Racking the slide

[timbo399]

I agree on the Shield. Boy was I embarrassed when doing the function test picking up my SSEd Shield when it took me 5 attempts to lock the slide back!

As far as easiest handgun I own to rack the slide, gotta be my Beretta 92, feels like its on ball bearings even before applying grease.

[Creampuff]

Have her shoot smaller gun like Shield.

Please don't.

Smaller guns are worse for women, because of the stronger spring tension, and also because of the greater felt recoil.

[dvsdev]

Front Sight teaches the overhand method of racking the slide and locking it back. Palm on one side of the slide, four fingers on the other, and thumb pointed towards you. Use one quick "power" motion to bring it back and release to rack. Rotate your grip if you need to reach the slide release lever, and use the same power motion and push up on slide release to lock back.

[Bill Steele]

YouTube search: "easy way to rack a slide."

YouTube is your lady's friend, along with the Ruger website video library with women teaching women.

[darkjedi351]

I went through this with my wife. she had a glock 19 and I tried different recoil springs without any results. I wasn't going to leave her home with the kids with a gun she couldn't manipulate.
I sold the g19 and got her a small revolver. problem solved

[Sleighter]

I went through this with my wife. she had a glock 19 and I tried different recoil springs without any results. I wasn't going to leave her home with the kids with a gun she couldn't manipulate.
I sold the g19 and got her a small revolver. problem solved

A Glock 19 with a neutered California 10 round magazine still holds twice as many rounds as a J frame revolver.

10 rounds in the mag isn't very helpful if she can't rack the slide, or if the gun malfunctions. On a revolver if she can pull the trigger she can shoot the gun.

[Sleighter]

Front Sight teaches the overhand method of racking the slide and locking it back. Palm on one side of the slide, four fingers on the other, and thumb pointed towards you. Use one quick "power" motion to bring it back and release to rack. Rotate your grip if you need to reach the slide release lever, and use the same power motion and push up on slide release to lock back.

^This. It's the easiest way to rack a slide because it uses the least amount of muscle and the most friction on the slide. Also, since that's what they'll be having her do, may as well practice that method now.

[mafbloggerdanny]

one other thing in addition to what people have already said, I find that with new(er) shooters they have a tendency to try to hold the gun out as far away from their body as possible. Some people are a little afraid / nervous handling the gun. But the further away from your body it is, the more wasted energy. Holding the gun close in to your body gives you a little more power to expend.

[Creampuff]

I figured she would like my vp9 bc of the front slide serrations over my glock but she was having difficulty racking the slide fully to the rear.

Why is she using the front slide serrations? That is not a good leverage point especially since the VP9, has charging supports near the rear serrations.

The only handgun I've seen my wife easily rack is the VP9 because of the rear charging supports.

[CAGLS]

That's how I do it and have never had a problem with the low profile CZ slides. You can even use the rear sights to brace the side of your hand against. My Shadows with the 10# recoil spring and 11# or lighter hammer springs aid with less resistance when racking the slide. Rounding and polishing the bottom of the FPB stop plate on a Shadow or the edge of the center of the slide that contacts the face of the hammer will help also. You can do that to same area on any hammer fired handgun.

I find it easiest to rack the slide by placing the palm over the slide griping the rear serration then pushing the lowers receiver forward instead of trying to pull the slide back.

[whipkiller]

I find it easiest to rack the slide by placing the palm over the slide griping the rear serration then pushing the lowers receiver forward instead of trying to pull the slide back.

^^^ This

It doesn't seem like it would make that much difference, but it really does.

If that doesn't work, get a Beretta 92. Smoothest slide I've ever felt.

[static2126]

Have her shoot smaller gun like Shield.

Smaller guns are harder to rack...logic fail

[darkjedi351]

10 rounds in the mag isn't very helpful if she can't rack the slide, or if the gun malfunctions. On a revolver if she can pull the trigger she can shoot the gun.

EXACTLY!

[Champagne-N-Beer]

Have any in DA/SA?

Slides are (typically) much easier to rack on DA/SA guns versus striker fired.

[sportDogger]

And you could have racked it loaded 10 round back in mag and she'd have been ready to rock n roll. Could be your a bad teacher... also revolvers malfunction too. And with su h a long trigger pull I doubt she'd hit anything past 5 feet.

10 rounds in the mag isn't very helpful if she can't rack the slide, or if the gun malfunctions. On a revolver if she can pull the trigger she can shoot the gun.