For what it's worth, there is a "special" technique for slingshotting the slide of a Beretta or S&W 3rd Gen that prevents pushing the safeties downward and making the gun inert. When I learned it, the instructor called it "the L.A. claw," which I assumed meant it was from the LAPD who at one time had a lot of Berettas and 5906s in holsters.
Instead of grabbing the slide, you "hook" under the safety levers on each with your forefinger and middle finger of your support and use that to retract the slide and release. It does a pretty good job, but it's specific to guns with ambi safeties in that position on the slide.
I use the slide release for my 5906, 5904, and 3914 because they have 'em. When I have a pistol in my hands that has no external slide release or a vestigial memory of one (like a Glock), I rack the slide overhand to release it.
Instead of grabbing the slide, you "hook" under the safety levers on each with your forefinger and middle finger of your support and use that to retract the slide and release. It does a pretty good job, but it's specific to guns with ambi safeties in that position on the slide.
I use the slide release for my 5906, 5904, and 3914 because they have 'em. When I have a pistol in my hands that has no external slide release or a vestigial memory of one (like a Glock), I rack the slide overhand to release it.