Advice

[dodgegirl.mg]

I have a Shield 9mm now haven't had it very long. I am having a very!!!! hard time pulling the slide back. Thinking about giving g it to my husband and getting a Bodyguard .380. Does anyone know if to slide pull is easier on the .380?

 

[JCase]

Is it possibly stiff because it's new?

 

[326MOD10]

Mine loosened up over time and I don't really notice it being stiff any longer. Haven't had much experience with a .380 but a friend has one of the Bodyguards and the time I shot it the slide seemed to be easy to chamber a round. I am not sure how long he has had it though.

Safest way to rack your pistols Handi-Racker

I did see this device at Cabela's that was made to help rack the slide on semi-auto pistols but I do not have any experience with them so not much help there.

 

[Ballistic147]

First off, don't take this the wrong way but in general women tend to be gentle and nurturing. You just can't have this attitude with the Shield slide. You grasp it firmly and then rip it back like you're trying to tear it off the frame! It likes to be treated rough.

Seriously, my wife had issues with her Shield at first. Once she realized the above she has no trouble with it at all.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Howdy from South Carolina, and welcome to the forum.

The Shield is a stiff sprung gun, especially when new, though it does loosen up with use. When my husband first had me try it, I couldn't rack the slide. Then he taught me a different technique, to hold it closer to my body, arms against chest, and then I could rack it.

The magazine spring is probably responsible for a large percentage of Maglula Uplula sales. I highly recommend this loader if you plan to shoot any pistol enough to be proficient.

A good cleaning and lube does help a little with slide resistance. Mil-Comm TW-25B, is a lube that "slicks" friction points well.

I don't have the .380 you mention, but my .380, the Sig P238, is the lightest slide spring I've ever used.

Good luck.

 

[Ole Joe Clark]

The slide on the shield is hard to pull back. Regardless of the advice about snatching the slide, be tough, it's new etc..... It's the nature of the beast. It will get somewhat easier as the gun is fired, but not easy. I blame mine on birthdays. I'm looking for something for my wife that is easier than the shield, but haven't made a choice yet.

 

[Gamecock]

I have no knowledge of the Shield specifically. It would seem to me that you could put a lighter recoil spring in one, which would make it easier to operate.

(Yes, I know there are limits to how much lighter you can go. But any lighter would be better.)

 

[Sigsavvy]

The Shield's recoil spring assembly is a bear when new for sure. It does get easier with time and the biggest difference is usually after the first 500 rds or so.

One thing to try is to push the frame forward when cycling the slide vs. trying to pull the slide back. I know it sounds like the same thing but if you focus on holding the slide stationary and then push the frame forward really hard it might help. My sister in law had a hard time cycling the slide on my Shield and I told her to push the frame forward and she had a much easier time.

If you like the Shield give it more time.

 

[brigeton]

I haven't had my Shield too long either but it does loosen up a little with time. Leave the slide locked back for a while and the spring will lighten up.

 

[dodgegirl.mg]

First off, don't take this the wrong way but in general women tend to be gentle and nurturing. You just can't have this attitude with the Shield slide. You grasp it firmly and then rip it back like you're trying to tear it off the frame! It likes to be treated rough.

Seriously, my wife had issues with her Shield at first. Once she realized the above she has no trouble with it at all.

So I have to be a bitch with it? I can do that.........lol [emoji49]

 

[dodgegirl.mg]

The slide on the shield is hard to pull back. Regardless of the advice about snatching the slide, be tough, it's new etc..... It's the nature of the beast. It will get somewhat easier as the gun is fired, but not easy. I blame mine on birthdays. I'm looking for something for my wife that is easier than the shield, but haven't made a choice yet.

I'm fairly sure I am going to get the .380 I make trips to West Virginia and back a few times a year and my husband worries about me being alone. He wants me to have something I will have no trouble using.

 

[Magload]

Sigsavvy has part of this right. Place your support hand over the top of the slide (always being sure nothing is in front of the muzzle). When you start to push (notice I said push not pull) the slide to the rear push the frame forward with your strong hand. Holding it close to your chest that way you are using the muscles in your upper arms and shoulders. If at the range turn sideways so the gun is pointed down range anywhere else so it is pointed to a safe area. It will get easier my 40 got to the point where I could reach up and rack it with the index finger and thumb of my support hand. Don

 

[Rockdoc16]

Yeah slide hand over the top of the slide, and at the same time thrust the strong hand holding the frame forward while pulling back with the slide. You literally attack the gun. Feels like you're gonna hurt the gun but you're not. It's not nearly as violent as being blown back by the round going off.

 

[Deadbug]

I have a Shield 9mm now haven't had it very long. I am having a very!!!! hard time pulling the slide back. Thinking about giving g it to my husband and getting a Bodyguard .380. Does anyone know if to slide pull is easier on the .380?

Sigsavvy, Magload and Rockdock16 are giving good advice. Before you seriously consider giving your Shield away--take a look at the videos below posted here on the forum in various past similar threads to help folks dealing with the same issue:

It does make it MUCH easier...and maybe you won't ever want to give up your Shield. Let us know if it helped

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSiOq_uvCmg&feature=youtu.be"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSiOq_uvCmg&feature=youtu.be[/ame]
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q8ZRlkdWVc"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q8ZRlkdWVc[/ame]

 

[hobby-gunsmith]

advice

The recoil springs today on most of the shorter barrels and sometimes longer barrels have a convoluted double spring which has a tendency to rack the slide harder than normal. I instruct my students, mainly on statistics, that women have a harder time with slide manipulations, to grasp the slide if right handed with the left hand over the rear of the slide away from the ejection port and and on the serrations to pull back and at the same time to push forward with the shooting hand smartly at one time. This push pull method works on all guns small and large and is easier to manipulate the slide to chamber a round. But be aware of the muzzle orientation to point it downrange and finger off the trigger and in a safe direction that would have minimal damage if the round was discharged accidentally. Good luck with your shooting.

Nick

 

[urbanlex]

Practice n technique makes perfect. You got this!

 

[RobzGuns]

The videos above are good... If you haven't already found the site, check out the "Cornered Cat" website. It was put together for women who want to carry, by a woman who carries.

 

[robpo]

Sig P238, (.380) lightest slide I ever felt.

 

[rja214]

I have a Shield 9mm now haven't had it very long. I am having a very!!!! hard time pulling the slide back. Thinking about giving g it to my husband and getting a Bodyguard .380. Does anyone know if to slide pull is easier on the .380?

I have both the Shield and the Bodyguard. Yes, the BG slide is much easier to rack. The Shield slide spring gets easier to rack with use over time. Both have been reliable.

 

[dodgegirl.mg]

Thank you very much..........my husband will be happy to get the Shield and I am going to order the Bodyguard from Palmetto right now!!! ✌