** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Gallery
1 of 1
Tap
Hit the bottom of the magazine against a hard object, such as a table, the ground or yourself to ensure the magazine is fully seated.
1 of 1
Rack
Hook the rear sight against the edge of a hard object, such as table or wall corner to rack the slide. Be sure to push hard to ensure the slide goes all the way back.
1 of 1
Holster
You can also rack the slide by hooking the rear sight against your holster and pushing down with a high degree of force. This is my favorite way to conduct this exercise since I’m always wearing a holster.
Despite the incredible array of polymer-frame, striker-fired, semi-automatic handguns on the market, the classic revolver not only refuses to die, it has seen something of a resurgence in recent years.
For 2026, the semi-automatic shotgun market has seen even more growth, with some manufacturers expanding their current offerings and other makers entering the marketplace with novel designs.
For the past 100 years, the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute (SAAMI) has established the standards that ensure our safety when using modern shotshells, cartridges, firearms and more.