Recommendations for easy to rack pocket 9

swsig said:
It's out of production now, but look for a SIG P250 subcompact. I have one in .380. It's ridiculously easy to rack and it's pocket carryable. With the right ammo, (I use Fiocchi XTP) a .380 can perform close to 9mm levels, and the P250sc can carry 13 rounds. All P250s are DAO. Their triggers are a bit long, but extremely smooth, maybe the smoothest factory DAOs available. They're accurate and relentlessly reliable as well.

All of the above applies to the P250sc in 9mm, except for the racking part. The 9mm version also may be easy to rack, but I've never handled one, so I can't say for certain.

Good Luck!
Click to expand...

I second the P250sc as easy to rack and reliable. If you decide to check them out, make sure you're getting a Gen 2. You can look online to see pics to identify the difference. I've had a couple different model sigs. They were all easy to rack the slide. Size wise, IIRC the P250sc is sightly bigger than a G26 and smaller than a G19.
 
Last edited:
326MOD10 said:
There are some easy rack slide devices out there on the market that could help with the initial loading.

Of course that wouldn't do you much good in an emergency if you had a malfunction and needed to rack.

Depending on how bad your situation is you may be able to find the strength then, but it is a gamble.
Click to expand...


I have the same problem (grip strength), and went to a J frame. The initial loading wasn't that much of a problem, but in an emergency, BIG problem. I had always carried a 1911 of some flavor, but usually a full size. The OACP was difficult even before the arthur really set in and after Kings had reworked it for carry.

After practicing with the J frames & speed strips, I saw the only practical solution would be a NY reload. The fingers were just too fumbly to reload in a emergency. So far it's the best I can come up with.

Next best is perhaps more work with the Walther PPK/S that I've had for 49 years.... If my wife remembers wher she put it for "just in case". She likes to have guns 'handy' for when she's home alone, then forgets where the handy spots are. LOL It's somewhere in the house.

Rob
 
I have never been a Glock fan. I was a Master Glock Armorer. I've owned 3 and gave up on them. My wife has arthritic hands and no longer could rack her Shield/9mm. We went to a couple of LGS and tried every small 9 mm they had in stock. The winner much to my dismay is the Glock 43. Without using a racking device, she could rack a brand new M 43. I shot it for the 'break in' period and have become to like it. I will not be giving up my Shield, but I would not turn another Glock M43 down at a bargain price. My wife is very accurate with her new EDC handgun. In my opinion, she shoots too slowly for self-defense, but 93% of the time a good person points a gun at a bad person and says, "You don't want to do that". .... They don't ...with no shots fired.
 
Thanks for the replies! I have some things to check out.
 
Third or fourth vote for the LC9s Pro. Weighs about 19 oz empty, no safety and a striker trigger of about 6lbs or less. The extended 9 round mag makes it very comfortable to shoot. Mine is accurate and extremely reliable though YMMV.
 
One thing that came up in another thread is a red dot sight provides a handle to make a gun easier to cock, even using only one hand.

So you might consider a G26 with a red dot installed. I think you'd likely have to trade your G26 against one that is cut for the sight, though. I'm not a fan of pistol mounted red dots, but in your case it makes a lot of sense to me.

Here's the thread. and it does have some pictures so you can see what the difference is.

Micro red dots on subcompacts.
 
I strongly suggest the Springfield XD-E. 9mm with 9+1 capacity.
It has a slide that is easier to rack than any other 9mm I know of
and is almost the same dimensions as the Shield. I would have gotten
one to replace my 9mm Shield ( due to arthritis ), but had already purchased a 6 shot revolver.

Be SAFE and Shoot Often!
It is however a DA/SA but has a very easy DA trigger pull.

My apologies MJB. I misread your requirements. I was thinking just about a 9mm as a better Caliber
than a 38 Special. I suggested the XD-E for ease of slide, double strike capability and three carry
Conditions, however it does have a safety/decocker.
 
Last edited:
Semi-auto pistols in general rely upon two things to operate properly, those being the mass (weight) of the slide and the strength of the recoil spring(s). The smaller and lighter a pistol is made the greater strength is required of the recoil spring(s).

The .380 ACP is about the most potent caliber that is chambered in blowback operated pistols. The 9X19mm requires a locked breach mechanism to handle the operating pressures. In either case these pistols generally require significant recoil spring strength, and this is more true with the compact pistols having minimal slide mass to absorb energy during cycling.

I am pretty well recovered now (after surgery), but I spent much of the last year and a half dealing with nerve damage in my right (strong) arm and wrist, and before that shoulder surgery in my left. I have carried a full-size 1911 .45 pistol for years, but found that I could not reliably operate the pistol for many months. Rather than go unarmed in a dangerous world I pulled an old-timer out of the gun safe; S&W Model 64 round-butt 2" .38 Special revolver.

I will never have full strength in my left arm again (too much damage to the bicep tendon and nerve bursa). I have recovered full use of my right arm and hand (at least to the point of pain free at last!). Arthritis has become a permanent condition that I will just have to live with. I have recently gone back to the .45 pistol, but I will keep the .38 revolver just in case.
 
LoboGunLeather said:
Semi-auto pistols in general rely upon two things to operate properly, those being the mass (weight) of the slide and the strength of the recoil spring(s). The smaller and lighter a pistol is made the greater strength is required of the recoil spring(s).

The .380 ACP is about the most potent caliber that is chambered in blowback operated pistols. The 9X19mm requires a locked breach mechanism to handle the operating pressures. In either case these pistols generally require significant recoil spring strength, and this is more true with the compact pistols having minimal slide mass to absorb energy during cycling.

I am pretty well recovered now (after surgery), but I spent much of the last year and a half dealing with nerve damage in my right (strong) arm and wrist, and before that shoulder surgery in my left. I have carried a full-size 1911 .45 pistol for years, but found that I could not reliably operate the pistol for many months. Rather than go unarmed in a dangerous world I pulled an old-timer out of the gun safe; S&W Model 64 round-butt 2" .38 Special revolver.

I will never have full strength in my left arm again (too much damage to the bicep tendon and nerve bursa). I have recovered full use of my right arm and hand (at least to the point of pain free at last!). Arthritis has become a permanent condition that I will just have to live with. I have recently gone back to the .45 pistol, but I will keep the .38 revolver just in case.
Click to expand...
Sorry to hear about your med issues and permanent effects, but glad to hear how much recovery you have made.

Not to pick nits, but unless I am mistaken I believe the HiPoint C9 is a straight blowback 9x19 semi-auto, isn't it? It may be the only exception to your statement, but I'd be surprised if there really aren't any others.
 
BC38 said:
Sorry to hear about your med issues and permanent effects, but glad to hear how much recovery you have made.

Not to pick nits, but unless I am mistaken I believe the HiPoint C9 is a straight blowback 9x19 semi-auto, isn't it? It may be the only exception to your statement, but I'd be surprised if there really aren't any others.
Click to expand...

You are probably correct. The fact remains that a blowback-operated 9X19 would require significant slide weight (mass) as well as heavy recoil spring(s), which is the main point I was attempting to make.

Thanks for your kind thoughts.
 
As I have posted,
I have owned not one but 2 Detonics Pocket 9s.
So cute! So small! Stainless!
Blowback-operated 9mm.
Now there's a gun that's hard to Rack!
And they never sold very many!
I wonder why?
 

Attachments

  • FF663EAF-AC88-43E7-AC30-E8F526FB740F.jpg
    FF663EAF-AC88-43E7-AC30-E8F526FB740F.jpg
    30.5 KB · Views: 10
Last edited:
LoboGunLeather said:
You are probably correct. The fact remains that a blowback-operated 9X19 would require significant slide weight (mass) as well as heavy recoil spring(s), which is the main point I was attempting to make.
Click to expand...
You got that right. The HiPoint C9 has such a big heavy slide that it's proportions make it look more like a cordless drill without the battery!

Then there's the Detonics the Pilgrim posted that has a recoil spring like a bear trap!
Pretty much have to use one or the other (or a combination of both) to make it work - the exact point you were making.
 
Last edited:
I went crazy and bought 3 Shield 9's before I figured out that neither my daughter or me could rack the slide without a problem. The result was my grandson and great grandson possess 2 of them and I sold the other.
Now comes the time for the pitchforks and hatchets. I bought a Taurus G2C for a $170 from Combat Arms and after about 200 rounds were run through it without a problem( they included target loads and H.P.'s) I bought another and it has about 200 rounds without a problem. The original one now has about 400 rounds.
We can rack them with no problem and they are a very good fit for both of our hands and hold 12 in the magazine.. They wouldn't fit your needs because they have a safety. There are more good reviews than bad but they are a Taurus so that knocks them for most of you. For me they are fine.
 
My wife and I went on a road trip to visit family today. They're gun enthusiasts and I put this question forth.
I was handed a Glock 42. I know it's a .380 but it's small, light, has a good trigger, I can rack it and it'll definitely fit in a pocket.
Plus, I already have a pattern for an IWB holster for it.
 
URIT said:
The Walther CCP (9mm) would be at the top of my list to check out at my LGS and range.

Look here for a side by side comparison...

Smith & Wesson M&P 380 Shield EZ vs Walther CCP M2 size comparison | Handgun Hero
Click to expand...

What he said!

URIT, that was my exact remark! I find the CCP easy to rack and my hands are NOT getting any younger.

Pretty easy to shoot, too! And that coming from a guy who avoided polymer guns like the plague but I am hooked on the CCP, especially that excellent, NORMAL trigger!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Bon Vivant
Bodyguard 2.0: Never had a new pistol with so many issues!
Replies
16
Views
1K
GnarlsR2
GnarlsR2
O
New CCW, EZ-9
Replies
9
Views
250
Oldsalt66
Oldsalt66
R
Model 36 Date of Birth
Replies
4
Views
306
Rocketmedic40
R
T
Frame Knock-Out for Manual Safety - M&P 9 M1.0
Replies
3
Views
252
Saudade
Saudade
E
Bodyguard 2.0: 1st Impressions - Am I Out of Line
Replies
6
Views
391
TwinV10
T

Latest posts

Back
Top