For new owners - what helped me

[zeroability]

@Craig_AR

(2) When releasing the slide on an empty gun, no round in a magazine or no magazine, always hold the slide and ease it back into position. This reduces possibility of damaging the gun from the impact without a round as part of the mechanism.

I think it’s easier to stick with #1 regardless of the state of the firearm. That way, you don’t have a separate procedure that can be confused later. KISS.