Can't rack the slide....

Status
Not open for further replies.
Mastrogiacomo

Mastrogiacomo

Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2002
Messages
2,414
Location
Boston
Just brought home my new Beretta 92FS. I already have two compacts and love the gun but it was hard to rack the slide in the shop. I noticed oil on the mag so maybe they were lubbing it there....I figured. I got home and took the gun apart to clean it. Putting it back was a pain and I was tempted to check my compacts but then I figured, I already know how to do this. Still, I checked the guide book -- which could be clearer. It's back together but I worried about bending the spring. It's still tough as nails to rack this slide and my compacts were difficult too but not like this. Is it just me getting used to a full size gun? Putting the guide rod and spring back in place was a chore but when I rack it now, I wonder if I put it back wrong. I've checked it again but it seems fine. So...is it me? Will it loosen when I use it and clean it more?
 
Try comparing your Berettas slide friction with the recoil spring removed. 92s typically slide pretty smoothly. Also, the compact and full size slides should probably interchange, if you want to see which piece might be out of spec.
 
My compacts are a type M so I'm not sure it'd work. I'm actually thinking of swing by a gun store tomorrow just to have them see if I did this right. I just broke a nail trying it again. I wonder, does it just need "breaking in?"
 
Nail? How long are your nails?

Anyway IME the Beretta slides are buttery smooth, but the dingus on the slide makes it hard to grab. What you end up doing is grab with the meaty base of your thumb on your palm and your fingertips...if you have fingernails you won't have much contact with the slide, making it seem harder to grab.

btw You're not doing the pinchey pulley slide rack are you?

Have you tried cocking the hammer then racking it?
 
M,

DO NOT fire this gun until you have some sort of warm fuzzy why it feels that way. A minor part out of place can create a huge amount of damage when forced by bullet recoil.

I have always racked these by grabbing the decock levers and pulling.

Have you tried playing with it one part at a time? First, just the slide, then slide and barrel, etc?


FYI, I had thought the only functional difference between the M and FS frames were the mag well and attendant parts.
 
Beretta 92's are a piece of cake to rack the slide on even with the hammer down. I don't get it...take it back to the gunstore and see what they say.
 
Something sounds wrong. Out of my (8) handguns, my 96 is the smoothest racking handgun I own, even after I installed an extra power (15lb) recoil spring.
 
My 92 is so easy to rack I grab the front of the slide where it "scallops" in just behind the muzzle from underneath and rack it no sweat.

BTW: I am not trying to show off, it has a scope mount which overlays the slide and it's the only way you can rack it. Do keep your fingers away from the muzzle if you do it.
 
my 92fs

is brand new and is a breeze to rack the slide. I had little difficulty when taking down the slide and replacing all said parts (spring, guide rod etc). I have little experience with firearms as this is my first experience but I would not hesitate to stop by the local shop and discuss. I would not fire the weapon until somebody has a chance to inspect.
 
I don't have experience with that model, but I had a friend bring a Ruger to me that he couldn't rack. After taking it apart, he mentioned that he had not cleaned the gun in more than a year. We oiled the slide and it seemed to move a little easier and I showed him how and why to regularly oil the slide.

If it's mechanically sound and still difficult for you, I recommend that you oil the slide frequently.
 
Berettas are among the easiest autos to field strip and assemble. Are you making sure to remove the mag? Is there anything that's preventing the rearward travel of the slide? Are you racking the slide with a loaded mag inserted?

If it seems to hard to rack the slide I'd take it back.
 
I don't own a Beretta 92, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express. And I have handled a bunch of Beretta's and Taurus's and I have never had a problem racking the slide, hammer cocked or down. Sounds like something is binding really badly.
 
Mastrogiacomo,

I'm not sure what method you are using, but (if you haven't already) try this:

Grip the unloaded (no magazine either) pistol in your shooting hand (finger off the trigger).

Pointing it in a safe direction, place your other hand on top of the rear of the slide so that your hand rests on top of the pistol with your thumb pointing - and this is the key - toward your other hand.

Grip the slide between your thumb and other fingers, and push both hands toward each other. This will allow you to use the strength of both arms to operate the slide, and because you are gripping the slide with the web of your hand between thumb and forefinger, it will give you a better grip.

Practice until you feel you have mastered it before doing it with a loaded gun. You will want to do it that way because that type of slide operation requires some practice to assure proper muzzle control. You always want the gun pointed in a safe direction no matter what. Finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.

Let me know if this helps.
 
Here's a Plan:

Get some of the "Skateboard Tape" that sticks on and has a scratchy surface on top and put strips along the sides of the slide just ahead of the serrations (cut slots) at the rear. That will give your thumb and fingers something to grab onto as you pull it to the rear. FYI: Brownells.com sells it and I think they call it "Grip Tape". I have some on the front of my slide because I have to rack it from the nose ahead of the scope mount. It works great for gripping.
 
Someone from the Beretta forum will be sending me a spring that I hope will help this better. I put more oil for the safety level as it was a little tough. I think the whole probably is maybe the gun is too new and needs to be lubbed and broken in. I did what everyone suggests and cocked the gun and racked the slide. It was much easier...does that mean the spring is likely the problem? I'm hoping I can afford to send this to Ernest Langdon soon for a Level II trigger job and night sights. :)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

N
  • Locked
Is there aftermarket guide rod for Springfield XD
Replies
6
Views
511
TG13
T
H
  • Locked
Wife can't rack the slide
Replies
20
Views
1K
The Lone Haranguer
T
D
  • Locked
Slide Racking
2
Replies
34
Views
2K
Deles136
D
N
  • Locked
CZ Compact (9mm steel) can not rack slide
Replies
17
Views
1K
NewGuy1911
N
D
  • Locked
  • Poll
Racking the slide hard vs. gently racking?
2
Replies
48
Views
7K
MICHAEL T
M
Back
Top