the charging handle on an AR15 to release the pressure off the bolt release to put the bolt in battery?

If the bolt is locked back, you can still use the charging handle, but it's wasted motion for about 90% of it's travel, the bolt is locked back. The ONLY advantage is a small added bit of travel of the bolt by pulling it slightly to the rear.

I often see new AR shooters pushing the bolt release with their thumb. It can be difficult. I was taught to smack it with the heel of my hand after seating the fresh mag in bootcamp. More efficient.

fortyshooter wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 26, 2022 5:03 pm

https://youtu.be/Op1167lTVmI It's okay it is a well built machine!

Point well taken!

BrokenolMarine wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 26, 2022 10:41 pm

Yeah, letting the slide home on an empty chamber... That's a yes.
Letting the slide home on a chambered round? Ah... nope.

Very wise words. A broken extractor ain't no fun.

Paul

I bet that video would make Bill Wilson have an Archie Bunker fit