I’ve watched a lot of people manipulate semi-automatic handguns. When having to perform a manipulation that involves working the slide (e.g. unloading the gun), I see something that doesn’t work too well.

People flip the gun to the left.

This does assume a right-handed shooter, but it’s more about how the gun is made. Look where the ejection port is. Semi-automatic pistols eject on the right side of the gun (relative to the muzzle as the front). So if you flip the pistol to the left, where is the ejection port? Facing up at the sky. What’s the problem with this? Gravity works against you. The round/case to be ejected may not fly up and out of the gun… it might remain in the gun, if you’re unloading and have removed the magazine it may drop down the magazine… all sorts of issues. I’ve seen more than enough “fumbles” due to tilting to the left. Whether you’re shooting in competition or to save your life, can you afford a fumble?

What should you do? Tilt to the right. Now where is the ejection port? Facing down. Why is this good? Gravity works in your favor. What does it also do? It points the magazine well towards your left hand, which may be bringing up a fresh magazine for a reload. If you’re going to be reloading sure, you could tilt to the right, but you’ll have to tilt to the left for the reload… why add the wasted motion of tilting to the left? No advantage. Again, left-handed shooters have a slightly different set of issues to deal with, so they’ll have to adjust accordingly.

So why do people flip to the left? Some that I’ve seen do it because they feel they can operate the slide more effectively with a left flip. Most of those that I’ve seen do this are using the slingshot method of manipulating the slide. This is yet another reason to move to an “overhand grip” method of working the slide. Kathy Jackson has a great set of pictures and explanation on how to rack a slide. In fact, notice in her first picture on the slingshot technique what happens? Tilt to the left, ejection port up.

The simpler we can make things, the better. The fewer movements we have to memorize and condition ourselves to, the better. Tilt to the right, manipulate the slide with an overhand grip. These basic motions will apply to many things that you do with a semi-automatic handgun. Keep it simple and go with them.