A big hello from Nashville!

[Targets Guy]

Yep. That's the video. It's fairly simple to build and it works great. I remember the thread as well but have looked in vane also.

Welcome to the forum.

 

[rwt1405]

Welcome from Delaware!

 

[MCorps0311]

Welcome aboard!

 

[Gunloon]

Prince's film is an inspiration alright.

I dug up the video I posted to that thread, but am getting nowhere with finding the thread. This concept was the basis for the other ideas that the members contributed though. I hope it's some help.

Thanks for posting this, it's intriguing seeing someone with a similar (though not identical) situation to my own. This fellow's struggle to load just a couple of rounds is exactly like mine... I could practically feel him straining to do it.

His hand strength does seem weaker than my own, so I will not condemn him for choosing a tip-up barrel Beretta in a minor caliber to avoid having to rack a slide...though honestly my sense is that he gave up a bit easily. Like I said, I too was discouraged for some time by this issue, and pooh-poohed advice to immobilize the frame and rack the slide with my good hand.

BUT, with some experimentation (and stubbornness) I did find it can be done, and more importantly, fairly easily. My biggest worry at this point is having to re-position my whole body to avoid having the muzzle sweep an undesirable arc. It's mainly at the range where I'd have to be extra cautious; at all times I'm conscious of the fundamental firearm safety rules, but at home I'm not going to take them to absurd degrees once I've verified the gun really is empty.

I suspect at the range I'll just enlist a helper to rack a slide or load me a few 5-shot strings just for simplicity's sake and to avoid wasting time or even the possibility of concerning others about my safety discipline.

The video did get me thinking about something...right now I just lean the magazine against a book or bag to keep it from falling over while I prepare to load a round with the UPLULA by grasping the cartridge between my middle and forefinger so I can finagle it into position once I've depressed the follower with the tool. I'm thinking a square of steel plate with a piece of wood mounted on it to locate the floorplate and base of the magazine would be a dandy solution, at least an inch or better in height so the mag won't fall over or skitter around.

Thanks again for giving me something useful to go with...right now it's doable, but an improvement like I detailed would get rid of what few shortcomings remain in my method.

LOL, it's also a reminder of why revolvers are so much simpler to deal with!

 

[Gunloon]

Welcome from Central Florida!

Don't discount the newer 617s. They're still a lot of bang for the buck!

Oh, for sure! Hickok45 recently did a very favorable review of the 617, and was quite pleased with it. I like the fellow and his opinion carries weight with me.

I don't care if the internal lock's 110% reliable; I just don't like the presence of that lock's keyhole...it's kind of an in-your-face reminder of the omnipresent Nanny State meddling where it's neither needed nor wanted. Of course, not wanting to be pushed around by bureaucrats marks me as one 'afflicted' with 'Oppositional Defiance Disorder' according to DSM V, but so be it.

I'm used to working with a mindset that my 'impulse power' budget is forever...it's not, and I'll certainly have more discretionary dough in just a matter of months!. Once my mortgage is done, there's no reason why I only have to have just one gun!

I'm seeing a lot of really nice looking Model 17s from the late 70s-early 80s on Gunbroker and GunsAmerica, one of these might be just the ticket for satisfying the nostalgia factor.

Thanks!

 

[pawncop]

Welcome from Texas Glenn. Great forum for all things S&W, have fun, learn lots, share what you know.

 

[Muss Muggins]

Welcome from the bootheel of Missouri . . .