User Mechanics Question

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junyo

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So my girlsfriend's been learning to shoot. Pretty good at it, heck uncanny really since she wasscared of firearms a few months ago and now she's kinda casual about calling a shot and consistently putting a bullet within an inch of it at 10 yards. And not real sensitive about recoil either, tried out some .357 snubnoses at the range and while I'm next to her getting a suntan from the muzzleflash all she remarked that they were "kind of jumpy".

But what's wierd is, while her favorite gun is my XD9, we were about to buy her a revolver because she just cannot rack the slide on the XD. She's not a weak little flower, but for the life of her, she can't get the slide on the XD more than halfway, and she's taken skin off trying.

Okay, I just picked up an old S&W 39-2 at an auction. Let her see it, and ***!? She's working the pistol like an action hero. The slide pull resistance doesn't seem a whole lot lighter than the XD, if at all (heck, it feels harder to me), so what gives? I always assumed it was some problem of body mechanics, but I see no difference in what she's doing. Can anybody even vaguely help me understand this?
 
One word- ergonomics. The gun 'fits' her better, and she's able to operate and shoot it better than your XD. The slide and frame fit her hand in such a way that everything 'lines up', and requires less perceived effort to operate.

If I were you, I'd write off that Smith as hers. ;) You won't be getting it back anytime soon.
 
The slide is a little thinner so more of her grip strength can go to racking the slide. Small hands recquire a thinner slide sometimes.
 
The XD doesn't have a safety. The only way to hang onto the slide while racking it is to pinch it.

The 39 has a slide-mounted safety. Assuming she is right-handed, I'd be willing to bet that she has her left-hand index finger curled around the front of the safety lever when she racks the slide. It's a lot easier that way.
 
If I had to guess I'd say with the XD she isn't getting the palm safety depressed all the way. I hate those safeties, they only belong on 1911s and at least with those they don't inhibit the operation of the slide. Springfield messed up on that design.
 
Probably the safety lever gives her a better gripping leverage on the slide . Its one of the reasons my wife went from using a Sig P230 to a Bersa 380 , carpal tunnel made chambering it too hard for her .
 
Have her try it with a leather glove on the hand racking the slide. If it works, maybe the issue is her grip strength in her fingers, or the slide serrations on the XD aren't sharp enough.

PAX does have some excellent info, especially for women shooters.

Best of luck
 
Thanks for the replies. I had seen Pax's site before, and tried some of the suggestions (tucking the slide hand into the body, and pushing with the grip hand) but they hadn't worked either. But the finger curled around the safety lever makes a lot of sense.

And I think you're right, it's probably her gun now. And since it's hers, I need to replace it. I guess I'll just have to buy that CZ Raimi I was looking at, sigh, the sacrifices you have to make for your woman.
 
slide

to rack the slide, has she tried cupping her weak hand and, thumb pointed toward her body ,grasping the slide ( without placing any part of her hand in front of the muzzle). now, she has the slide by 4 fingers on 1 side & thumb to the palm all along the other side. Next, pull the slide towards your chest with that hand and at the same time (finger off trigger) push the gun away from self with shooting hand. Lots of contact area & both hands working together should get the job done. Good luck. Please let me know
 
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