RACKING and RECOILUpdated 4 days ago

Do I Need to Rack the Slide Every Time?

The need to rack or charge your firearm after each use of a laser bullet depends on the type of firearm you are using and its action type:

1. Double Action Pistols: For double action pistols, you generally don’t need to rack the slide after each shot. These firearms do not rely on a semi-automatic slide action, and you can typically fire the laser bullet in these revolvers without any additional steps. Simply cock the hammer and pull the trigger for double action.
2. Semi-Automatic Pistols (e.g., Glock or 1911): If you use a semi-automatic pistol like a Glock or 1911, or a single action pistol, you will typically need to rack or charge the slide before each shot. Since these pistols rely on cycling the slide to chamber a new round, there won’t be an actual explosion or ejection of a spent cartridge case when dry firing, so manually cycling the slide is necessary to reset the trigger and prepare the firearm for the next shot.

In summary, the action type of your firearm determines whether you need to rack or charge the firearm after each use of the laser bullet. Double action pistols do not require this, while single action and semi-automatic pistols do. Always follow safety procedures and guidelines for your specific firearm when using laser bullets or for any dry-fire training.

The Impact of Lack of Recoil

It’s important to clarify that practicing with Strikeman, which simulates shooting without recoil, can help you improve certain aspects of your shooting technique; it may not fully prepare you for the experience of live ammunition with recoil.

Recoil affects shooting accuracy, and re-acquiring your target after each shot is a crucial skill to develop for live-fire situations. While it’s true that the bullet has left the chamber before significant recoil occurs, the physical effects of recoil, including the movement of the gun and the need to re-stabilize your aim, can still impact accuracy.

Practicing with recoil simulation tools can be beneficial for refining basic shooting fundamentals such as grip, stance, and trigger control. However, it would be best if you transitioned to live-fire exercises to fully understand and adapt to the effect of recoil on your shooting performance.

Re-racking a firearm or manually cycling the action is a different aspect of shooting mechanics than recoil. While it requires re-aiming, it doesn’t replicate the dynamic and physical effects of recoil that shooters experience with live ammunition.

In summary, while Strikeman can be helpful in certain aspects of skill development, it should complement, not replace, live-fire training to ensure you are well-prepared for the full range of conditions you may encounter in real shooting scenarios.