Racking aids for aging hands

[sassnetguy50]

This thread is for pistol slide improvements to help our aging hands grip the slide to charge the pistol.  These pistols are getting smaller with stouter springs and slicker finishes.  That is the story I’m sticking to.

 

I’ll start:

Machining forward slide serrations for grip on the wider sides of the slide.

 

Glue on Slide Spider by Arachnigrip for specific pistol slides.

 

Bolt on Halo charging ring for the Browning Buckmark.

 

What else is out there?

[DeaconKC]

Check this out from Pachmayr, it works.

https://www.lymanproducts.com/brands/pachmayr/pachmayr-slide-rack

[Texas Joker]

The edge of a table or counter. There are specific techniques for one armed shooting. They carry to loss of grip strength.

[sassnetguy50]

1 hour ago, DeaconKC said:

Check this out from Pachmayr, it works.

https://www.lymanproducts.com/brands/pachmayr/pachmayr-slide-rack

This looks like it would be great to attach to the outside of the holster.

[Pat Riot]

Well, for Glocks there is the slide charging handle

https://www.glockstore.com/Slide-Pull-Charging-Handle

 

The longhorn slide charging handle 

https://www.glockstore.com/Longhorn-Slide-Pull-Charging-Handle
 

Similar gadgets from other vendors 

https://www.glockparts.com/category/charging-handles.htm

 

Charging handles for Ruger Mk pistols and Glocks

https://www.brownells.com/handgun-parts/slide-parts/slide-hardware/slide-rackers/index.htm

 

Here is a generic “Handy Racket”

Handi-Racker- Tool to Help Assist in Racking a Pistol- Gives You Leverage to Rack, Clear Jams, Load or Unload Rounds, and Field Stripping- Safest Way to Rack Your Pistol https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B01BFMD9U4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabt1_kIBXFbWB6VSNQ
 

Charging handle for the S&W Shield

https://www.recovertactical.com/product/sch9-charging-handle-for-the-smith-wesson-shield-mod-1-and-2-9mm-sw40/

 

Here’s a slide handle for Springfield XD’s

https://www.mountsplus.com/tacrack-for-the-springfield-xd-xmd-xds-slide-assist.html

 

1911 slide racket - Who needs that rear sight anyway, right?

https://www.egwguns.com/1911-parts/accessories/slide-rackers/
 

Pointers on racking a slide....I am just posting this. I didn’t write it but it might help someone. 

https://blog.cheaperthandirt.com/rack-slide-its-technique-strength/

 

This is my contribution. Going to bed. Gotta get up at 2:45 and back to work...yay. 

[Cemetery]

Have you tried gripping the slide, and then pushing the pistol forward (as opposed to pulling the slice back)?

 

I think I read about that trick in one of Capt Baylor's Wild Bunch articles years ago.

[Pat Riot]

I guess I never realized what a problem this can be for some folks. 
 

I found some videos too. 
 

 

At 4:13 the scenery gets ugly on this one...

 

I remember years ago I got DQ’d at an IDPA match for racking my slide with my left hand over the gun but with the gun pointed the length of my forearm, kind of almost like the pretty lady above at the start of the video. The RO thought my gun was aimed so that if it went off it would have shot me in the underside of my forearm towards my left elbow. I was standing sideways with the gun pointed down range. I started to argue with him but decided against it as I was fairly new to the sport and that club. 
When I went home and did the same move looking in the mirror I found the the RO was absolutely correct. I was aiming the gun directly at the meaty part of the underside of my forearm. 
 

The moral of the story:

Practice a new racking technique in the mirror so as not to cause a potential injury, problem or safety infraction. 

[sassnetguy50]

2 hours ago, Pat Riot, SASS #13748 said:

At 4:13 the scenery gets ugly on this one...

Careful there, this isn’t the Ginger v MaryDan thread.  (If it were, I agree with you)

[Pat Riot]

55 minutes ago, sassnetguy50 said:

Careful there, this isn’t the Ginger v MaryDan thread.  (If it were, I agree with you)

It's called "humor" 

[Chantry]

This may work.  If you are right handed rotate your hand so the top of the gun is at the 9 o'clock position and then try racking the slide.   Left handed rotate the top of pistol to the 3 o'clock position.  I do know it can help, but not exactly sure why.

[Joke 'um]

Solution 1:  Tip-up barrel Beretta

Solution 2:  Double action revolver

 

Forget about what the "cool kids" are doing.  Get the tool you can use.

[Chili Ron]

Howdy,    NO SLIDE NO PROBLEM.

Years back I bought a revolver that had side loading with full moon clips.

I could shoot and change clips and shoot again so quick and easy.

But it was 45 acp and not really for conceal carry.

All these years later the Ruger folks came along with the lcr in 9mm.

Five shots in a nice little package.

Five more in a second or two.

And loaded full moon clips go right into an old pill bottle.

 

If you are BUYING a pistol why sign up for all these complications?

All those little gadgets and complicated techniques are ok I guess but

why not go for a design that has been around since before the CIVIL WAR??

 

An older friend of mine bought one and almost every time I see him he 

thanks me again for the idea.

Now he wants one in .22.

Best

CR

 

[Pat Riot]

8 minutes ago, Chili Ron said:

Howdy,    NO SLIDE NO PROBLEM.

Years back I bought a revolver that had side loading with full moon clips.

I could shoot and change clips and shoot again so quick and easy.

But it was 45 acp and not really for conceal carry.

All these years later the Ruger folks came along with the lcr in 9mm.

Five shots in a nice little package.

Five more in a second or two.

And loaded full moon clips go right into an old pill bottle.

 

If you are BUYING a pistol why sign up for all these complications?

All those little gadgets and complicated techniques are ok I guess but

why not go for a design that has been around since before the CIVIL WAR??

 

An older friend of mine bought one and almost every time I see him he 

thanks me again for the idea.

Now he wants one in .22.

Best

CR

 

 

Here is something I have been contemplating trying, especially after my hand surgery. 

 

https://www.speedbeez.com/

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

PLUS ONE for Chili Ron and Pat Riot

 

Never . . . Ever . . . bet your life on equipment you have to fight with.  If you have trouble racking the/a slide, sell the auto jammer and switch to a nice Revolver.

[Wyoma]

Stainless Steel Guiderods.  Really helps on the S&W M&P's.

[Cyrus Cassidy #45437]

The "open" guns (aka "race guns") in ISPC / USPSA competition have a handle fitted into the rear sight slot.  They're using optical sights, so the rear sight is not needed.

[Charlie Harley, #14153]

21 hours ago, Joke 'um said:

Solution 2:  Double action revolver

Joke ‘um with the winner. 
 

My dad spent 30+ years teaching CCW classes, Many of which were women-only. They’d come in with their little semi-autos, many with colored polymer frames, bought by well intentioned male counterparts. 
 

After a few sessions of frustration trying to rack the slide and clear jams, he’d let them try one of his J-frames. 
 

S&W should have paid a commission for the number bought by his students. 

[McCandless]

My wife has difficulty racking the slides on my semis.  So she practiced and passed her concealed carry practical test using a Colt Cobra, operating it in single action, cocking and firing as two-handed shooters do in SASS.    She decided that she wanted a concealable semi 9, so we went hunting for what she could use comfortably and confidently... and practice with.   Oddly enough, she found that she could rack a Kimber Micro 9, (a scaled down 1911), easier than the Shield EZ, and she liked it much better than the tip-up Beretta.  

 

Let the lady find what's comfortable for her, and that she'll practice with.  Don't get in the way. 

 

I gladly bought a set of Lee 9mm dies and a 1000 jacked bullets, and have been making all the practice rounds she cares to fire!

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

PLUS ONE for Charlie Harley and McCandless

 

I also taught CCW classes while on sabbatical.   Same same, most students were gals, packing little Auto Pistols provided by the "All Knowing" alpha male.  Same result, when I had them shoot good Revolvers.  The number of Trade In auto's was nebulous.  Most "Alpha Males" wandering around out there know even less than the ladies. 

[Crooked River Pete, SASS 43485]

2 hours ago, Colorado Coffinmaker said:

 

PLUS ONE for Charlie Harley and McCandless

 

I also taught CCW classes while on sabbatical.   Same same, most students were gals, packing little Auto Pistols provided by the "All Knowing" alpha male.  Same result, when I had them shoot good Revolvers.  The number of Trade In auto's was nebulous.  Most "Alpha Males" wandering around out there know even less than the ladies. 

Wasn't all that long ago CCW trainers were complaining husband/boyfriends were buying their women revolvers, and it was much easier to teach them with an auto. I guess the pendulum  has swung the other way.

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

Atz some strange.

 

I never knew a CCW Trainer who recommended an Auto Loader.  ALL the CCW trainers I have been acquainted with were frustrated with Husband/boyfriend buying the gals revolvers.  Revolvers and or Auto Loaders that didn't fit the hand.  Really stupid thing to do.

[sassnetguy50]

Back to the topic of pistol slide improvements to help our aging hands grip the slide.