Some 380 help

[panzerman]

I am in the market for a 380 for my wife, she is a little person at 5' 100lbs and suffers from carpal tunnel syndrome so racking a slide is difficult. I bought her a Sig 2022 in 9mm thinking that there would not be an issue but she has difficulty charging that weapon, so now it is mine (shucks) I had heard that some 380's were rather easy for women to rack, and I thought the PPK , PK and Siq 238 looked like they might be a good fit. We also have a 38 spl in a Ruger LCR but the long trigger pull baffles her. Any thoughts?

[viet4lifeOC]

Glock 42?

[Rogue187]

How's about the Kahr P380?
or if your wife can deal with a longer trigger pull try out a Sig P230/232
My wife took my P230 as her own..so I got something else..

[Dumas1012]

I had a bodyguard 380 and it was very easy to rack, but the long double actions pulls made me sell it. I now own a P238 and love it. The single action is great.

[ZombieTactics]

If she is suffering from carpal tunnel, the LCP is an awful choice. It's a great little pistol, but it's difficult to master and punishing on the hands owing to the small size of the frame.

I have a Bersa Thunder in .380, which is a seriously fun little gun to shoot. That's one option, as it has almost no recoil to speak of and an very easy to operate slide. The Glock 42 is pretty cool too ... haven't shot one live yet, but the trigger feels crisp and the slide is easy to manipulate.

[mif_slim]

HK USP has a easy slide to rack. But like some of my instructor told me, its about form rather then the gun. Have her hold the gun close to her body with elbow bent 90 degree and tucked close to the body. With weak hand over the slide push the pistol with strong hand forward while weak hand pulls towards body. Usually this helps with hard racking slides. My XD has a 21lbs spring and my wife who is 5'1" 110lbs can rack it using what I tried to describe above.

I have a bodyguard 380 and its pretty tough for a small pistol to rack the slide.

[panzerman]

If she is suffering from carpal tunnel, the LCP is an awful choice. It's a great little pistol, but it's difficult to master and punishing on the hands owing to the small size of the frame.

I have a Bersa Thunder in .380, which is a seriously fun little gun to shoot. That's one option, as it has almost no recoil to speak of and an very easy to operate slide. The Glock 42 is pretty cool too ... haven't shot one live yet, but the trigger feels crisp and the slide is easy to manipulate.

Yep the LCP was a terrible choice for her, I know nothing of Bersa's, decent quality? I own several Glocks and am a fan of them but I do not know anything of the 42 so I guess I need to take a look at it.

[panzerman]

This may not go far... but go to Turners and feel out the phoenix arms hp25 there. That is the easiest gun to rack I have ever tried. Rack it, fire it single action... I'm showing it to my sister this weekend.

https://phoenix-arms.com/Products/HP25A.html

We have the 22 cal version of the Phoenix Arms and I do not like it Sam I am... it fouls quickly and jams, the ridiculous safety set up is just that...ridiculous. Perhaps the little 25 is better but I would rather stay away form it.

[dkthree]

Why .380 over 9mm? They are quite similar in felt recoil. Also I assume this is for CCW and not just range but it's not stated so maybe clarify that.

Subcompacts generally have stiffer springs to absorb the recoil better with a shorter cycle and their smaller size makes them more difficult to grasp.

I would suggest trying a Glock 19 and replace the guide rod and spring with a 15lb or 13lb spring but only if she likes the feel of a larger gun. Folks will talk about frame battering and such but it's really not a big deal excluding some particular instances.

I would also make sure she is gripping the slide as firmly as possible, then using her shooting hand to push the frame forward until the slide pulls out of her hand.

Other than that, there are even slide rackers like this if she can't grip well enough: http://www.brownells.com/handgun-par...44-126189.aspx

Just some ideas.

Good luck!

[liberty47]

I have a Bersa Thunder in .380, which is a seriously fun little gun to shoot. That's one option, as it has almost no recoil to speak of and an very easy to operate slide. .

I agree.

I think the bersa is one of the best options in OP's situation.

[Ezekiel2000]

Is it just the racking motion that gives her trouble or is it the recoil also?
In 380 I have a Ruger LCP, Bersa Thunder, Sig P230 & Colt Mustang and of those, the Bersa Thunder is noticeably easier than any of the others for me to rack. That being said, the least noticeable kick, and most accurate for me, is the Colt Mustang. The LCP is probably the most difficult of the 4 to rack OR shoot accurately and has the most noticeable kick...but it sure is tiny!

[Old4eyes]

Here's another vote for the Sig 238. It's recoil rather than blowback and that does diminish the recoil. I've got a Bersa Thunder which weighs more but the Sig's recoil feels to be less. Is the carpal tunnel in the shooting hand or the support hand? If it's in the support hand she can always hook the rear sight over her belt, shoe, table top whatever and rack it with one hand if the situation calls for it. If the carpal tunnel is in her shooting hand or both hands it may get to the point where a handgun might not be the answer.

The downside of the Sig is the cost of the gun and magazines.

As to the long pull of the revolver, if she could get that mastered it may be that a wheel gun is the answer although I prefer to shoot a heavier revolver to reduce the recoil. The wife went with a S&W 686+ to get away from the racking of pistols.

[panzerman]

Why .380 over 9mm? They are quite similar in felt recoil. Also I assume this is for CCW and not just range but it's not stated so maybe clarify that.

Subcompacts generally have stiffer springs to absorb the recoil better with a shorter cycle and their smaller size makes them more difficult to grasp.

I would suggest trying a Glock 19 and replace the guide rod and spring with a 15lb or 13lb spring but only if she likes the feel of a larger gun. Folks will talk about frame battering and such but it's really not a big deal excluding some particular instances.

I would also make sure she is gripping the slide as firmly as possible, then using her shooting hand to push the frame forward until the slide pulls out of her hand.

Other than that, there are even slide rackers like this if she can't grip well enough: http://www.brownells.com/handgun-par...44-126189.aspx

Just some ideas.

Good luck!

I was hoping for less recoil with the 380, I am aware of it's limitations but to be honest I figured a 380 in hand is far better than a 9mm at home or locked in the safe etc because she doesn't like it. The slide racker is kinda cool, that may be the real answer for the Sig 2022 that we have.

[panzerman]

Is it just the racking motion that gives her trouble or is it the recoil also?
In 380 I have a Ruger LCP, Bersa Thunder, Sig P230 & Colt Mustang and of those, the Bersa Thunder is noticeably easier than any of the others for me to rack. That being said, the least noticeable kick, and most accurate for me, is the Colt Mustang. The LCP is probably the most difficult of the 4 to rack OR shoot accurately and has the most noticeable kick...but it sure is tiny!

Primarily the racking motion is painful as all getout for her, I think in time she could learn to manage the recoil

[panzerman]

Here's another vote for the Sig 238. It's recoil rather than blowback and that does diminish the recoil. I've got a Bersa Thunder which weighs more but the Sig's recoil feels to be less. Is the carpal tunnel in the shooting hand or the support hand? If it's in the support hand she can always hook the rear sight over her belt, shoe, table top whatever and rack it with one hand if the situation calls for it. If the carpal tunnel is in her shooting hand or both hands it may get to the point where a handgun might not be the answer.

The downside of the Sig is the cost of the gun and magazines.

As to the long pull of the revolver, if she could get that mastered it may be that a wheel gun is the answer although I prefer to shoot a heavier revolver to reduce the recoil. The wife went with a S&W 686+ to get away from the racking of pistols.

I think I will take a look at the Bersa, since several of you guys here gave it a thumbs up, when I get a chance and have her handle it and get her feedback rather than just surprise her with what "I think" will work. The CT is in both hands and wrists.