Arthritic Hands

[JR50]

Yeah, it's not an appealing title for this thread, but I would appreciate your advice. May wife has arthritis in her hands, making it very difficult to rack the slide on my XD9 Servce Model, for example. She has a Taurus 85 revolver and it kills her hands when she fires it. She does much better shooting the XD and S&W of the same size. The problem comes when she must rack the slide and release the slide. Yes, guns with a hammer rather than a striker block help...but here's the question:

In your experience, what semi-auto 9mm has the easiest slide to rack and release?
Thanks

 

[Mgderf]

Not all THAT familiar with a variety, but my PT 99 seems easy enough. It IS a full size frame though.

 

[thompal]

In your experience, what semi-auto 9mm has the easiest slide to rack and release?
Thanks

Taurus 24/7 Pro C DS. No hammer, but it is really easy to rack the slide. The long trigger pull could be a problem though.

 

[22rssix]

Check out the Beretta PX4 in 9mm.

I think that the slide is easy to rack and the gun has low recoil due to the rotating barrel.

 

[WhitleyStu]

Baretta makes tip up barrel models (model 86) so you do not have to rack the slide. Just tip up the rear of the barrel, insert a round, lower the barrel and cock the hammer.

 

[rockydog]

I was just talking with a local shop owner Thursday about how Ruger pistols mostly seem to be easier to rack and release the slide.

 

[cce1302]

I was just talking with a local shop owner Thursday about how Ruger pistols mostly seem to be easier to rack and release the slide.

I'd agree with this. Not that you talked to a shop owner, but that the Rugers are easiest to rack the slide. My wife especially likes the P95.

 

[clt46910]

This might help.

Cornered Cat - Rack the Slide

 

[thompal]

Baretta makes tip up barrel models (model 86) so you do not have to rack the slide. Just tip up the rear of the barrel, insert a round, lower the barrel and cock the hammer.

I know they made or made a model like this in .25 (950BS?). Do they make it in other calibers?

 

[shooter521]

I know they made or made a model like this in .25 (950BS?). Do they make it in other calibers?

Model 21A Bobcat - .22LR

Model 3032 Tomcat - .32ACP

Model 86 Cheetah - .380

All have the tipping barrel system. Additionally, Taurus offers small pistols in .22 and .25 with tip-up barrels.

Of the traditional styles, the Bersa Thunder .380s have very smooth actions; I sell a lot of those to women and have seen very few that have problems cycling it.

 

[versuchstier147]

The Walther P-38. The easiest I've ever used. I own one, they're pretty nice. Only fire ball ammo, though.

 

[JR50]

Everyone....
Thanks so much. We'll check 'em out!

 

[Six Forty-Two]

She has a Taurus 85 revolver and it kills her hands when she fires it.

Do you still have the factory grips on the Taurus? We changed the grips out on our S&W J-Frame. It can make a noticable difference on the "kick". Some people forget that the snubby is a defensive handgun, not a range gun. Yes, it will hurt an arthritic hand, but you aren't shooting alot of shots at a given time in a defensive situation.

 

[45-70]

My wife has carried a Beretta Tomcat in .32 acp for years because of her lack of hand strength. She really likes the tip barrel and the little gun has performed flawlessly.

 

[mrjarrell]

You could try the Palm Pistol, if they've started full production. It's supposedly designed just for folks with arthritis and limited mobility. The drawback it that it's a one-shot in .38 .

 

[JR50]

Do you still have the factory grips on the Taurus? We changed the grips out on our S&W J-Frame. It can make a noticable difference on the "kick". Some people forget that the snubby is a defensive handgun, not a range gun. Yes, it will hurt an arthritic hand, but you aren't shooting alot of shots at a given time in a defensive situation.

Six Forty-two,
Yup, it's all original...and yes, it's not ment to be a range gun so you've given me something to think about. Thanks.