zhangla Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 Just started shooting IDPA SSP division. I watch many Youtube videos of the masters doing slide lock reload without rotating the grip in strong hand. I tried that with my MP9 Pro, and found that my strong hand thumb cannot reach neither the mag release nor the slide stop without rotating the grip. I know I have small hands, and that's why I chose MP9 Pro and I put on the smallest backstrap on the grip. Does anyone know if Glock 34 gen4 or XDM 5.25'' would help my short thumb to reach those buttons without having to rotate my grip? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kraj Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 Bob Vogel does a series on YouTube. He has to shift his grip to reach the mag button too, and he seems to do alright Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crobber Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 Have you tried shooting it without a backstrap? I recall a video, might have been Power Factor Show, where one of the guests said that they use M&Ps with no backstrap on it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zhangla Posted October 8, 2014 Author Share Posted October 8, 2014 Have you tried shooting it without a backstrap? I recall a video, might have been Power Factor Show, where one of the guests said that they use M&Ps with no backstrap on it... This is a great idea! I used to try G34 without backstrap and I loved it! I will try it with my MP9 today. Thanks for the great tip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crobber Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 (edited) One more option is trying to flip the mag release around and activate it with your trigger finger.... Check episode 124 from PowerFactorShow, the guest starts talking about her gear at around the 20 minute mark and 27 minute mark for M&P specific details. Looks like she put grip tape where the backstrap is supposed to go Edited October 8, 2014 by crobber Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acpie360 Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 ... I watch many Youtube videos of the masters doing slide lock reload without rotating the grip in strong hand. ... I think most of them do rotate the grip slightly. Perhaps it is just that they did it so fast you didn't catch the act. Here's one from Doug Koenig, not quite IDPA but you can get the idea: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zhangla Posted October 8, 2014 Author Share Posted October 8, 2014 One more option is trying to flip the mag release around and activate it with your trigger finger.... Check episode 124 from PowerFactorShow, the guest starts talking about her gear at around the 20 minute mark and 27 minute mark for M&P specific details. Looks like she put grip tape where the backstrap is supposed to go Using trigger finger to release mag will not prevent shifting of grip, because the strong hand eventually has to shift such that my thumb can reach the slide stop after the new mag is inserted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crobber Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 I found that when I slam mag home with enough force, the slide will slam home, or you could always come over the top to release the slide. Just providing some other options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArrDave Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 Glocks will not be any easier to reach mag release, I assure you. The guys I shoot IDPA with with M&Ps all exploit the auto release feature of jammin the mag home and causing the slide to release. I realize it is not a huge time saver, but would be one less thing to think about! Train with dummy rounds on reloads until the slide goes forward upon seating the mag then call it good. Sent from an iDevice. Please forgive any grammatical or spelling errors. If the post doesn't make sense or is not amusing then it is technology's fault and most certainly not operator error. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elguapo Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 I have similar problems with short thumbs. 1. Releasing the magazine. When I start to move my support hand to reach for the new mag, I use that hand to slightly rotate the pistol to the left by the front of the trigger guard. That rotation brings the mag release within reach of my right thumb. The right thumb presses the mag release and the left hand keeps on going to grab a new mag. 2. Releasing the slide. Use the left hand thumb to depress the slide release as you regain your two hand grip on the pistol. One of the many things I like about the CZ 75 platform is the prominent slide release lever, which is giant compared to the little sheetmetal nubs on the sides of most polymer pistols. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brisix Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 The SP-01 Shadow with thin grips should allow you reach the extended mag release without shifting your grip. Plus you can slam the mag for it to chamber the round. Make sure to use +10 mag springs with the Factory mags. I used to shot the M&P Pro and found the CZ to be much easier to manipulate the controls. +1 for elguapo for releasing the slide technique. Very easy to do with a Shadow if you don't want to rely on slamming the mag into the gun for it to chamber. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooterdog Posted November 6, 2014 Share Posted November 6, 2014 everyone I've seen so far has to shift their grip.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FTDMFR Posted November 6, 2014 Share Posted November 6, 2014 I have similar problems with short thumbs. 1. Releasing the magazine. When I start to move my support hand to reach for the new mag, I use that hand to slightly rotate the pistol to the left by the front of the trigger guard. That rotation brings the mag release within reach of my right thumb. The right thumb presses the mag release and the left hand keeps on going to grab a new mag. 2. Releasing the slide. Use the left hand thumb to depress the slide release as you regain your two hand grip on the pistol. One of the many things I like about the CZ 75 platform is the prominent slide release lever, which is giant compared to the little sheetmetal nubs on the sides of most polymer pistols. This. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jroback Posted November 6, 2014 Share Posted November 6, 2014 Regarding the mag release on the Shadow, I am tantalizing close to consistently releasing the mag without adjusting my grip. Because of slight variations in the grip I get on the draw, sometimes I can push the button without shifting my grip and other times I can't because my thumb is just catching the edge of the button. I may try the thinner grips to see if they make a difference. Alternatively, I was wondering whether anyone has tried to lighten the mag retention spring so that it takes less force to release the mag? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daves_not_here Posted November 6, 2014 Share Posted November 6, 2014 ... I was wondering whether anyone has tried to lighten the mag retention spring so that it takes less force to release the mag? I think a lighter mag release spring is not a good idea. For some there is a problem of the fingers or the palm inadvertently releasing the mag. I've used to do it and continue to see this happen to others at matches. I think it has something to do with the buzzer... A bigger mag release button might something to look into. Regardless of the time it takes to shift the grip it takes longer to get the next magazine up to the gun. Re-establishing full-firing grip with both hands happens during the punch out after the reload for me. I've found slide release with the thumb of the strong hand or support hand just as fast. Glock's extended slide release I prefer the strong hand thumb. Shadows the support hand thumb. DNH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Moneypenny Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 I have always had to rotate the gun slightly to hit the mag release. i hit the mag release then put my thumb on top of the slide release on my M&P and on glocks. if it's a 1911 i hit it with my weakhand thumb, takes a millisecond longer but much more consistent for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowdyb Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 slamming the mag to autoforward the slide is like slamming your car door to lock it because it worked a few times before. there is a designed part of the gun made to do this. you should use it, as they say 'hope isn't a plan'. you can do as mentioned above and blend the grip rotation into the other things you do during a slide lock reload. to put a real number on it, i can do slide lock reloads in idpa gear in 1.70 seconds shot to shot very reliably. and i have to rotate the gun in my hand to activate the slide release. (sp01 shadow with thin vz grips) thankfully, this is something you can practice at home for free and if diligent be very proficient pretty quickly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butterpuc Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 I have both the M&P Pro and the Glock 34 Gen4, and I have small hands. I prefer the trigger finger mag release on both pistols and the M&P is easier to manipulate over the Gen4. They are both about equally the same when using the thumb to manipulate the mag release. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blinck27 Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 I have a 34 and a smaller grip and it seems a long reach for me. I'll try the back strap removal and let you know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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