Looking for an easy "racking" 9mm

[NATEWA]

You could consider attaching one of these to the slide

This for a glock 19

[Mentiroso]

Dumbbells...

[ja308]

I would suggest you look into the Beretta " Tomcat" model .
It features a tip up barrel,so the 1st rd cocks and chambers the 2nd and subsequent rounds.

Its very likely after getting familiar with this gun she would develop the strength and skills to operate the slide too .

http://www.beretta.com/en-us/3032-tomcat/

3032 Tomcat

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3032 Tomcat
POWER AND CONCEALABILITY
The 3032 Tomcat is sized like a smartphone, but offers the full power of the .32 ACP. This makes it perfect for concealed carry--as well as home or personal defense. And thanks to its tip-up barrel design, it is easy to load, unload and operate, even in cold weather or with weaker hands.

[nickel plate]

IMO, find the shield's slide fairly easy to rack. maybe once it's well broken in, 400 rounds or so.

On my 9mm Shield after 500 rounds, the slide still has practically the same resistance but that's not the real issue-it's getting that last round in either one of the two supplied magazines and I keep both of them fully loaded 24-7 for the past year and a half and their spring resistance still remains high.

[SoberClurichaun]

All slides are easy to rack with proper technique.

Not saying I've ever had trouble but a small woman could definitely have trouble even with technique. Grip strength, wrist stability come into play and that's the wild card. I do fully agree with you for the most part. Clammy hands are also a factor and this is for a carry piece. That being said I have no experience carrying. My ltc appointment isn't till Feb, fingers crossed!

[Falstaff]

I used a product called "gun slick" on the slide rails of my old (1987ish) era)Beretta 92f,. This stuff polished the rails making it much easier and MUCH smoother to operate than any of my 5 glocks. It's literally like butter smooth compared to a glock... Dont get me wrong, I love my glocks too, my EDC is a 27 but the difference is shocking between the 2. Compared to a glock 17 or a .45 I estimate the force required to rack a polished 92 slide is half as much.

[optimus-primer]

My Sig 226 Is very easy to rack, brand new too. Much easier than the VP9 that I had.
Have her try a 226 with a E2 grip. For me, feels much better than a 92.

Also try a Sig 229.

[Jimi Jah]

Get a Beretta Tomcat in .32 ACP; no need to "rack" the slide with the tip-up barrel.

That's what my wife ended up with, she can't pull a pistol. Or, get a revolver.

[JDay]

My Sig 226 Is very easy to rack, brand new too. Much easier than the VP9 that I had.
Have her try a 226 with a E2 grip. For me, feels much better than a 92.

Also try a Sig 229.

How long did you have the VP9? they loosen up a bit after 1000 rounds or so.

[Gunsmith Dan]

If a person has trouble racking a slide then a revolver is the way to go because:

1. You need to be able to rack it to load it in case the slide does not lock back on a empty magazine
2. In case of a jam if you can not rack the slide you will not be able to clear a jam (which happens with semi autos)

Unfortunately a compromise has to always be made when there is a limiting factor

BUT

A 5 or 6 shot revolver in 38 Special +P can be as effective as 9mm with no issues such as stove piping, safety lever(s) not disengaged or properly seating the magazine.

With proper training and the use of speed loaders a person can become as fast as someone with a semi auto pistol ....... just take training, training and training.


If the OP's wife can not rack a Glock 9mm slide then pretty much need to stick with a revolver.

[Decoligny]

Check out the Barretta 85 or 86.

They are a tilt barrel where a round can be chambered without having to rack the slide.

She would just have to pull the trigger the first time in double action to cock back the hammer. After that it is an easy trigger pull for each additional round.

She would also have to get used to the idea of knowing how many rounds she has fired so she can do a tactical reload and not have to rack the slide.

[RedFord150]

...The 92 was in development by Beretta for over 15 years before we got it in the military (due to it being shoved down our throats by politicians) and yet we still had MAJOR issues like slides cracking and departing the weapon into the shooters face to deal with.....

I was never in the military. I have no experience with the M9.
I did try the 92FS at a local indoor range many years ago. I also never cared for it. The range employees were telling me the Berettas were needing major repairs (like cracked slides) every 5K rounds. The Glocks and Rugers of the time were going over 100K rounds (rental guns) without any major parts failures.
Many people have since told me how reliable the Berettas are. Your story agrees with the range guys. Never really understood why so many chose the Beretta.
Thank you for your service.

[Steve_In_29]

You also realize you guys are running FMJ and not hollow points. Might want to read up on the FBI's recent findings on 9mm duty loads.

And .45 ACP HP works even better but the military was shooting one round per bad guy before the switch to 9mm even with .45ACP FMJ. Because even if it doesn't expand, the hole it makes is still bigger then an expanded 9mm.

The slides cracking was an early version and had been addressed. As has the locking block issues.

If by "addressed" you mean the pin that was added to keep the slide from exiting the frame in case of a crack? Then yes it was addressed and according to the armorer I just spoke with, they STILL have said pin to this day. Clearly not just an "early version" issue.

If you don't like it that's fine, but they have been proven in combat when properly maintained and they have been issued to many LE agencies for years. Most of the problems are not user based and are either maintenance, magazine, or ammunition related.

Many of us are running them without issue over long periods.

You like it then it's fine by me but that still doesn't make it a "great" pistol. Adequate I would agree to but great...not so much.

The military uses lots of things that aren't the best they could have bought simply due to procurement policies or in this case, political pressure. In most cases Police Depts simply jumped on the "if it's good enough for the military then it's good enough for us" bandwagon.

Your attempt to justify your position by implying military members don't take care of them was also a cheap shot. Most are cleaned monthly at a minimum and the armorers constantly check for out of spec guns every time the weapon is sent to the range and repair when found (at least in the Marines). Though perhaps you simply mistook battle worn cosmetics for neglected guns.

[MXRider]

Perhaps you should talk to some of the ex mil guys whose opinions completely changed about the 92 when they got their hands on a brand new one.

The gun wouldn't be this popular and still in service around the world if it was merely "adequate" as you put it.

[JDay]

Perhaps you should talk to some of the ex mil guys whose opinions completely changed about the 92 when they got their hands on a brand new one.

The gun wouldn't be this popular and still in service around the world if it was merely "adequate" as you put it.

It wasn't popular until Mel Gibson used it in Lethal Weapon. I've used a few new ones and was not impressed. For the money there are better options.

Former service members buy them because they are already familiar and comfortable with the platform.