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I have a female friend who's talked about getting a pistol. She has a weak left hand, and can't rotate her lower arm much, so racking a slide is difficult. She has difficulties with revolvers too, but I'm not quite sure why; her husband has a couple, and said she didn't do well with them.

I know there's a Glock addon with ears at the back of the slide, but I don't think that would work for her.

I remember seeing something recently that was supposed to make working the slide with one handle possible (using your belt, boot heel, jeans); it may just have been someone digging the rear sight into their belt/jeans/boot to cycle the slide.

Something with a charging handle would work (no I don't think it'd be carried concealed), but I can't think of any auto pistols with a charging handle. Maybe a knob in place of the rear sight would work...

Does anyone have a recommendation for something along this line? I was thinking a carbine or shotgun might work, but there's same problem of finding something with a left handed charging handle that she could work, let alone being able to grasp the forearm. It'd have to have a charging handle plus a grip on the left side (kind of like the left hand handle on some electric drills). Maybe a Sten Gun. ;)

http://www.handi-racker.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I saw a ring welded onto the back of a slide once. Can't remember the details, though.

Will she be shooting right hand only?

Have her look into a Beretta 86. It doesn't require the slide to be racked manually to load. It has the tilting barrel.

Yeah, I was thinking of the tilt-barrel Berettas or Tauruses, too.

My wife's BFF carries a .38 Snubby. She is a Message Therapist... so her hands and muscles already get a work out (Plus she is close my age). Right now she is looking to just work enough. And though she qualified for her CHL with a Semi-Auto pistol. She would prefer to keep her revolver, simply because of racking the slide is difficult. I sympathize with her. My Ruger at first was a real "B" to rack back the slide. It is now working in just perfect, but i know the feeling of fighting with it.

http://www.dawsonprecision.com/ProductD ... 1284741534" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This device must be used with Dawson's "Charger" rear sight (or similar style with a 90-degree forward angle). This WILL NOT work with any Glock OEM factory sights.

And nearly any semi auto can be racked into battery one-handed off a belt with proper technique, but this is a skill to be learned and utilized only in bad circumstances and not an every time method because it can cause the muzzle to point in bad directions (toward yourself or others) if done improperly.

Also, Google "Glock charging handle" and you'll find a lot of add-on devices. I have no experience with any - some look like gimmicks, some may work well.

First off, while I don't know the OP's friend or situation in detail I suspect that a GOOD firearms instructor can teach her how to chamber a round on nearly any semi-auto pistol. The proper technique uses both hand and can be done so that the weak (IE non-dominant) hand essentially does not move. In the event that the shoulder and elbow are also damaged to the point that the friend can not use the correct method a semi-auto with a tip up barrel or a revolver is probably the best choice. I would strongly advise against adding gimmick devices so that someone can carry a specific brand/type/whatever firearm seeing as firearms are most definately not one size fits all.

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.

WinoVeritas wrote:http://www.handi-racker.com/

That may be too much of a gimmick; I'm less worried about the initial loading than clearing a jam.