It has finally happened to me

[Oldshot]

Lot's of good advice. At 90 I can still "push & pull" rack the slide, but DA on revolvers or DA/SA on autos is another story. My trigger finger looks like a shepherds crook & has minimal strength.So far using the index finger of my support hand to help the rearward trigger press has worked, but takes a white knuckle grip & a lot of training. Good luck.

 

[bananaman]

I take MSM for joint pain relief. Have arthritis also. Another reason was that my hormones were out of whack. Fixed now. Bob

 

[SpikeS]

S&W has a great design in the EZ models insofar as easy slide operation. However they hinged the grip safety at the bottom, and I don't always have the high proper grip to release the safety, It has become a problem since ulnar drift in both hands, a real distortion of joints and fingers. On to the M&P9 2.0 or the Model 638 for carry.

NDZ Performance has saved the day, or rather saved the EZ 9mm. Their replacement grip safety enables me to depress the grip safety with less than optimum high grip by arthritic hands:

NDZ Smith & Wesson Shield EZ Equalizer 9mm Grip Safety

Enhance your Smith & Wesson Shield EZ 9mm with NDZ's grip safety. Improve safety and control with this precision-crafted, flush fitting upgrade designed for optimal firearm performance.

ndzperformance.com

 

[H Richard]

I can still rack my 365 Sig, but the 1911's are getting really difficult. Glad I still have a few revolvers left.

 

[AJ]

As a retired hand surgeon, I can tell you that not all trigger fingers require surgery. Most of the time steroid injection into the tendon sheath can completely alleviate the problem. You should at least ask about that alternative before proceeding with surgery. I personally have had several trigger fingers injected with no recurrence. I've had no surgery for any of them. That's not to say that you might not need surgery if you get a recurrence. Good luck.

My Wife just had her surgeon talk her into injections in her finger. The results have been the same as injections in her back. No good. For all that get relief, consider yourself lucky.

 

[BoulderTroll]

I haven't felt young for a very long time...until I read through this thread. Much appreciated, gents!

 

[Bobbysixkiller]

I’ll add that I carry mostly a 65 3 inch. It carries like a 2 inch. Shoots like a 4. I love it.

 

[greenwellg]

Get A H&K P7, delayed blowback, slide racks super easy. Squeeze cocker, 9MM but even functioned with 380 in spite of head spacing on the case neck (super fast striker) Good enough for West German police. Rapid fire makes it a hand warmer.

 

[greenwellg]

Checked the prices, almost $3k for one. Last one I bought was practically new at $600.

 

[SpikeS]

NDZ Performance has saved the day, or rather saved the EZ 9mm. Their replacement grip safety enables me to depress the grip safety with less than optimum high grip by arthritic hands:

NDZ Smith & Wesson Shield EZ Equalizer 9mm Grip Safety

Enhance your Smith & Wesson Shield EZ 9mm with NDZ's grip safety. Improve safety and control with this precision-crafted, flush fitting upgrade designed for optimal firearm performance.

ndzperformance.com

The NDZ grip safety works so well that I bought a second EZ9. I like the EZ rack.

 

[cowboy94916]

eZ 9 easy to operate and shoots very well. Used mine in local practical match, for a reshoot, and did better then my M&P 40. Started to prepare for the future.

 

[bigggbbruce]

Pinch and pull gets difficult, I use the pinch push method. Just stay out of line of the bore.

 

[AJ]

Getting back to the original subject of this thread. A friend owns a gunshop here in town. When my Wife was still working I would hang out there on Saturdays. When had a fair amount of older folks (remember this is Florida) come in looking for a home protection piece. The husband would head to the display cases that held auto's. He would want a hi-cap 9MM for protection. I would hand one to him and ask him to rack the slide. About 90% or more had trouble racking the uncocked slide. Sometimes it took more than one gun to prove my point. Then I would guide them to the revolver cases and get them set up with a revolver that they could manage.

 

[rwsmith]

You should look at the S&W EZ.
I guess the name takes because the slide is not so sprung.
I’m looking at this pistol in the near future.
My thumb “saddle joint” is already arthritic and I’m only 55.

Papa

Fortunately, I don't NEED it yet, but I have a 9mm Shield EZ and Missus Smiff has a .380 EZ.

 

[rwsmith]

Pinch and pull gets difficult, I use the pinch push method. Just stay out of line of the bore.View attachment 776599

I highly advocate that technique, but I brace the left hand against my side and PUSH the frame with my right hand.

 

[CH4]

After shooting my whole life, Marine Corps and 30 years as a cop Arthritis is grabbing hold of me pretty good. I took my wife and daughter shooting the other day. I got a new S&W shield that I was going to use as a carry gun. Unfortunately I can barely rack the slide and can not get the slide back far enough to lock the slide to the rear. I never thought it would happen to me but it has happened. So looks like I will be switching back to revolvers for full time CCW and probably need a smaller caliber to carry because larger calibers are starting to hurt.

Anyone out there with the same problem? What have you done? What are you carrying ?

A revolver, but centennial triggers are usually pretty nice out of the box.

 

[MP-5]

Arthritis Exercises


Arthritis Exercises for Shooters
https://www.recoilweb.com/arthritis-exercises-for-shooters-128744.html

 

[jack zeller]

A revolver, but centennial triggers are usually pretty nice out of the box.

EZ nine.

 

[Capt29]

I am the same age as Joe Biden, however; I, can walk, chew gum and mumble all at the same time. I can still work a slide, but not as well as I used to. I bought the EZ and a Shield+, both in 30 Super Carry. Gives me an extra round in the EZ and 16 rounds in the Shield! 16! That is 4 more rounds than I was allowed to carry as a Chicago Cop back in the day. 6 in the gun and 6 in a dump pouch (the operative word was dump). Later we were allowed to carry more than 6 extra rounds, most guys did anyway. I packed a Colt Agent in my off pocket.So I had 18 rounds disposable, with the Shield and an extra mag I can have 33. The gun gods are good.

 

[Exchipy]

You should look at the S&W EZ.
I guess the name takes because the slide is not so sprung.
I’m looking at this pistol in the near future.
My thumb “saddle joint” is already arthritic and I’m only 55.

Papa

Good call!

The EZ9 I got for Wifey shot so well, and handled so easily, that I got this one for myself, in anticipation of my inevitable, already beginning in noticeable ways, decrepitude:

These are the first five shots from it. While kinda close, at 7 yards, that’s the across-the-room distance at which it will most likely be used, should the need arise. That low hit was me, just seeing what would result from holding just a bit lower for shot number 3. Both our EZ9s shoot like that with their XS DXT2 Big Dot yellow tritium night sights.

The XS DXT2 Big Dot Yellow, with its large luminous ring around its Tritium center, is large and bright enough to guide aircraft in for night landings in bad weather. Outstanding in bright sunlight, too

Getting older sure ain’t for sissies, but the S&W EZ9, equipped with XS DXT2 sights, makes for a good hedge against the inevitable age-related disabilities, eh?