Sled catch
The slide catch is part of the pistol . If present, it catches the upper, movable part of the pistol, the slide (breech), in advance after cocking the weapon when the pistol magazine is empty. In this way, the unloaded state is displayed when the weapon is functioning normally.
In the case of automatic long guns, this device is known as the slide catch .
functionality
There are basically two types of sled catching.
- Slide catch on the magazine feeder
- Slide catch on the slide catch lever
The simpler construction is the slide catch on the magazine feeder. This design principle is often used on older models of pistols or small-caliber weapons. After the carriage has returned and the pistol has been cocked, the carriage runs with a nose or the bottom of the bolt on a corresponding rear surface of the magazine feeder. The slide is held in the open position of the shutter. If the magazine is removed, the slide will snap further forward due to the pressure of the slide spring and the slide will close. To then load the pistol, after inserting the magazine, it is necessary to make the weapon ready to fire with the through-loading movement (pulling the slide backwards and releasing it in the rear position). Malfunctions of the slide catch on the magazine feeder can often be observed when using older, much-used magazines, due to wear and tear and decreasing magazine spring tension.
The construction of the slide catch on the slide catch lever is somewhat more complex. In terms of design, the slide catch lever is usually still part of the locking control of the lock. This variant can be found in largely all modern, but above all large-caliber pistols. After the slide has returned and the pistol is cocked, the slide runs with a notch (cutout) onto an upwardly positioned nose of the slide catch lever. When the magazine is empty, the slide catch lever is pressed into the upper position by a corresponding surface on the magazine feeder. With this construction, the magazine can be removed without changing the breech. The slide is held in place by the locked slide catch lever. To get the pistol ready to fire, the full magazine is inserted and the slide catch lever is actuated to release the lock. The slide snaps forward, loads and locks the weapon. This way of getting a pistol ready to fire is considered to be the most reliable.
Security notice
Only the slide catch on the slide catch lever ensures that the pistol can be safely deposited in the "secured, unloaded, with open breech" status. In this state, the pistol is secured by manual or automatic safety devices, the magazine has been removed, the cartridge chamber has been emptied and the breech is in the open position. The pistol is stored with the ejector window facing up. Security personnel or the shooter himself is able to determine the condition of the weapon at a glance.
swell
- Technical information: TM 9-1005-211-12 (Department of the Army Technical Manual)
- Handling and safety: FM 23-35 (Department of the Army Field Manual)