Pulling the slide...for women? Any help?

C

coz

New member
I've just gotten my wife into shooting and we purchased her a S&W .38 airweight revolver. She has shot my Ruger KP90 .45 and likes the solid feel of the semi and the light trigger pull. The .38 is a hammerless so the trigger pull is long and strong.
We chose the revolver as she could not pull the slide on the semi auto at the Gun store.
Does anyone know of any of the semi-autos that are relatively easy? Or at least, seem easier? I've read that the PPK is considerably tough. Was wondering about Tauras or Kel-Tec....etc..Would appreciate info.

Thanks
 
The slide on the Kel-Tec P32 is easy to pull. Shouldn't be hard to find one in a gun shop for your wife to try.
 
If the semi-auto has a hammer, tell her to cock the hammer before trying to pull the slide back. For most guns, that makes a BIG difference, and she'll probably find that its no problem to rack the slide...
 
one of the things that i taught my wife for dealing with a "heavy" slide on a semi was the same thing that my step-father taught me when i was about 10...rather that holding the slide and pulling it back. hold the slide and "punch" the frame forward. he learned this from an army weapons instructor when he was in the army during the Korean war, this was how he was taught to clear a jam, grab the ejection port and hung brass...and "punch" the 1911 to rack and clear.

you might want to keep looking around to find a semi-auto that your wife is able to manipulate without any special tricks.

Adept
 
Just a thought, but the only slide that my 90 lb wife can pull back happens to have the safety on the slide. In our case it's a 9mm Baby Eagle, but the extra grip seems to be all the help she needs.
 
I know a number of lightweights who have no problem racking the slide using the combined strength of both arms, pushing with one against the other.
 
I just bought a Bersa Thunder .380 for my wife who is also new to the shooting game...she didn't have too hard a time racking the slide although it did take her a few tries before she got the hang of it...she also likes the "semi-auto" feel...we were thhiiss close to getting her a Taurus M85 but she really wanted a semi-auto. By the way...this is a great little shooter! surprisingly well built for the money and accurate right out of the box...really happy with the purchase:D
Tony.
 
It's the technique you use.

Stand in a firing position--well-balanced and feet slightly spread (more or less shoulder width).

Hold the pistol in you right hand, slightyly above waist level (right arm bent at the elbow) point just past your left foot.

Grasp the slide firmly with your left hand.

Thrust down with your right arm (and shoulder) while pulling back with your left hand.

It will probably take some practice, but she should be able to work the slide on your P90.
 
My wife is short & petite. She also has trouble with DA revolvers. But she is high speed-low drag with a Glock 19. She can perform all the malfunction drills with no problem. The 9mm glocks seem to have the lightest recoil springs. Take your wife to a range that rents and try a G-19.
 
Walt Sherrill wrote:

If the semi-auto has a hammer, tell her to cock the hammer before trying to pull the slide back.
Click to expand...

I'm a bit unsure about the safety implications of this procedure. Granted, most modern autos have an internal safety that prevents the hammer from driving the firing pin forward unless the trigger is pulled to the rear, but how many times have you seen someone rack a slide with their finger inside the trigger guard? I see it at the range once in a while.
 
Thanks and a comment

Thanks to all replies. Sounds like we get to have fun at Collector's guns here in Houston having her test the slides.

One comment on cocking the hammer prior to racking the slide...
I would guess that they might have a problem with that when she takes her CHL class. It would, most likely, be a safety violation.

I can see her getting a nice expensive Glock while I shoot my less expensive Ruger...how funny is that?
 
What adept said.

Here's how I've taught women to work heavy slides (assume right handed operator):

Hold pistol in right hand as normal.

With left hand grasp slide in most comfortable grip.

Lock left elbow (brace it) against your ribs with pistol pointing downwards at approx 120 degree angle.

Lock right elbow straight down while holding pistol.

PUSH downwards with right shoulder to engage slide. Use only shoulder & body motion and not hands or arms. This will shove the frame straight down using body's mass instead of arm strength.

The action will be worked in 'reverse' with the frame moving while the slide is held tightly in place by left hand.
 
This is going to sound real bad to a lot of people, but if she ever needs to rack a slide in an emergency and doesn't have the strength, hold the grip with both hands, catch the rear sight on the edge of something hard like a piece of furniture or even the heel of a shoe, and use her entire body strength to push the frame. (This also works for a person who has lost the use of one arm.) It's rough on sights and furniture, but it beats having a nonfunctioning firearm. She shouldn't own a gun that requires this, but if there is a possibility that she may wind up with a loaner, it is a technique to be aware of.
 
Slide pull

I'd recommend the Ruger P95 because it has a relatively light pull to lock the slide back and it is very reliable.
My wife had the same issues; couldn't handle the recoil spring of a Mak or Sig 229 but he Ruger was a piece of cake. They have a special on them now--$40 rebate from ruger. High caps can be had for under $30.
Get a hogue handall to go with it if decide to buy one.
 
COZ:

My wife is 4'10" and 85 lbs. Yet her house gun is a Browning .40 cal. As some of you know, that gun's recoil spring is stiff as hell - yet my little girl can work it like a pro. Why?

Two things, practice and even more important, learning on an easy gun (CZ-83) and working her way up.

Once she learned the technique on the CZ-83, I began giving her guns to practice on with stiffer springs, like the P7, and Colt Delta Elite with a 16lb spring, then 18, 20 and 22. Then we worked over the Browning and she was ready to go. It really worked well, and if you have the guns to do it, or a friend does, it'll work for you too. Then, instead of a sissy gun, she can get the best gun for her, regardless of size, caliber or recoil spring resistance.

She shoots full power 10mm loads through my Colt now, and it's all I can do to keep her from "liberating" that gun. Remember, she's only 4'10". Don't sell her short, be patient, and let her pick the gun.

Tom
 
H&K USP compact in 9mm.

Only handgun my wife can easily handle, and that holds for any of the controls. It is something that a lot of women have found to be true.

Let her try one and be prepared to buy it.

Mike H
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top