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Unload the pistol by removing the magazine and racking the slide manually a minimum of 3 times. Make sure that the pistol is pointed in a safe direction and that you keep your finger OFF the trigger.

Confirm that the pistol is unloaded by visually inspecting the chamber and the magazine well.

After confirming that the pistol is unloaded (more than once), point the pistol in a safe direction and pull the trigger.

There are several ways to perform this step, select the way that works best for you. Below, I have described the two easiest. All directions below are written for a right-handed person, reverse if you are left-handed.

With your right hand, grasp the pistol by placing your fingers over the slide (from the right side) at the rear of the pistol. Your thumb then wraps around the top of the grip. (Figure A) Exert forward pressure with your thumb, causing the slide to retract slightly. Do not move the slide more than (approximately) 1/10th inch/2.5mm. If you pull the slide back far enough to reset the trigger, you have gone too far. Go back to Step 3. Bring your left hand under the pistol (thumb on left side, fingers on right side) and using your thumb and index finger pull down and hold both sides of the slide lock. (Figure B) Release your right hand. The slide can now be slid off the front of the receiver.

Grasp the pistol in your right hand, holding it as you would to shoot. Finger remains off the trigger. Place the muzzle against a hard, flat surface. Push down on the pistol. Bring your left hand under the pistol (thumb on left side, fingers on right side) and using your thumb and index finger pull down and hold both sides of the slide lock. Release the pressure exerted by your right hand. The slide can now be slid off the front of the receiver.

Push the recoil spring guide ( located in the slide) forward and up. You do not need to use a great deal of force to accomplish this step. Caution: If your pistol is equipped with a non-captive recoil spring, be careful to not let the recoil spring guide loose until the spring tension is lessened.

Grasp the barrel lug and pull up and back, removing the barrel from the slide.

The pistol is now field stripped and ready for cleaning. This is as far as the pistol was designed to be field stripped.