Slide stop

[loh989]

With an empty magazine and the slide locked open is it normal for the slide stop lever to be very hard to depress and drop the slide? I noticed that on a 21 it is almost impossible to press the slide stop lever with the slide locked open and *empty* magazine inside. The same scenario is considerably hard on a 17 and somewhat uncomfortable on a 19.

Is this part of the glock design so you don't drop the slide on an empty mag?

Thank you

[surferDude]

It is a stop that can be used as a release. It hurts my thumb do do it more than about twice. I use an overhand release using my opposite hand.
I prefer it over the slingshot or the slide stop.
I would use whichever you like.
I will say none of my Glock pistols are easy to release the slide using the lever. Not easy at all.

[Donut Slayer]

The slide stop level wasnt designed to release the slide when locked open. But with a empty mag it would be more difficult than with a full mag. With an empty mag you'll have to overcome upward pressure from the lever spring, recoil spring and mag spring.

[fatish]

Same thing with my Glocks. That's why I installed extended slide stop levers with thumb rest.

[DanK]

I'm not 100% sure that that's a great idea for your gun. Personally, I've done it and don't see too much of a problem, but my old man claims that that's rough on the slide. He suggested that it could cause premature wear/cracking because there's no brass to cushion the slide.

I don't know what that would mean for shooting steal cased rounds... but oh well... just something to consider.

[Nagoya10]

I have used Glocks as a duty pistol since late 1988. The slide stop/release has always been a pain in the Hitlery to use. A number of years ago we were instructed by a one of our range instructors (a Glock certified armorer) that Glock recommended not using the slide stop to release the slide as it caused wear on the slide notch and eventually could be worn enough to not allow the slide to be locked on the last round. We were taught to manually pull the slide back to release it on a fresh magazine, rather than flicking the release. Now it is the only way I release a slide and can't bring myself to ever push the slide stop/release. Once you practice manually bringing the slide back and releasing, generally by the overhand method, you will find yourself ignoring the slide release and getting a more positive chambering of a live round. I see that the notch is deeper now but still dont use the slide stop to release the slide.

This works for me and has never failed or caused a problem.

[kelsitone]

The slide stop lever wasnt designed to release the slide when locked open. But with a empty mag it would be more difficult than with a full mag. With an empty mag you'll have to overcome upward pressure from the lever spring, recoil spring and mag spring.
+1

If you want to use your slide stop lever as a slide release get an extended SSL.

[BamaTrooper]

When an empty magazine is in the gun, as opposed to an empty magwell or a loaded magazine, not only are you fighting the recoil spring to depress the slide stop, you are fighting the magazine spring. Try it and notice the difference.
Someone mentioned and extended slide stop. It provides a little more leverage and a little larger surface on which to apply the pressure.
In 11 years, I have never had a problem with undo wear from using the slide lock as a slide release.