Glock + Arthritis=Hard time

[Grandpa Shooter]

Haven't used either of my Glock pistols in awhile (not since athritis started in my hands). Tried to break one down earlier today and had a ***** of a time getting the slide releases to work. Do they make extensions for guys like me so I can get a hold of the releases, or is there a tool for the job. Used to not think anything about it before. Sure am glad I hung onto my revolvers.

 

[AtticusThraxx]

Take a look at this site sir, may be able to help:

http://www.parts.cc/glock/Parts_Acc/partsservice.htm

 

[Crunker1337]

Man that does stink...

Does it hurt to shoot it? If so, then you may consider an Advantage Arms .22LR conversion kit.

Sorry, but I don't really know much about the topic at hand..

 

[[email protected]]

Would you like to sale them?

 

[brashboy]

My Dad gets arthritis flare-ups and at those times he takes Yin Chaio Classic, a Chinese herbal supplement which is available a lot of places. I think Dr. Shen's website has it, and it is commonly available in good health food or supplement stores, but probably not GNC. He gets amazing results with it.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I do find that I have to bend my thumb and forefinger quite sharply to get my fingernails into and pull down the slide lock tabs. I can see how that would be difficult for someone with arthritis. Unfortunately, I don't know of any extended slide locks. Also, if the tab protrudes beyond the frame, it could be moved when the gun is holstered.

I can think of a couple of possible solutions. There is a little bit of room -- not much -- to play with the width of the slide lock without its protruding beyond the frame recesses. A good gunsmith, machinist or other metal fabricator might be able to make one, perhaps with coarser serrations. Also, being only plastic, the recesses can be widened and flattened out a little bit -- again, not much. Or, devise a tool to reach up under the frame and pinch and grasp the serrations. A normal plier, even a needle-nose, is not going to work, as it will contact the bottom of the frame and not touch the slide lock. I have a plier used to remove the push pins that hold splash shields and other trim parts on a car that might work. Let me get it tomorrow and try it out on my own Glock, and I will get back to you.

 

[chipperi]

I just tried it for fun... try dissembling in the normal fashion with one hand holding the slide slightly back, but instead of pulling down on the lock from underneath, push down from above. Feels to me like you can get a better grip and and instead of pulling on your aching joints you will be pushing...not as much stress.

 

[denfoote]

I don't have arthritis in my hands...yet... and I sometimes find it hard to manipulate that little catch!!!

Glock screwed up on that one!!

 

[Jim Watson]

There is such a thing as an extended slide lock to make disassembly easier:

Glockmeister Extended Slide Lock
[GMEXTSL] $10.00

We now offer an extended slide lock that will aid in the field striping of the Glock. This custom part is 3mm longer than the original slide lock making it much easier to release the slide. Good for all models.

http://glockmeister.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/14/products_id/209

 

[S&Wfan]

Sorry to hear of your troubles! I'm afraid they happen to most of us over time.

Here's one solution that won't give you all that trouble . . . with a side benefit of not having to bend over and police brass anymore that's been flung to the high heavens!

 

[Grandpa Shooter]

Jim Watson

Thank you for the link. I checked it out and then disassembled one of my Glocks (only took me about 5 minutes). Tried seeing how the unit you recommended would replace the slide lock in my gun. Can't see how to get the original out. Is the unit you linked me to an exterior add-on?

Thanks for your help.

Woodstock

I think my 23 yr old Son would say, "over my dead body!"

Brashboy

Thanks for the tip, I'll check it out!

 

[Kor]

Grandpa Shooter,

Once you get the slide off, you can install that extended slide lock thusly:

- Press down on the slide lock spring(the thin silver leaf spring forward of the slide lock) with something thin like a 3/32" pin punch, screwdriver, back of a knife blade, tip of a ball-point pen, etc. The spring will disengage from a detent notch in the middle of the slide lock.

- Push the slide lock out to either side, or simply turn the frame to either side and allow the slide lock to fall out.

- Install the new extended slide lock lever from either side, making sure that you maintain the proper orientation of the part(the horizontal groove at the top of the part, opposite the thin detent groove for the lock spring, has to face AWAY from the muzzle), or else the slide will not stay on when you re-assemble the gun.

 

[Grandpa Shooter]

Thank you Gentlemen for taking my post seriously without any snide comments and lots of helpful suggestions. It is hard enough getting older and increasingly infirmed without any remarks like I get on other sites.

I believe I will order one for each of my Glocks, and my longtime shooting buddy wants one also.

Once again, thank you!

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Originally posted by Jim Watson:
There is such a thing as an extended slide lock to make disassembly easier:

Glockmeister Extended Slide Lock
[GMEXTSL] $10.00

:banghead: So obvious that I didn't think to look there.

If you obtain such a part, I also suggest obtaining a new spring, in case of "tweaking" the old one or if it has been fatigued. I had one break in my own gun. Unbeknownst to me, the slide lock fell out of the frame, I reloaded from slide lock, and the slide -- with the barrel and recoil spring still attached -- launched itself off the front of the frame.

 

[Grandpa Shooter]

The internet is a funny thing!

Went to the Glockmeister web site, signed up, and scrolled to the bottom of the page to discover their store is 30 minutes from where I am staying while I recuperate from surgery. Now that's service. Locating their store where an old man can get to it easily.

 

[Jim Watson]

Call 'em up. Maybe they will put it in for you.

 

[Soap]

Grandpa Shooter,

Do you ever have trouble releasing the slide by grabbing it then pulling it back? I no longer use the slide stop as a release since I re-taught myself to just slingshot it. Now I just keep the gun pointing forward, reach up with my off hand (thumb towards me, pinky closer to the front sight) and just slingshot it.

 

[Grandpa Shooter]

Went to Glockmeister. They put it in and showed me a simple way to manipulate the slide. It is not necessary to pull it back as far as the book says. It only requires about a half inch of movement, and with the extended releases I can put the meat of my fingers on it and it slips apart.

They say it was invented for Ladies who were breaking their nails trying to take one down. I suggested they list them under adaptive equipment for Seniors or other limited dexterity shooters. Hope they do!

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

That push pin plier does work, BTW.

http://www.tooltopia.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=10237

 

[Crunker1337]

Let us know how it works out for you Gramps.

This is just me being curious, but what GLOCKs do you have and what do you use 'em for?

 

[Grandpa Shooter]

Let us know how it works out for you Gramps.

This is just me being curious, but what GLOCKs do you have and what do you use 'em for?

Already installed them and they work great. I have two auto-pistols and I use them for shooting!








Sorry, but I couldn't resist.

 

[REPOMAN]

Gramps

Happy shooting....Long live the smart generation....

 

[possum]

Haven't used either of my Glock pistols in awhile (not since athritis started in my hands). Tried to break one down earlier today and had a ***** of a time getting the slide releases to work. Do they make extensions for guys like me so I can get a hold of the releases, or is there a tool for the job. Used to not think anything about it before. Sure am glad I hung onto my revolvers.

sorry to hear that sir, i would reccomend a ported model maybe that would help out the situatuion? also i would suggest instead of using the slide release, try using your hand to release the slide? grab the back of the slide, pull back a little and release. i do that all the time and that is a tecnique that is being taught at many trainning courses, i recently took to that tecnique and i like it. it is especially helpfur guns that i can't reach the slide relase that well and it puts reloading all semi auto handguns on the same page in regards to reloading.

 

[Haycreek]

Glock + Arthritis = hard time

I know what you mean. For a while I thought that I would abandon all semi autos. my hands hurt so much that I couldn't open a ketchup bottle, much less work the slide or disassymble pistols or load mags. It came on me all at once, now I take tylenol and celebrex at different times and wear brass bracelets. I don't like them, but they help. I have hardly any problems with arthriis now. I went so far as obtaining lighter recoil springs and handloading "lighter loads" Happily, For a while I went to revolvers and .22 autos. I am back to full loads and 44 mags today !