If that's for me, yes-no problem at all. Moreover, most autos I can rack the slide ok. It's just a couple I have that are more difficult. I thing one of the problems with the Commander is I put an EGW fps and honed a small radius on it and replaced the factory stop with this one. It takes a bit more strength to pull the slide back due to that one modification but, I sure don't have to worry about the extractor clocking and it gives the slide a bit more time to slow down so the magazine rounds can catch up...no more slide outrunning the mag.
Getting Older and Autos
- Thread starter ColColt
- Start date
If that's for me, yes-no problem at all. Moreover, most autos I can rack the slide ok. It's just a couple I have that are more difficult. I thing one of the problems with the Commander is I put an EGW fps and honed a small radius on it and replaced the factory stop with this one. It takes a bit more strength to pull the slide back due to that one modification but, I sure don't have to worry about the extractor clocking and it gives the slide a bit more time to slow down so the magazine rounds can catch up...no more slide outrunning the mag.
rasmith3442
Member
ColColt,
Growr's suggestion in post #22 is good advice. It is a technique that is taught at Tactical Defense Institute. I am working to teach this to my wife, who just had her 31st twenty-ninth birthday. Her primary gun is a revolver, but she needs to know the manual of arms for a semi-auto. Revolvers are great for normal defense but we may need a little more firepower when the zombies come.
I'm 63 and work out a fair amount. Like other posters have mentioned, load bearing workouts are good, no matter what your age. For a lot of us "youngsters" running is no longer an option for a variety of reasons. About two years ago, I bought a combination rower and recumbent bike. The brand name is Stamina and I got it from Amazon for about $600. It is well designed and built, sturdy, virtually silent, and folds up. If I could only do one exercise it would be rowing. It is a whole body workout with no impact. You can do it any time you desire. The resistance is adjustable in 8 ranges, thru a magnetic resistance arrangement. Rowing will definitely help your grip and forearm strength. Just a thought.
S/F,
RAS
Growr's suggestion in post #22 is good advice. It is a technique that is taught at Tactical Defense Institute. I am working to teach this to my wife, who just had her 31st twenty-ninth birthday. Her primary gun is a revolver, but she needs to know the manual of arms for a semi-auto. Revolvers are great for normal defense but we may need a little more firepower when the zombies come.
I'm 63 and work out a fair amount. Like other posters have mentioned, load bearing workouts are good, no matter what your age. For a lot of us "youngsters" running is no longer an option for a variety of reasons. About two years ago, I bought a combination rower and recumbent bike. The brand name is Stamina and I got it from Amazon for about $600. It is well designed and built, sturdy, virtually silent, and folds up. If I could only do one exercise it would be rowing. It is a whole body workout with no impact. You can do it any time you desire. The resistance is adjustable in 8 ranges, thru a magnetic resistance arrangement. Rowing will definitely help your grip and forearm strength. Just a thought.
S/F,
RAS
Just had a thought, how about one of those back sights with the ledge on it that let you rack the slide by pushing the sight against a hard object. They also make slide rackers for race guns running big optics, they stick out the side but it probably wouldn't matter on a house gun.
Stu Honea
Member
Doug,the wadcutters are good solution for a number of problems,and I don't think enough people are aware of this.Good call,IMO.
Moonman
Member
I LIKE full Wadcutters.
Working out for us southern "fellers" is mowing the grass, weed eating, washing the car, walking the dog, cleaning the deck, etc. Even in my younger days I think I went to a gym maybe twice as a guest. I don't have the stamina and endurance for gym type work outs-wish I did. My dog probably need that more than me. A treadmill would help him immensely.
About four months back I took a five gallon bucket to one of the tire stores to see if they had any wheel weights so I could melt them and produce some bullets. He swapped me the bucket he had for mine and his was nearly full of wheel weights(and other stuff not worth melting). I couldn't even pick the bucket up to set it in the trunk. This buy was probably ten years my junior and picked it up like it was a bag of groceries and set it in the trunk for me. Tell me that won't work on your ego.
It is indeed and I'm gong to practice it. All in all, I don't have much trouble at all with most of the autos I have-just a couple. The two for HD are easy(so far)-the 4506 and HK USP-C 45.
About four months back I took a five gallon bucket to one of the tire stores to see if they had any wheel weights so I could melt them and produce some bullets. He swapped me the bucket he had for mine and his was nearly full of wheel weights(and other stuff not worth melting). I couldn't even pick the bucket up to set it in the trunk. This buy was probably ten years my junior and picked it up like it was a bag of groceries and set it in the trunk for me. Tell me that won't work on your ego.
It is indeed and I'm gong to practice it. All in all, I don't have much trouble at all with most of the autos I have-just a couple. The two for HD are easy(so far)-the 4506 and HK USP-C 45.
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labworm
US Veteran
Beretta made the Model 86 in .380 ACP and eventually it was discontinued.
With all the Baby Boomers, they could bring them back to life and make some serious money, especially in different calibers.
Tip up barrel, place in round, close, pull trigger, no racking needed.
With all the Baby Boomers, they could bring them back to life and make some serious money, especially in different calibers.
Tip up barrel, place in round, close, pull trigger, no racking needed.
RobertJ.
Member
That GP-100 should do job as a home invasion weapon. If you can't do it with that, you should have grabbed a shotgun!
Coincidentally, I just got off the phone with my father. He's been using guns of one kind or another for over 60 years.
Now in his mid 70's, he is also having a time with his semi auto's. So he's putting them away and digging out the revolvers.
Thankfully he's got a few to choose from in 357 to 44 mag.
Now in his mid 70's, he is also having a time with his semi auto's. So he's putting them away and digging out the revolvers.
Thankfully he's got a few to choose from in 357 to 44 mag.
OK Hog Shooter
Member
I well understand the issues associated with age. I'm 61 years young and don't take the time for exercise other than daily moving to and from. My CCW gun has been a 4006 or 4013TSW for some time. Just this year l picked up two 625s in .45 ACP and a 625 MG in .45 Colt. I'm thinking the .45 Colt is my new bedside gun, with a Benelli M2 12 gauge chock full of 000 buck... my biggest concern is my eyesight! Just remember... age is just a question of mind over matter... if you don't mind it don't matter! In other words, attitude, adaptability and access to your preferred weapon!
Blessings,
Hog
Blessings,
Hog
Ah, yes-the grand ol' 45 colt. Had a model 25 back in the early 80's that was a bedside companion for a long time. Another gun I sold/traded I've never gotten over.
Those were words of wisdom Hog, words of wisdom.
ColColt, I'm on disability, 63, and revolvers are used most of the time. But I have a 1911 I haven't retired yet. 
I cock the hammer before racking the slide and it helps.
For excercise I started Tai Chi and my back aches have just about disappeared. It is a slow movement of your arms and shifting weight while twisting at the hips. Finding a teacher can be a problem. Our senior center teach the basics, and a park has a master. It may be something to look into for a safe, soft form of excercise.
I cock the hammer before racking the slide and it helps.For excercise I started Tai Chi and my back aches have just about disappeared. It is a slow movement of your arms and shifting weight while twisting at the hips. Finding a teacher can be a problem. Our senior center teach the basics, and a park has a master. It may be something to look into for a safe, soft form of excercise.
First I recommend you keep a round in the chamber.
Second as others have suggested get some exercise.
Third the cocking the hammer, and push pull method makes working the slide a lot easier.
Still if/when I get to the point that I cannot handle a semiauto properly I will replace them all with S&W Revolvers in 45 ACP.
Even with shakey hands I still think I could reload pretty quickly with ball ammo and full moon clips.
Might have to pull the trigger DA with fingers from both hands, or just cock and shoot all single action, but I am going to remain ably armed as long as I can....
Second as others have suggested get some exercise.
Third the cocking the hammer, and push pull method makes working the slide a lot easier.
Still if/when I get to the point that I cannot handle a semiauto properly I will replace them all with S&W Revolvers in 45 ACP.
Even with shakey hands I still think I could reload pretty quickly with ball ammo and full moon clips.
Might have to pull the trigger DA with fingers from both hands, or just cock and shoot all single action, but I am going to remain ably armed as long as I can....
I find it easier to cock the hammer on my 1911 and then rack the slide.
I also use a push and pull motion, In other words I pull the slide rewards while pushing the frame forward.
At one point a few years back I had a broken wrist, this made it very difficult for me to quickly rack the slide.What I did was to lock the slide back with the magazine inserted, all I needed to do was push the slide release on my go to auto pistol to bring it into battery.
This brings up an interesting question, why do I feel more comfortable with a loaded revolver at my bedside as compared to a chambered semi auto with the hammer down and safety on or off ?
The best answer I can come up with is Ease and Safety of unloading.
It's just easier and in my opinion and safer to unload a revolver than a chambered semi auto,I maybe nuts but live rounds ejecting into the air and possible striking the ground in a residential environment disturbs me, I know the chance of the ejected round striking the ground or some similar object with enough force to set it off it very remote if even possible.It's also easier and safer to check and see if a revolver is loaded compared to a semi auto with a chambered round .
Whats your thinking on this?
Penmon
I also use a push and pull motion, In other words I pull the slide rewards while pushing the frame forward.
At one point a few years back I had a broken wrist, this made it very difficult for me to quickly rack the slide.What I did was to lock the slide back with the magazine inserted, all I needed to do was push the slide release on my go to auto pistol to bring it into battery.
This brings up an interesting question, why do I feel more comfortable with a loaded revolver at my bedside as compared to a chambered semi auto with the hammer down and safety on or off ?
The best answer I can come up with is Ease and Safety of unloading.
It's just easier and in my opinion and safer to unload a revolver than a chambered semi auto,I maybe nuts but live rounds ejecting into the air and possible striking the ground in a residential environment disturbs me, I know the chance of the ejected round striking the ground or some similar object with enough force to set it off it very remote if even possible.It's also easier and safer to check and see if a revolver is loaded compared to a semi auto with a chambered round .
Whats your thinking on this?
Penmon
Penmon
I have been using the 1911 since I was in the 9th grade, 1966, so carrying cocked and locked has never been an issue for me.
Like wise I have no problems leaving the 1911 cocked and locked next to the bed or in a stash location. I do not have any kids in the house, if I did I would have the 1911's stashed in those small handgun safes, and thehy would be cocked and locked...
However I have worked with guys on a well trained SWAT team that just could not "go" cocked and locked. You must do what you are comfortable with.
Also, when I lived in the city, anytime I loaded or unloaded any semiauto at the house, I did it in my safe zone. I had several thick phone books, that if a round gets fired into them it will stay in the phone books.
Also I have never had a live round go off when it hit the ground even on concrete or rocks at the range, but it would be easy to ensure that there is nothing to hit the primer on an ejected live round.
I live in the toolies now so I just step outside to chamber a round.
I have been using the 1911 since I was in the 9th grade, 1966, so carrying cocked and locked has never been an issue for me.
Like wise I have no problems leaving the 1911 cocked and locked next to the bed or in a stash location. I do not have any kids in the house, if I did I would have the 1911's stashed in those small handgun safes, and thehy would be cocked and locked...
However I have worked with guys on a well trained SWAT team that just could not "go" cocked and locked. You must do what you are comfortable with.
Also, when I lived in the city, anytime I loaded or unloaded any semiauto at the house, I did it in my safe zone. I had several thick phone books, that if a round gets fired into them it will stay in the phone books.
Also I have never had a live round go off when it hit the ground even on concrete or rocks at the range, but it would be easy to ensure that there is nothing to hit the primer on an ejected live round.
I live in the toolies now so I just step outside to chamber a round.
Faux Paws
Member
Dudes,
Do you NOT want to show your grand babies how to fish and hunt? Stay in shape!
Live by example (Duh!).
Do you NOT want to show your grand babies how to fish and hunt? Stay in shape!
Live by example (Duh!).
Easier said than done buddy. Life gets in the way. And just when you think you got er beat, something jumps up and bites you in the butt. You'll see.
Chuck1217
Member
I have some of the same problems, but not as severe. Bad shoulders, weak eyes more of a problem for me. But my only suggestion is- does your pistol have the flat-front rear sights? Maybe practice a LOT racking against a table, your belt etc- instead of using your hands.. Long as there's something stable enough to push against , you'd be good in a rush.
First off, I agree with the suggestions for exercise. Being officially elderly and having had multiple surgeries in 2009, I'd also suggest you have a chat with your surgeon about exercise for your legs. It does take a couple of years at our age to recover even with targeted exercise to restore the affected muscles, but you should still do some exercise on a regular basis.
Now then, a decocked 3red generation S&W auto with a loaded chamber has exactly the same spring condition as a pistol with an empty chamber-assuming the safety is in the on position on the empty chamber. Setting the safety causes a very slight increase in mainspring tension.
I carried 3rd generation autos in the continually loaded, on safe condition for over 15 years without issue, if you're still worried, change the springs. Wolff Gunsprings sell complete service spring sets for very reasonable prices. The recoil springs should be changed about every 7,500 rounds/5 years anyway.
CORRECT!!! A lot of young people that think they are going to be in great shape when they get old will in reality die before they get old and a bunch more that get old are in for a rude awakeing. My thinking on pistols is get a revolver and not worry about racking a slide. Larry
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