Why I can't Rack my .380

[geeollie]

I have read many posts about how hard it is to rack a gun or seat magazines, etc... I look to myself in trying to identify the root of the issue.

What in my life do I do to have strong arms and strong hands?? Why would a little tiny woman's gun like a .380 defeat me? The reason is, my hands have zero callouses, my gripping strength is worthless, my arms are tooth picks because I live like a modern city dwelling man. My brain is strong but my body is weak......because having arm and hand strength is not required for daily life.

I don't lift anything heavier than a 40 pound bag of dog food. My gripping strength is challenged only by opening a jar of jelly. I can't do 4 push-ups or hang from a monkey bar for more than 2 seconds. No WONDER MY GUN SPRINGS DEFEAT ME AND I DON't SHOOT WORTH BEANS.

 

[dave1918a2]

Sounds like it's time for a revolver. Or a gym. Or both. Whichever You choose, good luck.

 

[geeollie]

Thanks Dave, actually I wrote this in past tense.
Since I retired my health has become better.
I have challenged myself to get stronger, especially in my grip.
Won't go into detail too much, but I found Captain's of Crush a year ago and am almost at their #2.

No. 1252 Captains of Crush No. 2 - c. 195 lb. (Life-saving levels of grip strength)

 

[govt 380]

I found that some pocket 380's, such as the Kahr, are incredibility hard to rack, especially for us in the gray hair time zone. While a KecTec 32 is manageable, it's going down in the ballistic chart. I settled for a LCR with 90gr. hornady. While the gel test boys snicker, it's a reasonable solution.

 

[murphydog]

Good on the OP for exercising regularly!

There are semi-auto pistols that have slides that are easier to grasp also. Smaller slides and/or serrated/checkered areas make it quite a bit more difficult to grab. I seem to recall one of the 3rd generation DAOs (6946?) to have a really small grooved part of the slide.

 

[JackM]

Main reason 380s can be tough to rack is that they’re by and large blowback guns that rely on a heavy recoil spring to operate safely. Most locked breech guns don’t have that problem. BTW, congrats on your weight training. You don’t need to be Charles Atlas but upper body strength is better to have than to lack.

 

[geeollie]

I remember Charles Atlas.
Did you ever send off 25 cents to get his program!!

 

[hkcavalier]

I have to take this into account with my wife and daughters. I'm no Incredible Hulk, but nearly 10 years of Crossfit did the trick for me. Everything is picking up weight, pulling yourself over a bar, climbing a rope, etc. Your hands get strong pretty quickly. I work from home now and do my best to replicate the workouts.

It's a good thing too...I live among farmers and handymen, mostly. My immediate neighbor is a retired firefighter. They already kind of scratch their heads as to how a man can make a living without opening his front door to head to the barn or the worksite. If I had city boy strength it wouldn't go well!

But yes, to the original point, my girls struggle with hard sprung autos. I've taught them the push/pull method which seems to work pretty well. There are just some guns, especially the tiny pocket autos, that just aren't designed for fast reloads and, if you do, some finger skin might get left on the slide.

 

[ameridaddy]

FWIW, I've had your racking problem with larger pistols (9mm & 45 ACP) with short barrels, because they have to have a heavier spring for their shorter recoil distance. I've too often left skin on serrations or especially the rear sights.

OTH, I as JackM said, locked breech pistols are much, much easier to rack than blowback pistols.

My Sig P238 380 and my P938 9mm are both locked breech actions, and are so easy to rack, I can do it with thumb and index finger only, even with my badly arthritic hands. If you're not familiar with these, both are mini 1911 clones, nice and flat to fit IWB or in a front pocket with a pocket holster. In spite of their small size, they are pleasure to shoot.

 

[geeollie]

I would like to shoot one of those! Sounds like a very nice design.
And it looks nice.

 

[Eric300]

My Sig P238 380 and my P938 9mm are both locked breech actions, and are so easy to rack, I can do it with thumb and index finger only, even with my badly arthritic hands. If you're not familiar with these, both are mini 1911 clones, nice and flat to fit IWB or in a front pocket with a pocket holster. In spite of their small size, they are pleasure to shoot.

Yep...like butter.

 

[geeollie]

What holster is that? Nice and high!!

not to self:
you don't need a new gun, you don't need a new gun!!!!

 

[LVSteve]

Locked breech action in 380 for the win. The S&W EZ380, Sig 238, Sig P250, Sig P290, and Walther PK380 are a few I can remember today.

 

[BillyMagg]

Cap'n Crunch

Thanks Dave, actually I wrote this in past tense.
Since I retired my health has become better.
I have challenged myself to get stronger, especially in my grip.
Won't go into detail too much, but I found Captain's of Crush a year ago and am almost at their #2.

No. 1252 Captains of Crush No. 2 - c. 195 lb. (Life-saving levels of grip strength)

Yeah!!! I'm a lot stronger 2 since I've been eating Cap'n Crunch with whole white milk!!!!

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

What in my life do I do to have strong arms and strong hands??

Why would a little tiny woman's gun like a .380 defeat me?

People age and/or have health issues.

Your comment on the .380 is very arrogant.

You really need to cowboy up now. If you would have joined the Army you will be two steps ahead in life JMHO.

 

[geeollie]

Ha Ha
Different products and both excel!!!!

 

[geeollie]

People age and/or have health issues.

Your comment on the .380 is very arrogant.

You really need to cowboy up.

I apologize that my comment caused bad feelings.
I did not mean it to be disparaging. When I re-read it in light of your comment, I see this was poor wording on my part.

Again, I apologize to you and any others to whom I caused offense.

 

[Shibadog]

Main reason 380s can be tough to rack is that they’re by and large blowback guns that rely on a heavy recoil spring to operate safely. Most locked breech guns don’t have that problem. BTW, congrats on your weight training. You don’t need to be Charles Atlas but upper body strength is better to have than to lack.

True. That said, may I recommend either a .32 Berretta Tomcat (tip up barrel) or a Bond Arms Bullpup 9 mm (unique action, Very easy to rack). Either of those will work in a pocket holster. Something a bit bigger? Try a S&W “EZ” in .380 or 9 or a Berretta (or clone by Girsan) tip up barrel .380. Frankly if you can’t rack a Bond or an EZ you might have problems with the DA trigger on a wheelgun

 

[ameridaddy]

I would like to shoot one of those! Sounds like a very nice design.
And it looks nice.

One feature I especially like is that unlike the 1911, with these pistols, you can rack the slide with the safety on, gun cocked and locked, to clear the chamber. It feels much safer than clearing a 1911. I never felt comfortable clearing a 1911, knowing the thing was cocked and unlocked with a round chambered.

 

[rwsmith]

Try this technique....

...hold the gun in your left hand by the slide. Hold it under your right rib cage (assuming you are right handed, if not, reverse) tight against your body. With your right hand PUSH the pistol forward by the grip, with your left hand pressed against your body.

There are also grip blocks that you can buy or make with a tapered groove that 'wedge grips' the sides of the slide to make them easier to rack.