JTQ
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Only if you cock the hammer first.
What semi auto pistols are easy to rack?
- Thread starter Ducksledfish
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CajunBass
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Having no particular bearing to the OP's case, but this gizmo was a great help to me. I'm an old coot, with a bit of arthritus and carpel tunnel in my hands, and my Shield 9mm was a royal...pain, shall we say to rack the slide. Not so much that it was heavy as there was just nothing to really get a grip on for me. Those slide serrations don't cut it, plus they hurt my soft old man hands. Someone suggested I try one of these. I'd never even heard of them.
Very much like the "ears" on the EZ and the CSX, they give you something to hold onto. I think this one is made by an outfit called "Recover Tactical" and I got it on Amazon for about twenty bucks. Well worth it IMHO. It's just two little pieces of plastic that are held in place by a nut/bolt. No modifications to the gun at all. They don't interfear with my holsters at least, and I can't imagine they provide any more bulk to hurt concealment. They do make them for other guns.
Lennyjoe
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My wife likes her Walther CCP in 9MM with the reduced recoil system. Easy to cycle, has reduced recoil and the single stack mag reduces grip size for smaller hands.
Ducksledfish
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Alot of interesting info here, thanks to all!
I'm gonna be busy on the computer all day researching! I want to make sure we are educated before progressing.
A range day is definitely planned. There's a place not too far that rents. I hope they have a 380 EZ. If not, keep calling around.
Never heard of a 32 h&r, seems promising but I doubt they have a rental for that. I wonder what's "similar" (more web searching!)
My personal selection is limited but last night she was pretty comfortable handling and dry firing my j frame.
She could NOT rack my p220 at all. I don't know if that's on the high end or not for effort.
I'll make sure she can try an EZ, if that's what she like we can add those ears (never seen that before either) but I definitely want her to shoot a mild revolver.
Might be a few weeks out but I'll definitely post the learnings/results.
I'm gonna be busy on the computer all day researching! I want to make sure we are educated before progressing.
A range day is definitely planned. There's a place not too far that rents. I hope they have a 380 EZ. If not, keep calling around.
Never heard of a 32 h&r, seems promising but I doubt they have a rental for that. I wonder what's "similar" (more web searching!)
My personal selection is limited but last night she was pretty comfortable handling and dry firing my j frame.
She could NOT rack my p220 at all. I don't know if that's on the high end or not for effort.
I'll make sure she can try an EZ, if that's what she like we can add those ears (never seen that before either) but I definitely want her to shoot a mild revolver.
Might be a few weeks out but I'll definitely post the learnings/results.
JTQ
Member
Did she try it with the hammer cocked, or with the hammer in the decocked position?
Ducksledfish
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JTQ
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I'm not trying to convince her the P220 is the right gun for her, but if the hammer is cocked, it is easier to rack the slide.
As a general rule striker fired guns are easier to rack than those with hammers. UNLESS, you 1st manually cock the hammer. I'm personally a fan of some of the striker fired guns with 1911 style safeties such as those made by Ruger, Smith, and Sig. There may be others.
snowman357
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How much weight will and extra inch really add how much sight radius do you need shooting 7 yards or less 22lr doesn't have much muzzle flash what is silly is I stated a snub nose as apposed to a long barrel revolver but your talking about and extra inch? so what are we talking about a 2 inch vs a 3 inch barrel. The single six suggestion will have a longer barrel more than the inch your talking about.
edwardware
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I taught a new shooter, in her 70's, and after much searching settled her in a S&W M&P .380 EZ.
She couldn't operate a Jframe, or medium-sized .22semi, but she's very comfortable running her EZ. Check it out.
Skinny Pete
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The 32 H&R has more recoil than a 38 Special mid-range wadcutter in a similar platform
doubleh
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We can post all kinds of "this should work" and "this worked for me/my wife/daughter/friend" but they are only starting points. The actual user is going to have to make the decision on what they are capable of using and what they prefer. My wife can no longer shoot her S&W model 60, has trouble cocking my single six, and has pretty much given up on shooting anything unless I load and ready it to fire for her. Even 22 rimefire is uncomfortable for her. Sometimes you just have to accept the fact that some things have become beyond your ability to do.
fxvr5
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From Federal ballistics (calculations for 1 pound gun):
32 H&R, 85 gr bullet @ 1120 fps (5" barrel) = 4.60 ft lbs recoil
38 Special, 148 gr bullet @ 690 fps (4" barrel) = 4.39 ft lbs recoil
If you take 50 fps off the 32 H&R speed for an estimate of speed from a 4" barrel (to make it the same length as 38 Special), 1120-50 = 1070 fps, recoil for the 32 H&R is now 4.20 ft lbs, which is now less than the 38 Special load.
If you use Remington's ballistics for a 148 gr 38 wadcutter at 710 fps, recoil goes up to 4.65 ft lbs, which is more than the 32 H&R.
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Skinny Pete
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In the 38 LCR the "extra inch" adds about 60% more barrel and sight radius along with about 17% more weight. Both of which make recoil/blast/flash substantially different between the two along with much better grips. And yes the more than 60% increase in sight radius (along with easier to use sights) makes a drastic difference as well.
YES you should be teaching people to use sights at "7 yards or less"
I've also found that the 3" LCR falls right into a sweet-spot in terms of weigh for inexperienced shooters. Light enough for them to hold during practice, but enough weight to stabilize aiming and tame lightly recoiling loads like a mid-range wadcutter. I've yet to find a combination that is as widely received by new shooters as the 38 LCR with MRWC. Not surprisingly I've found numerous experienced shooters that have fallen in love with the combination as well, lots of smiles and comments of "where have you been all my life". The 3" 22 WMR version comes in second due to it's slightly heavier pull, but it has even less recoil.
And finally, as i stated already, the Single-Six in 22 WMR makes for an excellent firearm for shooters that cannot handle the complexity of a semi-auto and struggle with DA. Given the SAO operation it is also relatively safe as well.
Skinny Pete
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Shoot them side by side and get back to me
fxvr5
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Shoot them side by side and get back to me
Have you fired the 32 H&R and 38 Special WC in the same gun design - same manufacturer, same weight and barrel length?
Skinny Pete
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No, have you?
I have however shot two heavier 32 H&R's next to a lighter LCR 38 MRWC
Guess which had more felt recoil...?
And not just to me, but several others as well
Choosing a 380 caliber locked breech pistol is undoubtedly a good advice. The problem is that they are less reliable than blowback pistols in the same caliber or locked breech pistols in 9x19 caliber.
In addition to the S&W EZ380 there is also the Walther PK380 but even it does not have a solid reputation.
I don't know if it is imported in the USA, but as a 380 locked breech pistol there is also the CZ P-07 380.
There is also the SIG-Sauer P365 380 but perhaps it is too small, like the Glock 42 but, again, even the Glock 42 does not have a 100% reputation for reliability.
The problem with a .38Spl revolver is not the recoil (you can choose a K-frame size revolver loaded with wad cutters) but the ability of an old lady to have enought strenght to pull and control the DA trigger.
In addition to the S&W EZ380 there is also the Walther PK380 but even it does not have a solid reputation.
I don't know if it is imported in the USA, but as a 380 locked breech pistol there is also the CZ P-07 380.
There is also the SIG-Sauer P365 380 but perhaps it is too small, like the Glock 42 but, again, even the Glock 42 does not have a 100% reputation for reliability.
The problem with a .38Spl revolver is not the recoil (you can choose a K-frame size revolver loaded with wad cutters) but the ability of an old lady to have enought strenght to pull and control the DA trigger.
fxvr5
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gc70
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Several of the biggest gun makers think otherwise regarding racking slides.
Smith & Wesson says this specifically about the EZ:
Ruger also disagrees in answering "Can you tell me if Ruger has any plans to release a striker fired model of the (hammer fired) LC380®?"
And Springfield Armory says "The (hammer fired) XD-E features a Low-Effort-Slide that requires 27 percent less effort to cycle the slide when compared to leading striker-fired pistols in its category."
Note that the S&W and Ruger designs mentioned have internal hammers which cannot be manually cocked.
herrwalther
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The most important aspect of slide manipulation is doing so correctly. I have had many students with weak hands look at revolvers because they believed their hands were too weak to operate a slide. Wrong. Vast majority of them were just using the wrong technique. Dominant hand on the grip, pushing forward. Weak hand on the slide pushing/pulling rearward with as many fingers as possible.
For students I have had that cannot rack the slide using the proper technique, that is when I recommend finding a firearm suited for them. I caution against revolvers, because they are not something that can usually be fired accurately by a new shooter. The semi-autos that are specifically marketed as easy to rack slides are S&W EZ pistols and the Walther CCP. Other options are tip-up barrel firearms like Beretta 84 Cheetah, Beretta Tomcat, and Taurus PT-25. But these guys can be harder to find and are often in anemic calibers for self defense.
If the choice gets down to revolvers, I usually recommend Ruger LCR in most of their calibers as opposed to S&W revolvers.
For students I have had that cannot rack the slide using the proper technique, that is when I recommend finding a firearm suited for them. I caution against revolvers, because they are not something that can usually be fired accurately by a new shooter. The semi-autos that are specifically marketed as easy to rack slides are S&W EZ pistols and the Walther CCP. Other options are tip-up barrel firearms like Beretta 84 Cheetah, Beretta Tomcat, and Taurus PT-25. But these guys can be harder to find and are often in anemic calibers for self defense.
If the choice gets down to revolvers, I usually recommend Ruger LCR in most of their calibers as opposed to S&W revolvers.
JTQ
Member
Perhaps you are referring to a few examples of handguns that are specifically designed to be easier to rack the slide.
Among common handguns, my guess is a Glock 21 is easier to rack than a 1911 with the hammer down.
A SIG P320 is easier to rack than a P226 with the hammer down.
A Ruger SR45 is easier to rack than a P90 with the hammer down.
An M&P 45 is easier to rack than a 4506 with the hammer down.
Zerodefect
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Why's the hammer down?
You can also use a barney mag to make it easier to admin load.
You can also use a barney mag to make it easier to admin load.
gc70
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