Hello, I am new to the m&p forum, just recieved my m&p 40 fs and have put a few hundred down range. I plan to carry for self defense as well as a range pistol, and have plans to purchase a compact in the near future. for now I am looking for a proven, unobtrusive means of having a slide racker perhaps integrated into the rear sight as I have only 1 arm to operate the pistol with. I have been using smith revolvers for about 15 years now, including the 500 for hunting, I just thoughjt that I would give an auto a try. Please help with any ideas.

You might take a look at Henie sights.

here

With practice you can use your holster, belt, leg, shoe, etc
to snag the rear sight.

Oh, and welcome to the forum.

admolt:

I'll second Black Talon's suggestion.... I think it's spelled "Heinie", though .... I hate 'em, but they're big, and reasonably solid. Hooking one over a table edge, holster, or your belt, ought to be fairly easy.

(My view on that sight is that it's WAY too big v.s. something I'd prefer for "combat", and one of the things wrong with the Kimber .22LR conversion kit for a 1911, but a small price to pay if you need to use it as an assist device. Guess 'cause everything else I own has a smaller rear sight ....)

You might also be able to talk a smith into securing a "J"-shaped hook to the side of your slide. Might make for holster issues (the big sights don't seem to be an issue there), but it might work just as well.

"Electronic" sights - like "Red Dot" types, might also work, but they're really big, and I would worry about knocking one out of alignment when trying to use it as an assist.

We should have a few more suggestions here....

(And, Welcome Aboard!)

Regards,

__________________
Stu.

I respect you for trying an auto, but I would probably end up going back to a revolver. Heck, I do not face the same challenges as you, and I am toying with the thought of changing to a .38 snub anyway.

Good sights that also rack slide on belt or shoe? - THR

I agree with the previous comments as helpful tips, but there is another method that has been taught in Law Enforcement in past years. Place the slide behind the knee and you can squeeze the slide between the calf and thigh to hold the slide in place while pushing on the grip to chamber a round.

Jesus boys, be careful when you charge a gun that way. Although, I would feel more comfortable doing that with my Shield because I can keep it on "safe" while racking the slide. Otherwise practice a lot with empty gun.

Would it be out of line to suggest a (metal charging handle) be made and installed on the gun? Maybe a second dovetail cut into the slide to accommodate it?

One of the gun shows (Son's of Guns Red Jacket Firearms) where they make and modify guns they did just what you are looking for. They welded a "cross bar" on the rear of the slide for a guy that loved to shoot but had problems racking the slide because he had MS. It wasn't pretty but it worked.

Just looking at pics on smith's site and it looks to me as if the sights in the core pistols are taller than the carry ights on mine, they may hook on pants pocket, bed post or anything else easier or more reliably than the currently installed ones do. Has anyone seen one of these in person? the Heinie's might be promising though, I wanted tritium sights anyway.

Andy

Check these out they might be the ticket for what you are looking for. One of their selling features is an emergency one handed slide rack.
Trijicon HD™ Night Sights
Best of luck and welcome to the board.
Cracker57

Welcome Aboard. What I would do is contact S&W CS dirrect (no e-mail,they take for ever),and tell them your problem. They are great to work with and might ALSO come up with better ideas and have them as an added option for people with the same problems.

Myself (not really safe),but I cock mine off the back sight on my holster or ear pants pocket.

the way I currently rack to pistol is by using the existing rear sight on the top of my pocket. the problem with this is when doing a no fire drill, it is very tough to get the ejection port facing outward so the problem cartrige can be cleared. I will give customer service a call after the silly season is over in a week or 2. thanks for the input I really appreciate it!
Andy

Does your 40 have a thumb safety? If so, may I suggest that you carry in Condition 1?

Ask yourself which is greater - The odds of:
1) The safety becoming accidentally disengaged, somehow unknowingly pulling the trigger and having a ND, or:

2) Attempting to rack a slide one-handed against your body with your finger near the trigger using an aftermarket hook during an extremely high pressure situation and having a ND?

The "cocked and locked" method has been proven a valid way to carry for a century...

Years ago someone made a custom holster with a ledge built inside.
A partial draw put the front edge of the slide on the ledge then pushing gun down racked the slide.
Just another idea.
Good Luck

May I suggest a revolver?

Good luck. Those people at S&W are top notch and on the ball when it comes to these kinds of problems. Just need to find the right CS person to help. DON'T GIVE UP if you find a "dud" (rare) hang up and call again until you find the help you need. S&W might even be able to make just the rear sight you need.

At one time there were "larger" rear sights just for that purpose. The sight had a bit larger flat ears that would snag on belts,pants pockets (front & rear),boot/shoe almost anything. I can't remember who made them. Seemed it also had a slight inside curl so you could "push away" from your pants pocket or belt and not have a problem with the ejection port.

Another thing you could do is have a gunsmith flatten the front of your rear sight so it will snag on "handy" objects. Might try the front site.. But about 40 years ago,the MP's were doing that in the ARMY and too many were blasting a hole in their leg...(Ahhh finger control ????). So you might stay away from that one.

Hand in there. I grew up with a VERY good friend that was born with only one arm and there wasn't ANYTHING he couldn't do that the rest of us could and he ALWAYS refused any help.

Had an amputee at our range today with a Glock. Rear sight had a flat profile on the front and he racked it on the edge of his kydex holster. No problems at all.

I saw that show and that sure was a hack job.

To the OP you might be able to buy something like this and take it to a machine shop so they know what you are talking about. Then have them machine one for your gun. Or just buy an XDM to begin with.
PISTOLGEAR | YOUR ONE-STOP SHOP FOR ALL THINGS PISTOL

Maybe get S&W to make an M&P like this?

Review: the Lignose Einhand 2A one-hand cocking pocket pistol - YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmqQpR4L3Rc

We had a man come into our range today that before an accident, a right handed shooter. He now carries a Glock, with a flat front on the rear sight and he racks it on the edge of his Kydex holster. He loads the mags with a UpLula loader. He needs no help, and shoots very well. Great to see.