Can't rack the slide? Maybe this gadget can help: Handi-Racker

[Librarian]

I went to SHOT this week, and walked by a guy playing with a Glock and a piece of plastic.

So I bought one for retail sale, $20, and I just sold it to my wife. (She got the 'family discount'. ) This one has two slide sizes on one block - XL and L.

See attached pictures - weighs 1.8 oz, measures 4 inches long, 2 inches wide, 3/4 inch thick.

She tried it with my Glock 30, whose slide she cannot move by hand - and it works!

The web site for the product, handi-racker.com is a bit amateurish and somewhat out of date; the youtube video it links to refers to an earlier version of the product. They've widened the sight channel, and created that 2-width version.

There are a few aesthetic problems - the gadget is made from nylon, and there are small milling marks in the slots, where material was taken away; the markings on the yellow side seem to have been made by a hot tool and there are 'melt ridges' around each character. Neither is a problem for me, but some folks are more sensitive to such things. (This also might be early production; I don't remember if they said that.)

Of course, they were at SHOT hoping to get gun stores and such to buy them and resell - and they do have some CA resellers, and a locate-by-zip page to find them. Amazon has 2 sizes available.

[movie zombie]

[teg33]

Thanks for the info, I'm going to get one

[Librarian]

That guy was actually in the SHOT booth, but I mostly talked to another guy.

[movie zombie]

i may call him as my semi-autos are all "older" and not the new models he lists........

[rkt88edmo]

Even though your sights are steel, not sure that they will hold up to that force over time. Dovetail sight probably not a problem, bu tlittle screw into post sights, even though most of the pressure is in the base which is bigger, you are still levering the screw which is tiny.

[glockman19]

There are 2 ways to rack a slide:

1) racking the slide back itself.
2) holding the slide and pushing the frame forward.

If your wife has trouble holding and pulling back try holding and pushing forward.

[Librarian]

There are 2 ways to rack a slide:

1) racking the slide back itself.
2) holding the slide and pushing the frame forward.

If your wife has trouble holding and pulling back try holding and pushing forward.

Tried all of that. She just doesn't believe, and it isn't important to her.

I want her able to shoot mine without me having to rack the slide for her while practicing at a range.

[glockman19]

Tried all of that. She just doesn't believe, and it isn't important to her.

I want her able to shoot mine without me having to rack the slide for her while practicing at a range.

I understand, have the same issues. Henceforth the revolvers. sadly she actually shoots the 1911's best.

[movie zombie]

I personally do the push the frame technique.
however, a "gadget" would certainly make things easier.

[CSACANNONEER]

The problem I see with this gadget is that it would only be practical for static range use. While that's fine, it also could possibly end up allowing a weaker shooter to purchase and end up relying on the wrong firearm for SD/HD.

[BonnieB]

(This post is in The Women's Forum, for those of you just scanning for new posts)

Why is this thread here? Did OP put it in the wrong place? Are you guys implying that women can't rack guns? Risky behavior....

I wouldn't imply that, in this Forum, if I were you... Probably belongs somewhere else.

If you can't rack a gun, you shouldn't shoot it. If you have to have someone rack it for you, you shouldn't shoot it. Because you are not fully in control of the gun.

But if you can't rack it, it's either technique or weak hands. When I got my first Glock, I was in tears because I couldn't remove the slide and could barely rack it at all. But I had it, I'd paid for it and I was committed. Turns out that my hands were just too weak for those particular motions. So I sat in front of TV for a week or so, squeezing a tennis ball until my strength came up in both hands.

It wasn't that I was particularly weak, it was just that I had spent 30 years in the computer biz and my hands were trained for short, light, quick motions on a keyboard. But a week's exercise fixed that. I think it will fix anyone's.

I'm 67, and have no problem racking a .45 1911. With a little practice, I think anyone can.

[Pally]

While I appreciate the ingenuity of the product, I can agree with the post above. I think practice and developing proper technique are the best/safest options.

[ke6guj]

Even though your sights are steel, not sure that they will hold up to that force over time. Dovetail sight probably not a problem, bu tlittle screw into post sights, even though most of the pressure is in the base which is bigger, you are still levering the screw which is tiny.

I saw another product at SHOT in the new product section that you aligned into the end of the barrel and you pushed forward on it. it would push the slide back and had a recess for the barrel to go into. forces would be against the front of the slide and not the sights.

I don't recall the company selling it.

[Librarian]

(This post is in The Women's Forum, for those of you just scanning for new posts)

Why is this thread here? Did OP put it in the wrong place? Are you guys implying that women can't rack guns? Risky behavior....

I wouldn't imply that, in this Forum, if I were you... Probably belongs somewhere else.

If you can't rack a gun, you shouldn't shoot it. If you have to have someone rack it for you, you shouldn't shoot it. Because you are not fully in control of the gun.

But if you can't rack it, it's either technique or weak hands. When I got my first Glock, I was in tears because I couldn't remove the slide and could barely rack it at all. But I had it, I'd paid for it and I was committed. Turns out that my hands were just too weak for those particular motions. So I sat in front of TV for a week or so, squeezing a tennis ball until my strength came up in both hands.

It wasn't that I was particularly weak, it was just that I had spent 30 years in the computer biz and my hands were trained for short, light, quick motions on a keyboard. But a week's exercise fixed that. I think it will fix anyone's.

I'm 67, and have no problem racking a .45 1911. With a little practice, I think anyone can.

You did notice I am the OP, right? You may safely rely on my awareness of what may be appropriate to this forum.

My wife will disagree with 'anyone' - thus the interest in some kind of assisting device.