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Ok, a bit misleading of a title. What is easier for one person is not for another. Thought I would share my experience as someone with only the full use of one hand, and very limited use of the other (no dexterity, cannot even move the fingers separately or turn wrist over)
1. Glock and SW Sigma
a. Field strip. This is very difficult. After pressing the trigger, you have to push the slide back just a bit, pull the tabs down and then slide it forward. I have to do all of this with one hand, my gimp hand (right) can at best hold the grip of the fame, but not very strongly.
b. Further slide disassembly. Not that difficult. I am strong enough with my left hand to push the butt plate out without worrying about relieving any pressured on it from the striker assembly. And the spring is not so tightly bound that it is going to go flying.
c. reassembly- easy all around, easier than disassembly.
2. XD (my experience is an XD40sc)
a. Field strip. Once I mastered racking the slide (on a subcompact that can be hard), field strip was very easy. I can hold the slide back and engage the slide stop with one hand. If I couldn't or had difficulty, I would and have placed any empty back in, racked it and it locks by itself. Push lever up, release slide, pull trigger, comes right off. A lot less challenging with one hand than the Glock.
b. Further disassembly. You have to depress the cocking indicator with a punch, and while holding it down remove the base plate. Spring is under intense pressure.. I almost lost my eye (thankfully was wearing glasses, which I normally would not have been). After removing the spring and cocking indicator, you have to tap out a roll pin to remove the firing pin.
c. Reassembly. Very very difficult for the striker assembly. Reassemle after field strip is real easy though.
3. SR series (SR45)
a. Field strip. Lock slide back, push extractor down, remove roll pin in front (real easy), slide comes right off
b. Further. You have to press a small pin through a hole in the base plate, a lot easier than the XD, and doable with one hand. Slide assembly come out.
c. Reassembly. Very easy.
Odd note: The Glock and XD require you to pull trigger to disassemble. However, the Glock does not require you to rack the slide all the way back. Whereas the XD requires you to rack the slide all the way back, at least forcing you the opportunity to visibly check the chamber. The SR does not require a trigger pull, and you have to push the extractor down, thus forcing you to physically ensure the chamber is clear. While proper diligence should eliminate any chance of an ND, there is something to be said about the fact that the SR forces you to ensure a clear chamber, and does not require a trigger pull.
As someone with the full use of only one hand, I have concluded that overall the SR is far easier to disassemble and work on. Between the XD and the Glock, field stripping is easier with the former, but more detailed stripping with the latter.
What has other people's experiences been and how, e.g., would an M&P compare among these?
1. Glock and SW Sigma
a. Field strip. This is very difficult. After pressing the trigger, you have to push the slide back just a bit, pull the tabs down and then slide it forward. I have to do all of this with one hand, my gimp hand (right) can at best hold the grip of the fame, but not very strongly.
b. Further slide disassembly. Not that difficult. I am strong enough with my left hand to push the butt plate out without worrying about relieving any pressured on it from the striker assembly. And the spring is not so tightly bound that it is going to go flying.
c. reassembly- easy all around, easier than disassembly.
2. XD (my experience is an XD40sc)
a. Field strip. Once I mastered racking the slide (on a subcompact that can be hard), field strip was very easy. I can hold the slide back and engage the slide stop with one hand. If I couldn't or had difficulty, I would and have placed any empty back in, racked it and it locks by itself. Push lever up, release slide, pull trigger, comes right off. A lot less challenging with one hand than the Glock.
b. Further disassembly. You have to depress the cocking indicator with a punch, and while holding it down remove the base plate. Spring is under intense pressure.. I almost lost my eye (thankfully was wearing glasses, which I normally would not have been). After removing the spring and cocking indicator, you have to tap out a roll pin to remove the firing pin.
c. Reassembly. Very very difficult for the striker assembly. Reassemle after field strip is real easy though.
3. SR series (SR45)
a. Field strip. Lock slide back, push extractor down, remove roll pin in front (real easy), slide comes right off
b. Further. You have to press a small pin through a hole in the base plate, a lot easier than the XD, and doable with one hand. Slide assembly come out.
c. Reassembly. Very easy.
Odd note: The Glock and XD require you to pull trigger to disassemble. However, the Glock does not require you to rack the slide all the way back. Whereas the XD requires you to rack the slide all the way back, at least forcing you the opportunity to visibly check the chamber. The SR does not require a trigger pull, and you have to push the extractor down, thus forcing you to physically ensure the chamber is clear. While proper diligence should eliminate any chance of an ND, there is something to be said about the fact that the SR forces you to ensure a clear chamber, and does not require a trigger pull.
As someone with the full use of only one hand, I have concluded that overall the SR is far easier to disassemble and work on. Between the XD and the Glock, field stripping is easier with the former, but more detailed stripping with the latter.
What has other people's experiences been and how, e.g., would an M&P compare among these?
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