Broken Wrist - not to beat a dead horse

O

Okie_Lady

Inactive
I've been reading several of the threads giving good recommendations for easy slide/rack semis for ladies. I'm hoping for a bit more advice along those lines. I broke my right wrist this summer, bad break with dislocation, and still can't have more than 10# of pressure on it. I'm right-handed.

I have a Ruger LC9 as my main carry but it takes too much force to rack it and I'm having a little trouble shooting it left handed with just one hand. I can't even use my right hand for support. I need to be able to control it well with just my left hand, which is my weaker hand.

I'm looking for the easiest (least # of resistance) slide, conceal carry, light with baby kick, with the best take down caliber as can be mustered with the previous requirements, that can be ambidextrous, and controlled and fired with just one hand that's not a revolver.

Ideally, I would love to find a Beretta 3230 Tomcat, new. Though it's not ambidextrous. Not sure I'm comfortable buying online via gunbroker.com. The Tomcat just seems too hard to find used for a reasonable price.

Another option might be a Walther PK380 or Sig P238. Threads have discussed they're an easy slide/rack, but what about kick and left handed. Any other non-revolver recommendations or discussion? Thank you so much.
 
Hello Okie_Lady,,,

I think you have already found the best gun,,,
.32 ACP is not the Hammer of Thor,,,
But it should get the job done.

The tip-up barrel on the Beretta,,,
Makes the gun almost ideal for your needs.

The Sig and Walther that you mentioned are nice guns,,,
They still have fairly stiff slide springs though,,,
At least the one I fired was stiff to rack.

Aarond

.
 
You can try what I call the Israeli rack. The story is Mosad carries their Browning high powers in condition 3 (chamber empty, loaded magazine). Upon drawing the gun, they push down, catching the rear sight on the edge of the holster, racking the round into chamber and cocking the gun. It's a one handed operation, and surprisingly quick with just a little practice (without live ammo, of course).
 
The story is Mosad carries their Browning high powers in condition 3 (chamber empty, loaded magazine). Upon drawing the gun, they push down, catching the rear sight on the edge of the holster, racking the round into chamber and cocking the gun.
Click to expand...
I believe all Israeli military/paramilitary is trained to carry in condition three, but I have not heard claims of using this technique before. I would think it would only work reliably with very rigid holsters that were held pretty well. The regular training, as I understand it, is to rack the slide with the left hand while drawing with the right. I might be wrong. I appreciate a lot of Israeli techniques, but I never carry condition three so have not studied this one.
 
This'll sound weird, and may be out of your price range, but I'll bet it'd work:

Get a full-sized 1911A1 in .45ACP. Replace the stock recoil spring with a lighter PPC-Style Match spring. Load the pistol with the 185 gr. FMJWC ammo, that clocks at about 765 f/s. If your unbroken hand has the strength to hold and shoot it, the recoil should be quite mild. On the receiving end, it looks to have about the same stopping power as a 158gr. .357 SWC projectile traveling at about 1100 f/s. Not THUNDEROUS, but certainly a more likely fight-stopper than a .32 ACP or .380.
 
There is another thread here about the tip-up Beretta 380 - Model 86.

A locked-breech pistol should generally be easier to rack than a blowback.

My Keltec 380 is small, light, and easy to rack. It is a bit snappy to shoot, but there is also a 32acp version.

I have a Tomcat. It functions okay, but it feels awkward to me and the trigger is not that great.
 
I know you want non-revolver suggestions, but I'm not sure I'd choose a semi with one hand out of commission; a malfunction could be a real problem.

A revolver might be perfect until you're healed up. Get better soon.
 
Last edited:
I had abdominal surgery and developed an infection that left me bedridden for several months. My incision would not close. This was a very painful condition.

Because of my disability and having to shoot completely lying down in case of a home invasion I purchased a crimson trace laser. Having the laser on my hand gun gave me a piece f mind. I would recommend a laser on your pistol to if you are shooting weak handed. This is only a temporary fix that would suit you well.
 
My GF swears by here Beretta 86FS. A 380 with a tip up barrel, I don't know if it's still a current model, but she bought hers new not real long ago. She has other pistols but has trouble racking the slide.
 
Last edited:
"Revolver ???"

From the OP:
"....controlled and fired with just one hand that's not a revolver."

Okie Lady, unless there's something about your condition you're not telling us, your condition is only temporary, until you regain the strength and dexterity in your right hand. A revolver would certainly be worth reconsidering. Also, why can't your handgun be setup in the ready condition prior to heading out and about? Maybe have some assistance. All you'd have to do is switch off the manual safety (if it has one).
 
"Revolver ???"

From the OP:
"....controlled and fired with just one hand that's not a revolver."

Okie Lady, unless there's something about your condition you're not telling us, your condition is only temporary, until you regain the strength and dexterity in your right hand. A revolver would certainly be worth reconsidering. Also, why can't your handgun be setup in the ready condition prior to heading out and about? Maybe have some assistance. All you'd have to do is switch off the manual safety (if it has one).
Click to expand...

Agreed. Revolver is really the best option. The only other one is having it ready. If my wrist was messed up I would not be looking at semis.
 
A full size steel gun in 9mm will be lighter recoiling and easier to shoot one handed. Swap in the lightest recoil spring wolff makes and it will rack easily.

If you reload, use light projectiles (115 or so) and reduce speed down to 850fps with a fast powder and recoil will be about non-existent.

I shoot this with a eaa witness stock 2 in 9mm with 8# recoil spring. A real creampuff.
 
Once upon a time, most everyone shot handguns one handed.
There are some very good techniques for shooting one handed.
There's probably at least some of them on youtube and such.
As for having a revolver or auto loader, they both can be loaded and kept that way, somehow or other.
Either way, maybe have someone else do it for you.
Auto loaders generally are the easier to shoot one handed.
 
I'm sure she can shoot a semi one handed. The problem occurs when she needs to rack that slide to clear a jammed up pistol. Especially in a self-defense situation.

Highly trained folks: is there a method I'm not aware of that'll allow a one-handed shooter to clear a malfunction?
 
is there a method ... that'll allow a one-handed shooter to clear a malfunction?
Click to expand...

A tap could be performed against one's body. How to do so safely would take some thought I've not done. Then, with a ledge rear sight, one could rack using the sight on one's belt. Obviously a process one could not practice at the range, but could be practice at home with snap caps.

After pondering the OP's situation, I think a soft-shooting snubbie would be the optimal solution. For example, the Charter Arms Undercoverette in .32 Magnum has less than 1 ft·lb of recoil. Shooting it two-handed would, hopefully, not stress her healing wrist. A snubbie chambered in .22 WMR or .22 LR should also work. These aren't optimal self-defense rounds for most, but they may be for her right now.

Once her wrist is better she can then explore semi-autos.
 
Last edited:
I would guess her age is probably hampering her recovery...
however, since she hasn't been back since her first post...

For those with injuries, Please Do The Rehab!!

I know it sux, and it hurts, but it works!!
4 years ago I broke two fingers, middle & third on my left hand,
the middle was broken right below the first bend, proximal phalanges,
they didn't think I'd regain full use...being over 40 & all...
told the Rehab kid that was BS, and I'd be able to do slight-of-hand in 3 months.
He accepted the challenge and we were Successful :)
Still aches in cold/rainy weather, but they work, and lost ZERO range of motion.
 
Amputee

I know your pain. I am an amputee and I had to try a lot of pistols out. I eventual figured out that I would have to change sights depending on the firearm and rack the slide on my belt or holster then I carry my firearm loaded and one in the chamber. I really like the Walter ppq. It's an easy firearm to rack.
 
Thank you for your service, TFTP. Given your extensive experimentation the OP should check out the PPQ. I can see, however, that women's attire and some carry modes (eg, purse carry) could make racking more challenging, but one can always adapt one's clothing and carry mode.

How to you perform the tap component of the tap-rack-bang? What about a magazine reload?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top