Too old and weak to rack the slide

I agree with others on using the strongest technique, and physical therapy.

If that doesn't work have you tried some skateboard tape?

Or rack the slide on the edge of a table? Granted, they won't let you do that at the range. And it breaks plastic sights.

I picked up a used Glock that had one of these. It's my boat gun now- even with my hands wet, it's easy to rack.

1000006572.jpg
 
One coach advised people who could only manage a single action revolver - or any revolver shot double action - what to do if they found themselves at full cock but the threat had abated.
PUT IT DOWN.
Ttying to decock a revolver while under stress can lead to inadvertent shots. I know of a couple of cases here.
 
To OP I totally understand where You are. Health issues and sometimes side effects from meds causes problems exercise can't fix. You can't exercise when you can't make a fist, hold on to a coin, pencil etc to pick it up. Side effects from some things stays with you for a while. Crippling arthritis in your joints sucks regardless of how you get it. As to your question about 44 or 45 revolver, Charter makes a 44 special in 5 shot. Owned several over the years, never had a problem. Shortened 3" barrel to 2" on one had sight put back on. Great gun, carried for years. Taurus made Trackers in 45 but dropped them. I have one in 3", was 4" had ports cut off and new front sight. The best advice I received when this started was get to know your MAKER. Pray often. Determination overcomes frustration. Everyday I learned it may not be big but do something you couldn't. When I got out of that wheelchair, cried tears of joy and gave thanks. I'm walking, hands are not perfect but use them all day everyday. You can do anything you can believe for and refuse to quit till you have it. Start small and work up. Bless You Sir. If I'm in violation for anything I wrote ban me.
 
Miami_JBT said:
Push the frame instead of pull the slide.
Click to expand...

Both at the same time; that is how the IDF teaches how to charge an automatic pistol.
When they were formed, they had pistols from all over the world, with varying degrees of difficulty in charging, as well as female recruits. Actually, I'd bet that training predates the IDF, it probably started with the Haganah.
 
From someone with Psoriatic arthritis in my fingers: Firearms today in order of ease-of-operation:
#1. Ruger LCP II Lite Rack 22 LR. If you cannot rack this pistol or operate its trigger, then there is no other firearm you could fully operate. Note that Ruger also has a Lite Rack 380.
#2. Smith&Wesson EZ 380. The only concern is whether the person can grip the gun tightly enough to operate the grip safety.
#3. Smith&Wesson EZ 9mm. The slide has a little more resistance than the EZ 380.
#4. The Ruger SR 22. Note that some SR 22s have slides that provide resistance similar to the Lite Rack 22LR and very light trigger pulls but it varies by individual gun.

Some modern Taurus revolvers have an easy enough to pull double action trigger, but you have to try each one.

Visit a gun show to compare all of these options.
 
My wife carried a j frame 38 for 50 years but the recoil became too painful.She went through Ruger, Kahr 9mms and 380s but slide racking was problematic.
She liked the feel of my P365.
We went to the local gun store and she tried the P365 380 acp.
She racked the slide with ease and said I’ll take it!

She has been to the range and out shooting cow turds and rocks in the pasture and really is pleased with her new gun.
 
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A friend wanted a bonafide vest pocket pistol. I let him shoot my P32 but said he would do better with a small .380. He agreed and bought a Glock 42 out of the store's selection. I don't remember which it was, but he gave one gun a yank, looked at it, and yanked it HARD. He had no trouble with the others, I guess his karate keeps his hands in shape.
 
I have been carrying a 44 special Charter Arms till my wife decided it was hers. That was over 40 years ago. I picked up a 2nd CA for myself. When I came across a Rossi 720 5 shot 44 3” that became my personal gun.
My wife shoots her 44 quite well, and at 77 it’s still her gun.
I’ve gotten into J frame Smiths about 10 years ago. The J frame 357 with a 2 inch barrel is a handful, but 38 plus P are the standard diet.
I’m a revolver guy so my experience with bottom feeders is limited. But for personal care recently I’ve picked up an Sig 365 XL. I like it. Small, thin, 10 shot or 12 shot magazines.
But around the homestead I carry a 3” SP101 in 357. Fits great in my back pocket.
So my preference is the revolver, but, the Sig may become my town carry gun. I’m am currently looking for the Sig P365 which is a bit smaller than the XL model.
 
toivo said:
If you're OK with .380, the SIG P238 is very easy to rack.
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honestly and respectfully i dunno about that. i had a sig p238. there isn’t much to get a grip on to rack, and no forward serrations, which are easier for me to rack. i replaced it with a slightly larger s&w ez 380ez, which is easy in all respects (loading, racking, cleaning, recoil, all of which come into play with hand issues).

a 38sp steel sa/da snubbie revolver with fuller aftermarket grips, loaded with softer wadcutter ammo, gets my nod for protection.

age and infirmity make rimfire sidearms very attractive. my ruger sr22 pistol is reliable, easy, handy. after 20,000+ rounds through two, soda can targets up to 30’ are d.r.t. practice is fun and cheap. if it absolutely must come to it, a bunch of 22lr minimag double taps to the breadbasket will give enough pause for me to egress from whatever dangerous threat that i am likely to face in my obscure life. rimfire revolvers say single-action to me for a reasonable trigger pull weight.
 
jstert said:
honestly and respectfully i dunno about that. i had a sig p238. there isn’t much to get a grip on to rack, and no forward serrations, which are easier for me to rack. i replaced it with a slightly larger s&w ez 380ez, which is easy in all respects (loading, racking, cleaning, recoil, all of which come into play with hand issues).
Click to expand...
I guess everybody's different. I'm 71 years old with some arthritis in my hands, and I can rack the P238 just by grabbing the back of the slide between my finger and thumb. It's actually one of the easiest-racking pistols I have, although I have to admit I haven't tried the S&W EZ.
 
I saw this quite a few years ago.



Colt 1911 .45 Muzzle Brake Compensator - YouTube



Wish I could find them now. My elder brother and my eldest cousin are both having trouble with the 1911.

Kevin
 
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I have rear sights on many of my autos that allow one handed racking, ie tables and belts. That said I do like the S&W 696 5 shot 44 Special L frame.
 
StrawHat said:
I saw this ...

Kevin
Click to expand...
You and your revolvers in .45 Auto have always inspired me. Forum member @S&Wfan is another that used to regularly post pictures of a very cool Model 25-2 ( https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/9mm-45-acp-revolver-options.785791/page-2#post-9993235 ) that made me want to go down the .45 Auto revolver route.

Getting old and not having to pick up brass seems really appealing. However, after imagining the bliss of this path, I'd always head down to the local gun shop and pick up an S&W N-Frame and quickly realize my hand size and the trigger reach on an N-Frame really isn't going to allow me enough leverage to comfortably pull that DA trigger on a regular basis.

I really like the .45 Auto round more than I like the 1911, but I stay with the 1911 because the grip and trigger fit me better than just about anything I've found chambered in the round. Slide racking may become an issue in the future, but right now with cocking the hammer it makes racking the slide pretty easy.
 
JTQ said:
You and your revolvers in .45 Auto have always inspired me. Forum member @S&Wfan is another that used to regularly post pictures of a very cool Model 25-2 ( https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/9mm-45-acp-revolver-options.785791/page-2#post-9993235 ) that made me want to go down the .45 Auto revolver route.

Getting old and not having to pick up brass seems really appealing. However, after imagining the bliss of this path, I'd always head down to the local gun shop and pick up an S&W N-Frame and quickly realize my hand size and the trigger reach on an N-Frame really isn't going to allow me enough leverage to comfortably pull that DA trigger on a regular basis.

I really like the .45 Auto round more than I like the 1911, but I stay with the 1911 because the grip and trigger fit me better than just about anything I've found chambered in the round. Slide racking may become an issue in the future, but right now with cocking the hammer it makes racking the slide pretty easy.
Click to expand...
Thank you.

The N frame can have the grip frame reworked smaller. Not sure how much that would improve the reach from backstrap to trigger but it might be something to consider.

This is my 4.25” Model 25-2 with a rounded gripframe.

IMG_4095.jpeg

IMG_4096.jpeg


This is that same revolver with a pair of rb K frame Magnas.

IMG_2414.jpeg

IMG_2415.jpeg

IMG_5938.jpeg

As you can see, they fit well. If you were nearby, you could try it out.

And, yes, S&Wfan’s revolver is very cool. Too short for my taste but cool, nonetheless.

Kevin
 
StrawHat said:
Colt 1911 .45 Muzzle Brake Compensator
Click to expand...
I have one sort of like this but cannot find where to buy one today.
I only used it to make my Ace .22 fit the holster for my real comp gun.
I will check to see if it is long enough to charge the gun by poking it against the wall or a boot heel.

1743110079541.png
 
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