Pistol for person with weak left hand?

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brhalltx
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Re: Pistol for person with weak left hand?

Post by brhalltx »

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brhalltx
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Re: Pistol for person with weak left hand?

Post by brhalltx »

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brhalltx
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Re: Pistol for person with weak left hand?

Post by brhalltx »

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brhalltx
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Re: Pistol for person with weak left hand?

Post by brhalltx »

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brhalltx
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Re: Pistol for person with weak left hand?

Post by brhalltx »

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Last edited by brhalltx on Sun Jul 12, 2026 4:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
brhalltx
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Re: Pistol for person with weak left hand?

Post by brhalltx »

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canvasbck
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Re: Pistol for person with weak left hand?

Post by canvasbck »

A-R wrote:Lastly, this could be a technique issue. I've seen ladies who never before could rack a slide do so after proper training in the overhand push-pull method. Hold pistol in strong hand shooting grip. Grab slide with weak hand over top grasping rear serrations. PUSH forward with strong hand while at same time pulling backward (as much as she can) with weak hand. It's the combination of opposing forces from BOTH hands that can make the difference.
This :iagree:

I have yet to encounter someone who could not be trained to rack a slide with a 17-19# recoil spring unless the shooter has had a stroke or some other significant medical impairment.
"All bleeding eventually stops.......quit whining!"
flechero
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Re: Pistol for person with weak left hand?

Post by flechero »

brhalltx wrote:
flechero wrote:Have her look into a Beretta 86. It doesn't require the slide to be racked manually to load. It has the tilting barrel.
Tip ups are a possibility; but probably still has the same problem of grasping the slide to clear a jam.
Which is also something I was thinking. But since the clearing of a malfunction will not be the primary use, this gun may be a better all around option for her. I certainly don't know the extent of her ability with the weak/impaired arm.



I still think the best option is a snubby with a good trigger job.
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The Annoyed Man
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Re: Pistol for person with weak left hand?

Post by The Annoyed Man »

Again:
Before your friend makes a decision on what pistol to buy/carry, have her read this website, and this page specifically linked above. My wife has difficulty racking a slide, but she now carries a 9mm semiauto (Kahr CW9) instead of a 2" snubbie (S&W 642). She shoots the 9mm better and it has greater capacity and reloads faster.

The Cornered Cat is a most excellent resource for women who seek to carry a handgun and who face issues which most guys take for granted.
“Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.”

― G. Michael Hopf, "Those Who Remain"

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