You know reading through the archives and you obviously have a real thorn in your side about this topic.
I have a thorn in my side about people who say theirs is the only way and that other ways are not "valid:"
We agree that there are two schools of thought, how "valid" they are is up for debate.
I have a thorn in my side about people who make pseudo-technical assertions without any technical backup whatsoever.
Well I think the engineer in me would make the distinction based on mass participation. Of course the distinction between gross and fine is relative. Grabbing the slide you hand and forearm are moving. Pushing the slide release your thumb is moving. There is a large difference in the mass participation.
I'm an engineer, too. B.S., M.E., M.S. I work at a biotechnology lab at a major university. That doesn't give me the ability to make claims about the biomechanical and neurological processes involved, how they change under stress, and the impact of training upon such changes. Unless you can point me towards peer-reviewed journal articles, color me skeptical.
You do have a point about the trigger press, my only argument is muscle memory. Of course that would be the same argument you'd make for slide release. My only counter is that you do the trigger press at least 10-20x more often.
Do you think you can do a reload under pressure? That's a pretty complicated motion -- far more complicated than pushing down on the slide stop. And you only do it as many times as you close the slide, so the number of repetitions are the same. So, you think you can do a reload under pressure but not hit the slide stop? Why?
That's assuming that you can do it reliably. You say you can, I'm not so sure I can.
You appear to be implying that I can't do it reliably. I can. I have. I do. In IDPA competitions I see many other people do the same. Go to an IPSC match and watch the guys in limited 10. Proponents of the overhand method continue to make this assertion that "you won't be able to do it under pressure" but never offer up any evidence to support that assertion. Why people who don't use slide stop method and haven't trained in it feel free to assert that it doesn't work without offering any evidence simply baffles me.
While teaching classes I've seen my students have their hands slip off the slide, failing to retract it far enough to close the slide. Am I implying that you can't do the overhand technique reliably? Heck no. I'm sure you can. It simply takes practice and isn't particularly hard. Doing a tactical reload is far more difficult, IMNSHO.
I think the reason that many trainers only show one is to not confuse students who are already trying to absorb a lot of material.
I understand that time constraints in a class limit the techniques that can be taught. But during an NRA Basic Pistol class I still find the time to teach both techniques. IIRC, in a three-day Tactical Handgun 101 class Randy Cain taught three different ways of doing an tactical reload, all of which are more complicated than pushing down on the slide stop.
Most proponents of the overhand method justify it as being the "right" technique to use due to the "gross motor" bushwa. I don't think they are leaving it out due to time constraints.
Of course there are many ways to accomplish the same goal.
We agree on something, then.
The idea is to pick a reliable and efficient way to do it.
1/4 to 1/2 second slower is more efficient?
Personally I'd like to learn one way that works in as many situations as possible and is as reliable as possible. Rob Pincus is a big proponent of efficiency. In the short class I took at the NEShooters summit he showed some crazy draw technique to prove a point. You could come up with some crazy complicated technique but if it wasn't efficient it was a waste.
Let's compare the two techniques:
Slide stop method:
1. Insert magazine with support hand.
2. As support hand fingers reacquire the grip, the support thumb pushes down on the slide stop. Once support thumb leaves the slide stop, support thumb is in position for the thumb-forward grip.
Overhand method:
1. Insert magazine with support hand.
2. Support hand grabs slide.
3. Support hand drives the slide to the rear, following through strongly, with support hand coming to a stop near elbow or shoulder (depending upon trainer).
4. Support hand then reverses course and moves forward from elbow or shoulder to reacquire grip.
Which technique is more efficient? Which technique is less complicated? Which technique requires less movement of the support hand?
I'm familiar with and support economy of motion. Professional IPSC shooters are all about economy of motion -- that's how they win matches. Which technique do you think Robbie Leatham uses? I'm completely buffaloed that you seem to imply that the overhand method is more economical in movement than the slide stop method -- it isn't.
Gunsite is one of the major proponents of the overhand method. Do you think they are pushing it due to its economy of movement? Have you seen the Gunsite magazine change? It starts by tossing the gun in your hand so that it shifts the backstrap towards your index finger. It is the very antithesis of economy of motion (and one reason why I don't use it).
If you feel you are more reliable using the overhand method, great. It is a good technique.
If I was carrying a gun that had a small slide stop or poorly placed slide stop, then I might use the overhand method as well. I certainly understand why Sig teaches the overhand method, given the poor location and small size of the Sig slide stop. Recognize that the overhand method costs you 1/4 to 1/2 second on your reloads.
With a good sized, properly placed slide stop, the slide stop method is a good technique as well. Both techniques require practice.