Easiest Slide

[wombat13]

My wife struggles to pull the DA trigger on snub-nose revolvers and could not rack the slide on my XD45, but she could shoot the XD45 just fine. She got instruction when she first got her pistol permit and could operate his G19 just fine.

Just like the OP is trying to do, I put together a list of easy to rack semi-autos (based on the responses in this thread and one on XDtalk.com). I wanted her to get something that was small enough that she could carry it if she really wants to but big enough that it won't be uncomfortable to shoot. I also wanted her to get a handgun with passive safeties only (she will never train enough to commit disengaging the safety to muscle memory). My list was:

Beretta PX4, G19 or G26, Kahr PM9 or CW9, S&W M&P9C, Springfield XD9sc, Walther PPS or P99. We went to the LGS this morning and she handled the G19, G26, M&P9C and the PPS. She could operate all of them and liked them all, but she really liked the M&P9C. We'll pick it up tomorrow.

 

[Mudinyeri]

Picked up a Kel-Tec PF9 yesterday. My wife can rack the slide and likes how it feels in her hand. Headed to the range on Thursday to try it out.

 

[mljdeckard]

I started a similar thread the other day.

I have always been in the camp that says any able-bodied adult can rack a slide. It's just a matter of getting used to it.

However, I have found that my mother, who is over 65, and had an injury to her left wrist a few years ago, just can't do it on anything bigger than a .22. I'm picking through options to see what she can handle, but the long and short of it is, she will have to learn to handle either the pull of a DA revolver or the spring of an auto slide. I have been (against my will) training my female soldiers to shoot M-9s lately, and the truth is, they DO have a remarkably easy rack, but they are terrible for people with small hands. My soldiers were mostly using the weak hand to work the safety.

when I arrive at a workable solution I will post it.

 

[Steve in Allentown]

Tell her not to pull the slide back.

Instead, tell her to hold onto the slide while pushing the frame forward.

I know it sounds a little odd but give it a try.

- - - - - - - - - -

IMHO, a full size Government Model 1911 has got to be one of the easiest autos to rack the slide on. Chambered in .38 Super, it's a soft recoiling pistol.

 

[makarovnik]

How about a cute little .22lr semi-auto pistol?

 

[mljdeckard]

steve, she can't do that either because of her injury.

 

[JDGray]

By far the easiest slide to rack is on a Ruger P345, that I personaly have racked. I have to agree with the others on learning to rack by holding the slide, and pushing the frame forward

 

[wombat13]

trolling deleted- John

I know I may be new around here compared to many others, but someone needs to call you on this. Your tone is not consistent with this forum. Maybe it is typical to ridicule other posters on forums like Glock Talk, but it isn't at the High Road. You need to be more respectful.

 

[Greg528iT]

wombat13

Thank you. I am also relatively new, and have been trying to take The High Road. I am tired of critical and non productive posts.

 

[ricebasher302]

Walther PK-380. Try it.

 

[IlikeSA]

Not a suggestion for a gun, but why not load it and cock it for her, and then tell her not to unload it. I keep all of my pistols loaded so I never have to worry about a loading error, or weakening the spring, as well as knowing they are ready to go if needed. There is no reason to unload a gun unless it is not on your person and there are small children (or stupid adults) around.

 

[JShirley]

Folks, if there's an issue, please alert staff by hitting the alert (exclamation triangle) icon in the lower left corner of the post. Please do NOT reply to trolling remarks in kind.

Several of the posts in this thread have been edited or removed. Let's keep the High Road from here on out.

Incidentally- since it's unfortunately apparently not obvious- claiming any popular and well-used handgun platform is absolute junk is pure trolling, and subject to disciplinary action. If the platform in question is commonly used by some of the most elite units and shooters alive, it also may make the poster look dreadfully ill-informed or just plain lacking in reasoning power.

John

 

[mljdeckard]

IlikeSA-

That solves the loading problem, but not the malfunction clearing problem. It may ultimately be something to consider however.

I have just spent a week training my female soldiers that they need to know how to load, clear, rack, etc, with either hand, one handed, etc. I don't want to now tell my mom that it's ok to carry if she can't perform all of the basic functions of the pistol.

 

[Steve in Allentown]

steve, she can't do that either because of her injury.

I don't know if Beretta still makes it but once upon a time they made a very nice .380 that had a tip-up barrel. All you had to do to load it was flip a lever that would allow the chamber end of the barrel to rotate up allowing an easy, drop in, insertion of a loaded round into the chamber. Then you'd push the barrel down until it locked and you were ready to rock. No worrying about pulling back the slide since there was no need to.

 

[mljdeckard]

It's the 86. I have been looking at it.