Mrs 47knuckle had the same problem. Took her to a gun store and had her try a S&W 380 EZ. She had no problem racking the slide, so she is now the proud owner of one.
Why I can't Rack my .380
- Thread starter geeollie
- Start date
>>For my BG2 the Talon Rear Slide Grip made a big difference in my ability to rack that little buggar.<<
This..... I have these on several of my autos and they simply do the trick.
This..... I have these on several of my autos and they simply do the trick.
A couple of guys beat me to it! The Talon slide grip really helped me with my PC M&P Shield Plus 9mm. It wasn't so much a hand and grip strength issue, it was more of "not much to hold on to" issue. The Talon is a cheap fix and easy to install...but don't stop doing your exercises! I have some arthritis in my support hand thumb, so gripping and racking the slide can sometimes be challenging. Exercises and Voltaren gel helps!
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gwpercle
Member
Do a search on the term ... "Revolver"
That's one in my avatar ... what is good about them is ,
No slide to rack and no magazine to seat ...
I rather like the concept my self ...
no law says you Must shoot a semi-auto ... that I know of .
Gary
That's one in my avatar ... what is good about them is ,
No slide to rack and no magazine to seat ...
I rather like the concept my self ...
no law says you Must shoot a semi-auto ... that I know of .
Gary
I found and used a Charles Atlas dynamic tension booklet when I was 12. I still do some of the isometrics, but not for 15 minutes. 
Today, at 78, I don't have a Captain of Crunch, but I do use a Luxon hand grip strengthener which can be dialed from 10kg - 50kg. It, along with the Vive four ball set, does help grip strength and other old-age hand maladies.
I still carry my trusted model 3953, and have no problem operating the slide.
Today, at 78, I don't have a Captain of Crunch, but I do use a Luxon hand grip strengthener which can be dialed from 10kg - 50kg. It, along with the Vive four ball set, does help grip strength and other old-age hand maladies.
I still carry my trusted model 3953, and have no problem operating the slide.
I appreciate the sentiment of the OP which is rare on this forum.
Refuse to surrender to your weakness!
Keep trying to rack it until you can do it!
Same thing with "hard trigger pulls".
The trigger is not hard. Your finger is weak.
Same thing with carrying a "heavy" gun on your belt.
The gun is not heavy when you are not weak.
As was said by 18DAI, now departed comrade,
"Maybe they should just work out."
I offer my respect to you as a man geeollie.
Now fix it!
Best to You!
BrianD
Refuse to surrender to your weakness!
Keep trying to rack it until you can do it!
Same thing with "hard trigger pulls".
The trigger is not hard. Your finger is weak.
Same thing with carrying a "heavy" gun on your belt.
The gun is not heavy when you are not weak.
As was said by 18DAI, now departed comrade,
"Maybe they should just work out."
I offer my respect to you as a man geeollie.
Now fix it!
Best to You!
BrianD
shil
Member
I surmise that an itty-bitty direct-blowback .380 doesn't have much of a gripping surface on the slide, which may be a factor.
Solution? A 1913 Smith and Wesson pocket pistol! It has a feature which disengages the slide from the recoil spring! Finding .35 S&W ammo, though, might be problematic! My exemplar, along with a partial box of original ammo, remains a safe queen. Reliable sources have advised me: Even though .32 ACP will fit, firing it is NOT advisable.
Solution? A 1913 Smith and Wesson pocket pistol!
It has a feature which disengages the slide from the recoil spring! Finding .35 S&W ammo, though, might be problematic! My exemplar, along with a partial box of original ammo, remains a safe queen. Reliable sources have advised me: Even though .32 ACP will fit, firing it is NOT advisable.gjgalligan
Member
In the year 2525...
It has been mentioned above, but I will reinforce the wisdom of the suggestion for senior citizens (or any upper body strength challenged individual) to consider getting a revolver. None of the above worries seem to apply. I use a J-frame Mod.49 in a Mika pocket holster. Yes, a J-frame is five rounds of .38 Spl. (what I would use), but that is enough to get you through two average gunfights.
I suggest this after carrying a BHP, a full size 1911, a sub compact SIG 1911, and others I cannot recall. A .38 Spl. with wadcutters satisfies all my needs now as I am no longer on course to vanquish the world of crime when I leave home; simply to defend myself or a loved one should the need arise.
I will although admit my feeling of triumph years ago when a very upset trucker got out of his cab with an axe pick handle and charged my car in gridlock traffic. In mid-swing he found himself looking down the bore of a full size Colts 1911. He stopped in his tracks, said "My mistake, sorry." I said "That's great, now give me that piece of wood and get back in your cab." He did, and all was well resolved with no shots fired. I still have his stick here somewhere. I digress.... I wish I was still young enough to carry a nice 1911, but I am not. J-frame all the way. If need be I may throw a speed strip in my other pocket just for insurance. But need has never been.
Blessings to all, but please carry something that you do not have to struggle to use, and practice with it until you have a decent level of confidence putting it to use.
I suggest this after carrying a BHP, a full size 1911, a sub compact SIG 1911, and others I cannot recall. A .38 Spl. with wadcutters satisfies all my needs now as I am no longer on course to vanquish the world of crime when I leave home; simply to defend myself or a loved one should the need arise.
I will although admit my feeling of triumph years ago when a very upset trucker got out of his cab with an axe pick handle and charged my car in gridlock traffic. In mid-swing he found himself looking down the bore of a full size Colts 1911. He stopped in his tracks, said "My mistake, sorry." I said "That's great, now give me that piece of wood and get back in your cab." He did, and all was well resolved with no shots fired. I still have his stick here somewhere. I digress.... I wish I was still young enough to carry a nice 1911, but I am not. J-frame all the way. If need be I may throw a speed strip in my other pocket just for insurance. But need has never been.
Blessings to all, but please carry something that you do not have to struggle to use, and practice with it until you have a decent level of confidence putting it to use.
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hkcavalier
US Veteran
Hear hear! I'm a media consultant these days. Most of my workday involves crafting persuasive emails, making persuasive phone calls, and holding video meanings intended to persuade the other side. People complain that professional communication is dry, but when dealing with strangers, it has to be, and missteps can be pretty embarrassing.
Here I'm freed from those shackles, and "embarrassing missteps" usually lead to more activity and engagement. I make use of Cunningham's Law here all the time (posting a wrong answer vs. asking a question) as it gets me actual answers vs. more conjecture/guesses. The engagement experts with Facebook and other media companies have figured out the same thing and certainly to a much greater degree than I have.
Poe's Law is probably more apropos for this thread (satirical expressions of extremism online are hard to distinguish from genuine ones without indicating intent). One can also do some research into manufactured controversy and find even more clues as to why posts like the OP's get engagement. 9mm vs. .45 comes to mind...
fatcat3
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I understand that I'm about to commit heresy and be burned at the stake. If your revolver has a hammer, you can always cock the hammer for a lighter trigger pull in worst case. Better than a harsh word and a mean look and better than struggling to shoot a gun that just makes noise and sends the round off down range to god knows where.
gwpercle
Member
The Air-Weight J-frame 38 Special I carry gives this old guy a lot of comfort ... it may not be the smallest 9mm wonder nine but it beats a sharp stick ... Seven Ways To Sunday ...
Use whatever you can operate and shoot well with .
Getting old means you gotta get smart and adapt to whatever your situation is .
Getting old sucks but it's better than not getting any older !
Gary
Use whatever you can operate and shoot well with .
Getting old means you gotta get smart and adapt to whatever your situation is .
Getting old sucks but it's better than not getting any older !
Gary
You are right, being able to shoot SA or DA at my option suits me best, and a shrouded hammer prevents snags on clothes. That's why I carry a Mod. 49. It is also steel, giving me some weight to hold on to. I do not like the lightweight versions that hurt my wrist with each shot.
If you can determine an honest 'need/want list' for yourself, I would wager that there is a good revolver solution for you. And there really is no need to spend big bucks on a 'new' piece, as there are tons of gently used ones out there too.
Again, just commit to learning how to use it. They are not magical things that spring into action at your command. You need to learn to work together.
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Being well past my Biblical allotment of "three score and ten" I too am finding grip strength, recoil tolerance, visual acuity and high frequency hearing on the decline. Worse yet is the shrinkage, where I used reach up and comfortably change light bulbs in ceiling fixtures, I now need a step stool. Long gone are the days when I could pick up a 56 pound tank gun round with one hand and chamber it smartly with the other.
I found that hammer fired autos are easier for me when I cock the hammer first and then rack the slide. I have put my striker fired auto out of CCW rotation.
fatcat3
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You forgot to mention the MOST important fact.
Humpbacks are just way cooler than anything else
. 638 for me.I had to give up my revolvers and my pistols due to arthritis in my hands.
I ended up with a S&W 9mmEZ. They also (as mentioned above) make it in a 380cal. They make a winged back plate to replace the stock one for Glocks. So a model 42 (380cal) is also a possibility.
I ended up with a S&W 9mmEZ. They also (as mentioned above) make it in a 380cal. They make a winged back plate to replace the stock one for Glocks. So a model 42 (380cal) is also a possibility.
Only problem with a wheelgun is the DA pull can be pretty stiff. Folks I've taught to shoot who had trouble racking a slide have also had issues with 10+ lb trigger pulls.
Whatever you do don't buy one of the new S&W Bodyguard 2.0's......the stiffest slide I have ever felt and I've had a lot of auto's (although only a few in .380). Breaks in some but it's really tough. I don't know how a smaller woman can rack it. Men have trouble with it. It does break in somewhat but it's a tough little bugger.
