Locked Breech or tip-up for a person without grip strength to rack the slide?

[John from MD]

Mark,

It could be that they are not using a correct hold for the gun. I have demo'd it with maybe 50 people and it takes them a short time to understand what they have to do. Those that had an issue seemed to be trying to avoid the safety when holding the gun. Just my .02.

 

[teratos]

I cannot recommend the S&W EZ. I have had several students unable to manipulate the grip safety. No problem loading and racking, but if you can't get the safety off, it's no more useful than a rock.

Disable it.

I know, modified gun. I, personally, will never carry a stock gun.

 

[TI-tick]

I've got one of these, S&W Hand Ejector in 32S&W long (not the one in the picture) with a 3.5 inch barrel. Not a bad choice for the older ladies out there.
It's a sweet pistol to shoot. Buffalo Bore makes a hard-cast wadcutter round that should chrono at 900 fps for social work. Maybe not the most effective round, but the caliber has limitations.

View attachment 377349

I took my 70 + YO Mom to the range a few years back and she did very well with this. 38 S&W.

She did so well I thought it best to leave it alone rather than progressing up to 38 special, etc., as there are health concerns.
I think the bling grips helped. If she asks for a handgun, this is what I'll offer up for her.

Agree the load is not optimal but it is what it is.

 

[somd_mustangs]

There are 'slide rackers' available that come way off the side of a gun. A lot of folks in USPSA open division use them. Basically a huge hook/stick bolted to the slide. Not just little tabs on the back. Not really appropriate for CCW but a nightstand gun would benefit.

This pistol isn't really a serious suggestion for OP of course, but slide-assist devices have been around for a long time... the 1920's Jo.Lo.Ar. also has a tip-up barrel so two checks in the block. They also had a smaller .32 version but it's pretty rare (even the 9mm Largo version like this is hard to find). Completely impractical gun though which is probably why they didn't make many. Good concept, poor implementation here (esp with no trigger guard), but more streamlined than a hook sticking out of the slide.

 

[tjaw]

I cannot recommend the S&W EZ. I have had several students unable to manipulate the grip safety. No problem loading and racking, but if you can't get the safety off, it's no more useful than a rock.

I have the S&W EZ 9mm and the Performance Center version of that pistol, the latter of which has been one of my main MD W&C pistols for several years (I have severe arthritis in both hands). To me, the grip safety on the EZ ensures that I have good purchase on the gun, with a high, tight grip. If you are attempting to fire the gun, and do not have the grip safety depressed, you do not have full (or at least optimal) control of the gun.

Students *can* get the safety off - with training.

 

[Bullfrog]

I cannot recommend the S&W EZ. I have had several students unable to manipulate the grip safety. No problem loading and racking, but if you can't get the safety off, it's no more useful than a rock.

They apparently came out with an 'enhanced' grip safety because it was a problem for some people. If this is the only issue the new version may be a solution for people who need it.

This is a 'semi custom' version of the gun, but maybe the enhanced safety can be added to a standard model.

Externally, the new EZ comes with a flat-faced skeletonized trigger and an extended grip safety (in the same color as the barrel). Smith reps told GunsAmerica that they enhanced the grip safety because certain users were reporting difficulty engaging the mechanism and pulling the trigger at the same time.

Smith & Wesson Introduces Tricked Out Shield EZ, Optics-Ready Shield – NRA 2019

The EZ gets a gold barrel and the Shield gets an optic! Smith&Wesson's new mods are sure to make these already-popular handguns even more so.

www.gunsamerica.com

 

[Blaster229]

Hate grips safeties non 1911's

 

[HawaiiMark]

A trick I teach women who have a hard time racking a slide. Instead of pull the slide back, hold the slide and push the grip forward. It makes a big difference.

 

[John from MD]

True Dat.

 

[Blaster229]

A trick I teach women who have a hard time racking a slide. Instead of pull the slide back, hold the slide and push the grip forward. It makes a big difference.

Both at the same time. Push pull

 

[DutchV]

I have a M&P Shield 9mm with a set of ears clamped on back of the slide. It came with the gun so I do not have the part number. Different than the link above but same effect.

Is this it? Simple mod and cheap at $20 makes it worth a try.

GCH For The Glock 43 43X and 48 Charging Handle - GCH For The Glock 43 43X and 48 Charging Handle

GCH Glock 43 Charging Handle The Glock Charging Handle for the Glock 43 aids with racking the slide. Instruction is simple and doesn't require a gunsmith

www.recovertactical.com

And one for the S&W:

SCH9 Charging Handle for the Smith & Wesson Shield Mod 1 and 2 9MM SW40 (Including Shield Plus) - SCH9 Charging Handle for the Smith & Wesson Shield Mod 1 and 2 9MM SW40 (Including Shield Plus)

GCH Glock 43 Charging Handle The Glock Charging Handle for the Glock 43 aids with racking the slide. Instruction is simple and doesn't require a gunsmith

www.recovertactical.com

 

[Blaster229]

Is this it? Simple mod and cheap at $20 makes it worth a try.

GCH For The Glock 43 43X and 48 Charging Handle - GCH For The Glock 43 43X and 48 Charging Handle

GCH Glock 43 Charging Handle The Glock Charging Handle for the Glock 43 aids with racking the slide. Instruction is simple and doesn't require a gunsmith

www.recovertactical.com

And one for the S&W:

SCH9 Charging Handle for the Smith & Wesson Shield Mod 1 and 2 9MM SW40 (Including Shield Plus) - SCH9 Charging Handle for the Smith & Wesson Shield Mod 1 and 2 9MM SW40 (Including Shield Plus)

GCH Glock 43 Charging Handle The Glock Charging Handle for the Glock 43 aids with racking the slide. Instruction is simple and doesn't require a gunsmith

www.recovertactical.com

These things still require a good grip. They would have to be as wide as an AR charging handle to be effective. I put on one Vickers had just because it provided a tiny lip if I needed to charge the slide on the edge of something 1 handed.

 

[Mondial]

Is this it? Simple mod and cheap at $20 makes it worth a try.

GCH For The Glock 43 43X and 48 Charging Handle - GCH For The Glock 43 43X and 48 Charging Handle

GCH Glock 43 Charging Handle The Glock Charging Handle for the Glock 43 aids with racking the slide. Instruction is simple and doesn't require a gunsmith

www.recovertactical.com

And one for the S&W:

SCH9 Charging Handle for the Smith & Wesson Shield Mod 1 and 2 9MM SW40 (Including Shield Plus) - SCH9 Charging Handle for the Smith & Wesson Shield Mod 1 and 2 9MM SW40 (Including Shield Plus)

GCH Glock 43 Charging Handle The Glock Charging Handle for the Glock 43 aids with racking the slide. Instruction is simple and doesn't require a gunsmith

www.recovertactical.com

 

[Mondial]

The ‘ears’ on mine look like the second link for the M&P. They are helpful and, for $20, a good deal.

 

[RFBfromDE]

While I’m convinced technique is more important than ease of racking, my LCPII 380ACP is easy to rack and load even without good technique.

 

[RangerWillrett]

Use the rear sight and the edge of the table to rack the slide. You could also buy one of those Handi-Racker or similar devices.

 

[LeadSled1]

Not that great on capacity but a PK380 has a reduced slide effort just for this. It is also a full size frame with lower recoil ammo. This is what I used to get my son shooting a hand gun correctly when he was about 12. There wasn’t worry about recoil and he could run the slide without struggling and fighting it. There is a slide catch on empty but no slide release. To release the slide you pull back on the slide and let it go.

PK380 | BLACK – www.waltherarms.com

The Walther PK380 Black was the first easy to rack semi-auto polymer pistol. Easy to handle with minimal recoil, the PK380 is ideal for concealed carry.

waltherarms.com

 

[lazybones]

I cannot recommend the S&W EZ. I have had several students unable to manipulate the grip safety. No problem loading and racking, but if you can't get the safety off, it's no more useful than a rock.

Thanks for the comment. A grip safety might be a problem for our use case.