This question may have been answered here before, but I'm asking it again. After dropping the magazine and showing clear it has always been my understanding that the slide must be released and allow to go into battery. Today a shooter was gently putting the slide forward and was told that was perfectly ok. I interrupt the wording "allow the slide to go forward into battery" as Allow the slide to move under it's own power. Of course the wording "unimpeded" is used in regards to the trigger and not the slide.
So what's the correct procedure?
Below is copied from the WB handbook.
UNLOAD and SHOW CLEAR: this means remove any live rounds and the magazine if one is
inserted, and with the slide open hold the pistol so the official can see there is no magazine
inserted and the chamber is empty.
SLIDE DOWN: This means allow the slide to go forward to battery.
HAMMER DOWN: While the pistol is pointed in a safe direction pull the trigger allowing the
hammer to drop, unimpeded.
Thanks,
Tully