If I send my new unused S&W ported 9mm shield to S&W, can you adjust the racking spring so that my wife who has arthritis in in here hands can rack and load the Shield more easily. It is too hard for here to rack and load the magazine into the firing chamber. Can you email your response to [email protected]

You do know we're just a bunch of Smith and Wesson gun owners who chat here...we're not Smith and Wesson?!?

And I doubt that can be done. Rack it on an empty magazine and let it sit open and go out and shoot it a few hundred rounds. That will loosen it up.

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Loving retirement!

You would need to install a lighter recoil spring. For example, if stock is 12# go down to 10#. This increases slide to frame wear because the slide hits the frame harder. If it's a short compact gun, they often have to use fairly stiff recoil springs to compensate for the reduced slide mass.

The "racking spring" is the recoil spring and as pointed out, putting in a lighter one will negatively impact the life of the gun, as it will allow the slide to impact the frame harder. Either look at mounting a ring on the back that your wife can put a finger through to pull back the slide, or trade it in on a revolver which has no slide to pull back.

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

Changing the recoil (racking spring) to a lighter weight will very likely result in functioning problems for your Shield. These small semi autos have a very narrow window of reliability because of the relatively short length of slide travel. They are designed to work the way they are delivered. Changing that will change the way they work! Reliable function is job #1!

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So long ... Ken

Buy a Handi-Racker

Safest way to rack your pistols Handi-Racker

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NEVER GIVE UP YOUR GUN

The smaller the gun, the shorter the spring that must soak up the energy of the 9mm cartridge. You bought the worst possible size to make it easier to rack. And the recoil spring is there to insure the gun functions, not for shooter comfort.
I have had more than one arthritic student show up with the "little cute gun" and in many cases they just bought the wrong gun. Taking an NRA pistol class prior to buying gives a chance to try different guns and possibly prevent buyers remorse. A full size 9mm is much easier to rack and learn on.

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Science plus Art

If this is a range gun only, the "handi racker" will assist.

However!

If this is to be a defense gun, your wife must be able to perform all functions COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY unaided.

If she cannot rack the slide she will not be able to clear malfunctions. And all semi autos malfunction sooner or later.

A semi auto may not be the appropriate choice for your bride.

Go to this website Cornered Cat | If you have to fight, fight like a cornered cat.. They describe a way to rack a slide your wife can probably do. Good luck

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Jim McGhee

before you do anything have your wife try slingshotting it....but instead of trying to pull the slide back just grab the rear of slide and push the gun forward

Buy your wife a revolver.

Either that or maybe look into some of the compact semiautos with easy to rack slides, maybe a Sig P238. Less recoil than a Shield too, although you are making a compromise in having to use a manual safety and possibly less effective caliber.

Those who note that small pistols have stronger recoil springs are correct. There's no real reason to buy a small gun for home defense, the full size guns are much easier to use.

If you're keeping a defense piece with an empty chamber, you may want to re-conceptualize the practice.

That said, have your wife take the unloaded gun, no magazine in place in both hands. Jam the rear sight against a table top or something similar and use both hands to force the slide back. If this works, you've got an answer.