Can we PLEASE stop doing this?

zombietactics · January 19, 2014, 06:45 PM

Just a pet peeve ...

Every time a discussion of "racking the slide" comes up ... people constantly use the terms "slingshoting" and "overhand" (or "powerstroke") as though they mean the same thing. They don't.

The "powerstroke/overhand" method involves cupping the suppport hand over the slide and forcefully pulling the slide rearwards. This is NOT "slingshoting"

"Slingshoting" is where you turn the handgun on its side (in the same manner that high-level slingshot shooters hold a slingshot), and then pinch the rear of the slide in the manner that one grasps the pocket or pad of a slingshot.

Yes, this will not alter the course of human civilization, but understanding these terms will make it possible to have a coherent conversation regarding the techniques to which they refer.

Thanks for allowing me to vent.

Mannlicher · January 19, 2014, 06:54 PM

I am glad we have cleared that up.

itchy1 · January 19, 2014, 07:11 PM

This sounds like it could be almost as serious as the whole magazine VS clip scandal!
Sorry, couldn't help myself

UncleEd · January 19, 2014, 07:19 PM

Sorry, but the magazine vs. clip scandal pales in comparison to how we whip our slides.

Crankgrinder · January 19, 2014, 07:20 PM

People seem to have unusually strong feelings about this subject. A while back I started one similar about the slide stop/slide release and which method is best in its use and after many pages on that subject I don't believe anybody could come up with any reason or any proof as to why its better to "slingshot". What I got out of it at the time was that it seems best to let the piece decide. 1911- use the "slingshot", beretta- drop the slide.

Cheapshooter · January 19, 2014, 07:23 PM

Is it faster to slingshot a clip full of bullets than it is to fill the cylinder of a pistol from a speed loader.

**Aguila Blanca** · January 19, 2014, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zombietactics

Just a pet peeve ...

Every time a discussion of "racking the slide" comes up ... people constantly use the terms "slingshoting" and "overhand" (or "powerstroke") as though they mean the same thing. They don't.

How odd. I've lost track of how many "gun" forums I've participated in and how many years I've been doing so. I can't recall one single instance of anyone EVER expressing the notion that slingshotting is the same as overhand racking.

Not once. Ever.

I have also never heard/seen the overhand method of racking referred to as "powerstroking."

Not once. Ever. (Until your post.)

Dragline45 · January 19, 2014, 08:54 PM

Someones missed their morning coffee.

Guv · January 19, 2014, 08:59 PM

Does a gun Run or Shoot? Always thought an engine would Run and a gun would Shoot.

LockedBreech · January 19, 2014, 09:33 PM

Internet gun forums are educational and helpful but are also pretty funny. There are so very many controversies I never knew existed before forums. I didn't know it mattered which way the slide was racked, I didn't know .40 was considered snappy, I didn't know people debate about Glock like people debate about religion and politics....so many arguments of which I was unaware.

If it weren't for the thousand and one helpful little things I've learned on forums, I'd say I was probably better off before.

saleen322 · January 19, 2014, 09:33 PM

Engines run, guns shoot, and pulling the slide back and releasing it is generally referred to as slingshotting as opposed to thumbing the lever. Ford has a copyright on Powerstoke and while it is a fine diesel engine, it has nothing to do shooting. Time to close the thread................

USMCGrunt · January 19, 2014, 09:59 PM

I just use the slide release like it was designed for.

zombietactics · January 19, 2014, 10:03 PM

Quote:

I have also never heard/seen the overhand method of racking referred to as "powerstroking."

Seriously? It's a very common bit of terminology ... one example, for instance:

Travis Haley LINK

Seems to be a common term .... LINK

ParabellumJ · January 19, 2014, 10:25 PM

Powerstroke is not new, and slingshot is not powerstroke. These terms are common and refer to different actions. Just because you may not be aware of this don't disregard the difference.

Bob Wright · January 19, 2014, 10:31 PM

Why does anyone want to "rack the slide" in the first place?

Lock the slide open, insert magazine, press slide release. Is that difficult?

Forgive me, I'm an old sixgun man.

Bob Wright

Beentown71 · January 19, 2014, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aguila Blanca

How odd. I've lost track of how many "gun" forums I've participated in and how many years I've been doing so. I can't recall one single instance of anyone EVER expressing the notion that slingshotting is the same as overhand racking.

Not once. Ever.

I have also never heard/seen the overhand method of racking referred to as "powerstroking."

Not once. Ever. (Until your post.)

It happened here I believe recently a couple of times on a recent thread.

shortwave · January 19, 2014, 10:32 PM

Slingshot, powerstroke, overhand, racking, whipping our slides, magazines, clips, shoot, run, snappy, recoil, felt recoil, high grip , low grip, breath control, hold control, trigger control, Isosceles stance, Weaver stance, modified Weaver stance , pistol, revolver, calling a pistol a revolver, then we have the media referring to the shotgun as an assault weapon and talking about extended magazines....

...I'm soooo confused.

Quote:

Why does anyone want to "rack the slide" in the first place?

Slingshotting, powerstroking, overhanding, racking and whipping our slides are done at different times when shooting a semi auto. Such as if you have a full mag. but are setting on an empty chamber and the slide is closed. Or if you have a jam and need to clear the pistol. Or if you have a semi auto in which the slide does not stay back after you run through one mag and reload another. These are just a few instances in which the slide release(aka slide lock...more confusion) would not always be used.

James K · January 19, 2014, 10:40 PM

I have been "into" guns for a while now, and until the internet I don't recall folks inventing new methods and new terminology every microsecond. For some strange reason we just did things that had to be done without minute instructions from self-appointed experts. During WWII, a few million soldiers in several colors of uniform learned to use auto pistols (OK, not the Brits, mostly) without a bit of help from the internet. Maybe it was all a myth.

Jim

Kev · January 19, 2014, 10:44 PM

Popcorn....get yer Popcorn here!!!

Different strokes for different folks
Me, I could care less on what my method is called
What I do care about is safety. Get your round chambered any way that works for you, pointed down range and away from me shooting in the stall next to you.

cheezhed · January 19, 2014, 10:55 PM

I slingshot and power stroke, just depends on the mood I am in. I love the way that some people insist calling something what they define as correct. Just to razz a person of that ilk I would refer to the cylinder of my revolver as a clip.
It would aggravate him to no end.

DannyB1954 · January 19, 2014, 10:56 PM

People who think they know it all really do upset those of us who do know it all.

Anytime there is a slang term it is open to interpretation. Even racking the slide is slang. What does a rack have to do with a gun? Just because you think a slang term means what you think it means, doesn't mean it really does. So if you insist that others use a term in the same context as you wish, That makes you a wishful thinker. The world in general will refuse to abide by your rules.

ParabellumJ · January 19, 2014, 10:56 PM

I'm curious how many people on these forums who are free to lend their advise and opinion actually train with firearms. And by train I don't mean you own a few guns and occasionally go the the range to shoot as a hobby. And I don't mean you stand in a lane and practice your marksmanship to see if you can get some really nice groups. By train I mean you pay for professional instruction over the course of one or several days on how to fight with your pistol and/or rifle, the proper way to manipulate those weapons and why those techniques are used. By reading the comments on many of these threads I would guess not many. So before you brush someone off and say what's the difference because you don't know better, consider that maybe the other guy does.

mete · January 19, 2014, 11:04 PM

And the so called "dust cover " of a 1911 is NOT a dust cover. Sadly even the gun companoies are mis-calling it !

CajunBass · January 19, 2014, 11:06 PM

Quote:

I am glad we have cleared that up.

Me too. I don't know how much sleep I've lost over this very subject.

James K · January 19, 2014, 11:07 PM

Is there always a "proper" way to "manipulate" a firearm? Is it "wrong" to do something differently from the way someone else does it? If I choose to retract the slide of an auto pistol by grasping it between thumb and forefinger am I committing a sin if that method works for me? If I choose to shoot a handgun with one hand, and can hit that way, why should I be concerned with the opinion of some "combat expert" whose shooting has been confined to a keyboard?

Jim

January 19, 2014, 06:45 PM	#1
zombietactics Senior Member Join Date: August 7, 2012 Location: Northern California Posts: 447	Can we PLEASE stop doing this? Just a pet peeve ... Every time a discussion of "racking the slide" comes up ... people constantly use the terms "slingshoting" and "overhand" (or "powerstroke") as though they mean the same thing. They don't. The "powerstroke/overhand" method involves cupping the suppport hand over the slide and forcefully pulling the slide rearwards. This is NOT "slingshoting" "Slingshoting" is where you turn the handgun on its side (in the same manner that high-level slingshot shooters hold a slingshot), and then pinch the rear of the slide in the manner that one grasps the pocket or pad of a slingshot. Yes, this will not alter the course of human civilization, but understanding these terms will make it possible to have a coherent conversation regarding the techniques to which they refer. Thanks for allowing me to vent.

January 19, 2014, 06:54 PM	#2
Mannlicher Senior Member Join Date: July 8, 2001 Location: North Central Florida & Miami Posts: 3,209	I am glad we have cleared that up. __________________ Nemo Me Impune Lacesset "The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so.".........Ronald Reagan

January 19, 2014, 07:11 PM	#3
itchy1 Member Join Date: November 8, 2005 Location: SOKY Posts: 85	This sounds like it could be almost as serious as the whole magazine VS clip scandal! Sorry, couldn't help myself __________________ I want at least one of everything

January 19, 2014, 07:23 PM	#6
Cheapshooter Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 8,306	Is it faster to slingshot a clip full of bullets than it is to fill the cylinder of a pistol from a speed loader. __________________ Cheapshooter's rules of gun ownership #1: NEVER SELL OR TRADE ANYTHING!

January 19, 2014, 09:33 PM	#10
LockedBreech Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 2009 Location: Rocky Mountain West Posts: 3,395	Internet gun forums are educational and helpful but are also pretty funny. There are so very many controversies I never knew existed before forums. I didn't know it mattered which way the slide was racked, I didn't know .40 was considered snappy, I didn't know people debate about Glock like people debate about religion and politics....so many arguments of which I was unaware. If it weren't for the thousand and one helpful little things I've learned on forums, I'd say I was probably better off before. __________________ 16 Pistols, 5 Rifles, 1 Shotgun, no time to shoot them

January 19, 2014, 07:19 PM	#4
UncleEd Senior Member Join Date: April 13, 2013 Location: N. Georgia Posts: 1,150	Sorry, but the magazine vs. clip scandal pales in comparison to how we whip our slides.

January 19, 2014, 07:20 PM	#5
Crankgrinder Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 917	People seem to have unusually strong feelings about this subject. A while back I started one similar about the slide stop/slide release and which method is best in its use and after many pages on that subject I don't believe anybody could come up with any reason or any proof as to why its better to "slingshot". What I got out of it at the time was that it seems best to let the piece decide. 1911- use the "slingshot", beretta- drop the slide.

January 19, 2014, 08:54 PM	#8
Dragline45 Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2010 Posts: 3,513	Someones missed their morning coffee.

January 19, 2014, 08:59 PM	#9
Guv Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2012 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,126	Does a gun Run or Shoot? Always thought an engine would Run and a gun would Shoot.

January 19, 2014, 09:33 PM	#11
saleen322 Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2010 Posts: 778	Engines run, guns shoot, and pulling the slide back and releasing it is generally referred to as slingshotting as opposed to thumbing the lever. Ford has a copyright on Powerstoke and while it is a fine diesel engine, it has nothing to do shooting. Time to close the thread................

January 19, 2014, 09:59 PM	#12
USMCGrunt Senior Member Join Date: February 27, 2000 Location: Somewhere in 14T NT Posts: 730	I just use the slide release like it was designed for.

January 19, 2014, 10:25 PM	#14
ParabellumJ Member Join Date: January 2, 2013 Posts: 91	Powerstroke is not new, and slingshot is not powerstroke. These terms are common and refer to different actions. Just because you may not be aware of this don't disregard the difference.

January 19, 2014, 10:31 PM	#15
Bob Wright Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2012 Location: Memphis, Tennessee Posts: 2,989	Why does anyone want to "rack the slide" in the first place? Lock the slide open, insert magazine, press slide release. Is that difficult? Forgive me, I'm an old sixgun man. Bob Wright

January 19, 2014, 10:40 PM	#18
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	I have been "into" guns for a while now, and until the internet I don't recall folks inventing new methods and new terminology every microsecond. For some strange reason we just did things that had to be done without minute instructions from self-appointed experts. During WWII, a few million soldiers in several colors of uniform learned to use auto pistols (OK, not the Brits, mostly) without a bit of help from the internet. Maybe it was all a myth. Jim

January 19, 2014, 10:44 PM	#19
Kev Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2013 Posts: 661	Popcorn....get yer Popcorn here!!! Different strokes for different folks Me, I could care less on what my method is called What I do care about is safety. Get your round chambered any way that works for you, pointed down range and away from me shooting in the stall next to you. __________________ "Classic over Plastic"

January 19, 2014, 10:55 PM	#20
cheezhed Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 2007 Posts: 302	I slingshot and power stroke, just depends on the mood I am in. I love the way that some people insist calling something what they define as correct. Just to razz a person of that ilk I would refer to the cylinder of my revolver as a clip. It would aggravate him to no end.

January 19, 2014, 10:56 PM	#21
DannyB1954 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2013 Location: Pahrump Nv USA Posts: 480	People who think they know it all really do upset those of us who do know it all. Anytime there is a slang term it is open to interpretation. Even racking the slide is slang. What does a rack have to do with a gun? Just because you think a slang term means what you think it means, doesn't mean it really does. So if you insist that others use a term in the same context as you wish, That makes you a wishful thinker. The world in general will refuse to abide by your rules. Last edited by DannyB1954; January 19, 2014 at 11:03 PM.

January 19, 2014, 11:04 PM	#23
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 6,575	And the so called "dust cover " of a 1911 is NOT a dust cover. Sadly even the gun companoies are mis-calling it ! __________________ And Watson , bring your revolver !

January 19, 2014, 11:07 PM	#25
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Is there always a "proper" way to "manipulate" a firearm? Is it "wrong" to do something differently from the way someone else does it? If I choose to retract the slide of an auto pistol by grasping it between thumb and forefinger am I committing a sin if that method works for me? If I choose to shoot a handgun with one hand, and can hit that way, why should I be concerned with the opinion of some "combat expert" whose shooting has been confined to a keyboard? Jim