Recommendations for easy to rack pocket 9

[Chief Wiggums]

In terms of carry for SD, it doesnt matter if you have 1 in the pipe and ready to go..

 

[Jerry_B]

Have you looked at the 4 inch single stacks? The extra length would mean a longer, less stiff recoil spring, I think. Exception is the G48, it is a longer barrel but still configured to the G43 recoil spring length. Springfield EMP might be another option.

If you have to go revolver, I would check out the new Charter Arms 32 HR Magnum revolver.

Charter Arms PROFESSIONAL 32H&R 3B 7RD | 63270 - Buds Gun Shop

7 rounds, smallish size, 3 inch barrel, pretty nice set up. 32 HR is nothing to sneeze at, especially 7 rounds.

 

[delcrossv]

How about a Smith model 940?

+1 Very quick reloads with moon clips. It's my EDC- in a pocket,no less!

 

[kthom]

I have arthritis in both hands and am able to handle the Sig P365.

The only other 9MM pocket sized model that I have for comparison is a Shield. My P365 is easier to rack the slide on than the Shield. It is much more pocket sized than the Shield, which doesn't work well at all in a pant's pocket for me. And the bonus is that it carries 10 + 1 or 12 +1. This fine little pistol has been surprisingly accomodating for my needs. I have nearly 1000 rounds down the pipe with zero issues. It is more accurate than I am these days and it has a really good set of fixed sights in the bargain.

I highly recommend that you find one somewhere and hold it in your hands and rack the slide on it before you make your final decision. If you can operate it, it is hand's down the only (pocket 9MM to own in my opinion and experience. It also carries very nicely on the belt, IWB or OWB. When it is laid on top of my very favorite J Frames, the P365 is almost exactly the same size overall as the J Frame, but is thinner and flatter than the J Frame. The only place that the J Frame is more accomodating is in the area of the round butt of it's frame. If your J Frame has a square butt, no advantage there.

I did not give up my J Frames easily or quickly, but after several hundred rounds fired, the P35 is now my dedicated EDC. This is one man's opinion, but it is a very considered opinion made after many years of experience.

 

[ben_g1]

Have advanced arthritis, even have one finger (the little one) that's frozen in place. I have a Kimber micro 9 and can operate the slide without much trouble.

 

[ameridaddy]

I have the same problem, and my solution was to move to a Sig P938.
Eight rounds of 9mm 124 gr goodness, flat, fits great in my jeans pocket or in a 3:30 holster, and even with my severely arthritic hands, I rack the slide no problem. I especially like that the gun allows the 1911 style safety to be on while racking the slide, which IMO makes for a safer clearing of the gun.
It's been accurate, reliable and comfortable to shoot even with factory defense loads.

 

[oldiegoldie]

i have the Sig P250sc in 9mm. it is DAO, no safety and very easy to rack and is reasonably small. if there is such thing as a safe pistol, this is it. of all the suggestions i've seen this would be at the top of my list. they are not easy to find, but there are alot of them out there.

good luck in your quest.

 

[mgriffin]

Another gun that is really easy to rack is the Sig P238.

Now the P238 is a 380 which I know you don't want, but I'd try the P938 which is the slightly larger 9mm version of the P238.

It does have a safety though.

My wife wanted a semi auto and could not rack the slide on anything. She is little, thin and about 102 lb. Guy at the LGS said try the Sig P238 but if you do, she will want it. Only thing she could rack the slide and she shoots it lights out!

 

[swsig]

My G26 is just getting too hard for these old hands to operate. Must be DAO and no manual safety. Or should I just forget it and continue to carry my .38 LCR?

If you like your G26, keep it and use a Handi-Racker. I have one, and it works perfectly on the toughest-to-rack slides. Yeah, I'm talking to you, Shield 9. Here's the website:
Safest way to rack your pistols Handi-Racker

 

[Pisgah]

If you want a pocket 9 with any easy-pull slide, what you're really asking for is a repeal of the laws of physics. Without greater slide mass, the tiny guns simply must have a stout spring. If you cannot increase your hand strength -- really not possible, I know, for very small or severely arthritic hands -- you best bets are a larger gun, a smaller-caliber gun, or a revolver. Like so many things in life, finding the right carry gun is often an exercise in compromise -- you give up something to get something in order to get an acceptable result.

 

[MJB]

Thanks everyone. I dumped the G26 yesterday. I'm going to keep carrying the LCR for now.

 

[H Richard]

Same problem for my wife. We went through my stack of guns, (she did not want a revolver), and we found a Bersa 380 that has a great double action trigger and an easy to rack slide. It has several hundred rounds through it without a problem.