For me, it depends on the gun I am using. My 1911 has a pretty standard slide release, so I would have a problem getting to it. So for that gun, I use power stroke like when I first load up an empty gun to reinforce repetition. For my XDM, the slide release is big and positioned closer to your thumb and you can easily press it down.

I like power stroke for consistency. Stovepipe/fail to fire/fail to eject you rack for all. So reload i rack. Same motion for multiple occurences. Also guns with a tiny slide stop like sig and glock under stress would be very difficult to actuate. And racking works with any gun out there, no need to change muscle memory to different locations.

I watched a lot of Magpul vids after I had some proper training, so I had all those techniques in my head

I carry a Springfield ultra compact v10 45acp in a right-hand-draw leather blackhawk inside the pants holster and a Micro desert eagle .380acp in a left-hand-draw leather inside the pants made by Don Hume, both in which are very comfortable with easy excess and they are both molded for their guns. Then sometimes i carry a glock 19 in a Galco summer comfort holster in which i also really really love and that one is a right-hand-draw.

Glock 21 in a Tagua IWB right hand holster. Carry it right behind my hip bone so my "love handles" help to cover it.

An XL t-shirt or untuck button down covers it just fine.

For more casual wear, I just got a 642 froma buddy that I'm experimenting with for pocket carry.

So who carries spare mags? I usually have 2 spare 19 round mags for my compact at my side.

I carry a spare mag for my primary right hand draw like a 7rd for my Compact 1911 and a 15rd for the glock 19, but no extra mags for the left hand Micro eagle...mostly because its not a reload kind of gun and would only really be practical for two shot use my left

Ever thought about getting the 2 round extension for the Glock or an 8 rd mag for the 1911?

Nah. I figure if 14 rounds of .45 ACP doesn't stop the fight, plus a possible 5 rounds of .38 SPL, I should have just stayed home.

I have the wilson 8rd compact mag for inside the 1911 but my spare is a springfield made 7rd...and no to the glock extension because i like how easy it is to conceal as is