Semi with the easiest slide?

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In center-fire calibers, the lightest force needed to rack a slide will probably be found in locked-breech 380 pistols (i.e. Sig P238 and S&W Shield EZ). It takes little effort to rack the slide of a pistol that operates on the recoil of such a mild cartridge.

Considering 9mm, slides on full-size guns will generally be easier to rack than their compact or subcompact counterparts. As previously noted, the Beretta 92's slide is generally considered easy to rack, probably at least partially because its recoil spring does not have to be as strong to handle the reduced mass of the open-top slide design. Also as previously noted for hammer-fired designs, the force to cock the hammer can often be separated from the force to rack the slide (e.g. overcoming the recoil spring). Those forces cannot be unbundled in striker-fired designs, which often have heftier recoil springs.
 
My Canik TP9 sfx comes with an ambidextrous screw in cocking handle that makes this model very easy to cycle. Included to increase speed in competition.
 
Rangerrich99 said:
If you were interested in a sub-compact, I'd say the Ruger LC9S (striker). Borrowed one from a friend for a week and was really surprised at how easy it was to rack that slide.
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But I'd certainly shoot it first. I had one and it was pretty 'snappy'..traded it for a Glock 42.
 
sigarms228 said:
I also tried the Shield EZ 380 and hands down it was the easiest slide to rack I ever tried. It seems like they are selling very well to their targeted customers. Very soft shooter too as advertised.
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My wife purchased a 380EZ just because how easy the slide is to rack. It been a very good gun for her.

She had a CCP but that gun didn't work out well.
 
I always thought ease of racking the slide depended on the recoil spring. You mentioned 1,000 rounds, it should be well broken in. I bought a 2nd Colt Mark IV slide for my Colt Mark IV, had to use valve grinding compound to get it to work properly.
 
"Also, remember the P238 is a Single Action Only...no second strike action and you have to load a round and put the safety up. When needed for use, set the safety off and fire."

Thanks for bringing the SAO to my attention...I'm not sure I want to carry, Cocked & Locked! This sure is disappointing. I really like this model except for that...
 
Somebody mentioned the Beretta PX4 Storm. Not only can you cock the hammer first, but here is the one use for those big bat-wing safety levers that some of us have otherwise happily removed. Using the slingshot method for pulling the slide back, they will naturally dig in and provide purchase for your fingers. I haven't tried it with the method recommended by the Cornered Cat and others, but I imagine it could be helpful there too.
 
USNRet93 said:
But I'd certainly shoot it first. I had one and it was pretty 'snappy'..traded it for a Glock 42.
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Really? Maybe my buddy's had some kind of modification to it. I found his to be remarkably easy to shoot, easy to control (two-handed, didn't try one-handed), and surprisingly accurate, even when shooting controlled pairs, and trips.

I was so impressed I'm probably going to get rid of my LCP in favor of the LC9S as my pocket gun. Think I'll ask him next week and check on that.
 
Rangerrich99 said:
Really? Maybe my buddy's had some kind of modification to it. I found his to be remarkably easy to shoot, easy to control (two-handed, didn't try one-handed), and surprisingly accurate, even when shooting controlled pairs, and trips.

I was so impressed I'm probably going to get rid of my LCP in favor of the LC9S as my pocket gun. Think I'll ask him next week and check on that.
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Perceived recoil is pretty subjective. I have an arthritic wrist and poorly repaired dislocated RH thumb(thanks USN docs!) so I'm pretty recoil sensitive. Really didn't like the LC9S nor my son's G43 and a rented G26..My G42 is a VERY nice shooter for me as is my G17 and G19.. Really don't like my LCP but easy to carry..

BTW-I had quite a few failures in my LCP9S..failure to feed...shoot, slide go back but nothing came out, one 'jam' that took about 20 minutes to clear..slide a little aft after shot and it just 'jammed'.....Mostly on cheap, Wolf/Tulo type ammo. Never had any kind of failure with the mentioned Glocks..YMMV and all that..
 
My wife now struggles to rack the slide on her LC9s and will only get worse (65 YOA, arthritis and essential tremors). We went searching for something easier for her and found the S&W .380 EZ. Much better and should buy her a few more years of defensive handgun self sufficiency.
 
I'll add some experience racking using the rear of the slide with thumb and index fingertip . Here's some observations on slide operation on my semi's :

Hands down the easiest and smoothest slide action is my S/A Range Officer 1911 in 9mm. VERY smooth slide action and light recoil spring.

Kimber 10mm Target II 1911. Very stiff recoil spring = somewhat resistive slide operation.

Beretta 92FS, very smooth slide action, medium feeling recoil spring, very poor placement of ambi decocker making racking the 92 with "fingertips at the rear" painfull.

Glock G22. Smooth slide, medium stiffness recoil spring, plain jane slide, no obtrusion's medium force required for racking. Slide on the Glock feels a bit "slippery" IMO.

FNX45T . slightly sticky slide and a medium/lighter feeling recoil spring. slide grip feels the most secure and easy to grip with fingertips, and a excellent compromise of slide grip serrations texture that feels secure without feeling like a cheese grater.

Desert Eagle 44 mag. Forget about it. Brutally stiff all around. Wear gloves period ! LOL

Me personally am finding that I am becoming more proficient with semi's when wearing thin MX gloves. Much better grip and slide serrations don't chafe up my hands. Slow controlled fire is no problem with bare hands, but transitioning to fast paced shooting I like thin gloves.
 
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