easiest to rack

You know, that reminds me.

The one gun I had the absolute hardest time racking was a Kahr K9. It was a REAL pain for me to rack it enough to engage the slide stop.

I sold it a while ago. Great pistol, as long as I didn't have to clear it with a numb hand.

Anything they make that is shorter can only be tougher, I imagine.

Again- I loved the reliability of it and the accuracy. I just had other options and interests. Kind of miss it though...
 
Of all the guns I have owned, the easiest to rack have been the Beretta M9 which feels like the slide operates on ball bearings, and my Glock 17.
 
I own the Remington R51 and it is easy to rack. I got it for that reason to see if my wife would like it. Some day she may try it.

A 1911 in 9mm is also a good choice. I think the recoil spring is 14#.
 
Jmstr
I'm looking for more Ammo & I
really like the stopping power of my 357's
So, I looking for a Semi that has 15 or more
and can shoot a great defensive load.
Something that I can rack with Uncle
Arthur & the above. I'm okay with weight,
my GP100 4.2" isn't a featherweight &
It's recoil is not bad but a 5 to 9 lb pull would be dandy. Just doesn't carry enough unless I carry 2 GP's which becomes a tad
Bulky & Obvious & heavy. PS: thank your
friend for me on that. Hope this makes my
Wants clearer & easier to give advice.
Happy Thanksgiving All!!
 
I find that used guns get a lot less stiff to rack compared to the new ones. I would check the used pistols counter at your local shop.

I remember handling a well-used CZ 75 that was surprisingly easy to rack.
 
g.willikers said:
Even the weakest person can easily over power the relatively puny little springs in a handgun with good technique.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, this is simply incorrect. Difficulty racking a slide is at times a matter of the technique used to apply power, but in other cases it involves the true physical inability to maintain a grip on the slide when power is applied. Sometimes, the only solution really is to find a gun that is easier to rack.

Two generalities come to mind concerning slides that are easy to rack: full size guns are typically easier and; locked breech guns in minor calibers are easier.

Full sized guns (like the previously mentioned Glock 17) are usually easier to rack than their smaller counterparts because their larger and heavier slides play a bigger role in managing recoil in relation to the strength of their recoil springs. Lighter recoil springs make the slides easier to rack.

Most .380s have blowback actions that require relatively hefty recoil springs. The handful of .380 models with locked breech actions (like the previously mentioned Sig P238) typically have surprising light recoil springs akin to what would be expected with .22 pistols.
 
^^^^
I beg yer pardon. :)
Don't throw your favorite pistol away just yet, 'cause it seems hard to rack that first round.
Technique helps plenty.
An example:
An old lady we know lives in a wheel chair due to a life long polio condition.
They don't come much weaker than her.
She acquires a small pistol but can't, for the life of her, operate the slide.
I show her a few techniques and it's easy peasy.
Then she gets mad.
Like why didn't the dimwit at the store show her how to do that.

We have lots of muscles in our bodies.
Sometimes ya' have to gang up on it.
Using lots of different muscles can get the job done.
If need be get the chest, shoulders, upper arms and even the hips involved.
It just takes someone to show how.
It isn't like every round has to be hand racked, just that stubborn first round.
I rest my case.
 
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g.willikers said:
It just takes someone to show how.
Click to expand...

Sorry, but you clearly do not understand. I also did not understand after my wife had reconstructive hand surgery and could not rack slides. I showed my wife a bunch of techniques and I became very frustrated with her because I thought she was not making enough effort to successfully apply the techniques I had demonstrated.

I was guilty of the arrogance of ignorance until taught differently by an injury that caused the loss of grip strength in my hand. It is not a matter of technique when you reach for a 12-oz. soft drink and lack the grip strength to keep the can from slipping out of your hand. If you cannot maintain a grip on a slide, you will not be able to rack a slide.

My debility was temporary, but it finally gave me an understanding of my wife's difficulty racking slides.
 
Whatever technique you were showing your wife was obviously inadequate for the job.
Argue all you want, but there's even techniques for racking slides on full sized pistols with just one hand.
And methods for seriously impaired folks who still manage to shoot.
Your wife is a superwoman compared to the lady in my example.
I once had minimum use of my left arm for nearly a year.
It didn't even slow down my pistol shooting.
I had to use alternate methods for chambering rounds (and most everything else), but it was doable.
Now, I'm done.
Complain away.
 
Haven't tried it personally however the Walther CCP is said to be very easy to rack due to it being gas delay operated requiring a lighter recoil spring like the H&K P7.
 
g.willikers said:
Argue all you want, but there's even techniques for racking slides on full sized pistols with just one hand.
Click to expand...

You sound nearly as insistent as I was about telling somebody else how to do things.

If you ever get to NC, we can go shooting and my wife will demonstrate her mastery of racking a slide with one hand ... using your belt and hip. :D
 
Whatever technique you were showing your wife was obviously inadequate for the job.
Click to expand...
There really are guns and people that are incompatible. There is no way my wife is going to be able to rack a Walther PPK without some sort of mechanical assistance. It's simply not going to happen by her grasping the gun/slide and trying to manipulate them. There's simply too much spring force, too little grasping area and too little hand strength.

That's not to say that she can't rack ANY slide, but it is certainly true that there are some she can't.
It isn't like every round has to be hand racked...
Click to expand...
I gather from the term "hand racked" you're including techniques that can't be performed if all one has available is their hands.

Up until this point, this thread has been exclusively talking about racking slides using only one's hands--it's ONLY about "hand racking".

Is it possible for a person with very low hand strength to rack a pistol slide using a vise, or by leaning their weight against the pistol with the rear sight lodged against an immovable object? I suspect it almost always is. But that isn't the focus of this thread--or at least it wasn't.
 
It's obvious what the solution is for your wife.
She just needs a caddy or a pinch hitter.
When ya' can't do something yourself, do the all American thing.
Hire someone to do it.

Must be a slow day.

Picking a gun for ease of chambering a round is not that big a deal.
It only has to be done once to put the gun in action.
And lots of ways to do it.
And reloading from slide lock involves a mere push of a button or lever.
Not a huge deal.
There's many more reasons to pick a pistol than that.
 
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Picking a gun for ease of chambering a round is not that big a deal.
Click to expand...
Correct. That's why there have been a number of suggestions along that line.
It only has to be done once to put the gun in action.
Click to expand...
It has to be done to put the gun in action.
It has to be done to clear stoppages.
It has to be done if the gun fails to lock open on the last round or if the gun isn't designed to stay open on the last round like the original LCP.
And reloading from slide lock involves a mere push of a button or lever.
Click to expand...
If the gun has an external slide stop--or if it has a slide stop at all. One of my carry guns doesn't have an external slide stop. And the original LCP which is a very popular carry gun doesn't lock open on the last round.
There's many more reasons to pick a pistol than that.
Click to expand...
That is a true statement, however if a person can't easily manipulate a particular pistol, that will be (or should be) a significant factor in whether or not to choose that pistol for self-defense. If they have trouble getting the gun operating, or need a special technique to do it, or need something other than their hands in order to make the gun work, then it's probably not the best choice for them, for self-defense.
 
Went to my local GS today and tried out the following;

Beretta 92 FS, Walther PPQ, Glock 19.

The Beretta is a work of art but to heavy to carry concealed everyday.
The Walther PPQ to was something else also, but not easy to rack for me.
The Glock 19 gen 4 is ugly but was easiest for me to rack & my wife
said she'll stick to her Ruger LCR. Since all 3 are super revolvers, equally
winners, it really did come down to ease of carry and to rack.

So I bought a package including the Glock 19 gen4 with 3 mags 15 rounds each,
GloPro NS and the changeable straps $558 out the door.

Shoud have this baby Friday. Story to continue at later date and thank everyone
and all for your expertise and advice.
 
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