Too weak to rack slide?

[thump_rrr]

My question is which way is she using to grip the slide?
The 2 most common ways are:
1) the weak side thumb on the strong side as if it is being pinched between thumb and index finger.
2) The palm of the hand over top of the slide with the thumb on the weak side and all 4 fingers on the strong side.

#2 is much easier for a weak person or someone unfamiliar with autoloaders.

I was at a class just last week and a young man in his 20's totally unfamilliar with handguns had a hard time racking the slide on a 1911.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0EAZ_ry9ts&feature=related

 

[franco45]

I played with a Walther PK 380 the other day. I was a amazed at how easy it was to rack the slide. It is not a pocket sized 380 so I imagine the recoil is negligable. My nephew told me there was a man in his ccw class who had a hand injury who bought a Walther PK 380 because it was the only gun that he could rack the slide on.

 

[Naybor]

My wife has the same problem racking a slide, so she went with a Ruger SP101 wheelgun.
A lot of women have this problem, and probably some men with weak/hurt wrists.

I've been wondering if there is a way to maybe weld an eye on the back of a slide and make a small hooked gizmo sort of like a small hay hook where she/he could hook the eye and retract the slide? I know it would not be feasible in a firefight, but at least practice could be accomplished at the range. Any ideas? Might be a bad idea, but who knows?

 

[Ben86]

It sounds like she'd be better off with a 4" barreled .357 with .38+Ps. If she can only barely rack the slide she will likely get the first round jammed and not have the strength to clear it.

 

[Nushif]

I've never bought the problem of racking a slide when it comes to strength. (Unless there is some real medical condition.)
I've seen mothers pick up their 30 pound kids with no effort and hold up a massive shopping bag (with a bent wrist, by their fingers) at the same time and then complain they can't rack a slide. Personally, I think it's more an intimidation problem in most cases.
That's where I think there's more to be gained, rather than insisting women who have no problem with strength in daily life and who suddenly can't pull about twenty pounds (max) over three inches should just stick to revolvers.

 

[mljdeckard]

She was once that tough. Not anymore.

We shot the revolver, and the trigger was really heavy for her too. I don't think she could handle sustained practice.

 

[Ben86]

Maybe a revolver with a lightened trigger pull will do?

 

[Cemo]

Try a K frame S&W Revolver, Model's 10, 19, 64, 65, 66 are some of the model numbers. They have typically have light triggers. No longer in production, but plenty of used are available.

 

[twofifty]

Slide Racker

How about installing a slide racker like used on USPSA Open 1911-type guns?

 

[montess85]

The Walther PK380 is very easy to rack the slide on. I think Walther even mentions it having a low cocking pressure spring. Plus unlike the smaller 380 pocket pistols its a little bigger (About the size of a P22 and doesn't kick much more either) so its a lot more manageable, and it holds 8+1 instead of 6+1. I have one and I think for the money its a great pistol. Every female I let shoot it loves it. I have put just over 1000 rounds through mine with zero malfunctions. I use hornady critical defense for carry, but it seems to feed whatever I put through it. It weighs just over 19oz so its not to heavy to carry all day. With a Crossbread IWB holster its unnoticeable.

 

[p95]

Let your Mom pick out her own gun when she is ready.

 

[Thorgrim]

I'd recommend ... experimentation. For me, that's difficult as we have no ranges within 2-3 hours of here, hopefully for you and your Mom the situation is better.

I have rheumatoid arthritis, so I empathize. I don't care how much determination you have, the neural path between wrist and "it ain't gonna happen" does not go through the brain. Have any martial artist or well-trained LEO use a "submission" technique on you and you'll find out firsthand. Toughness has absolutely nothing to do with it, unless she wants to spend 30-40 years meditating in order to re-route those neural paths. I don't think that's workable for most of us.

There are so many possible combinations of cartridges and handguns out there somewhere that I hope your Mom can find a good one that suits her. She's cleared the most difficult hurdle - the willingness to learn and employ a defensive firearm. The rest is downhill, even though it may be a gradual slope.

 

[makarovnik]

Any Beretta with tip up barrel, a .25acp, .22LR or revolver should be fine for her.

 

[harmon rabb]

Easiest slide to rack of any semi-auto I have tried, by a country mile, is the walther pk380. If you can't rack that slide, you probably can't tie a shoelace, or pick up a toothbrush.