The glocks are not all that bad. They have plenty of surface area to grab and rack the slide with ease even on the smaller pistols.

It really depends on the model number and not the manufacturer.
Walther PK380 for the 380 and very easy to shoot as well.
Walther PPS or PPQ for the 9mm, although there are a lot of 9mm's I haven't tried.
You can always look to replace the spring with a lighter spring as well...within reason.
The Custom CZ's have a lighter pull, but they have custom springs.
Glock's are not too bad and lighter springs are readily available.

Be Safe, Get Plenty of Training.

I seriously doubt that a brand will significantly change how difficult the spring is to move. Best thing is probly to take her to a gunshow/store and have her try them out. If a full size 9mm is difficult, a compact could be more difficult, depending on what is hard for her. In my experience, the compacts have tougher springs and are harder to charge.

Obviously, the smaller the caliber, the weaker the spring, maybe a .380 is in order? A revolver also solves the issue pretty easily. 9mm revolvers are less common, but can be found.

Walther p5 has easiest slide to pull back I've seen. HKs have a lot of slide to grab. CZs have very little slide to grab.

Kathy Jackson has a good suggestion about how a person with less upper-body strength, for instance a woman, can more easily rack a slide.
Click on: Cornered Cat - Rack the Slide

Thanks guys...all good advice on the springs and models. The best advice for now is the link to KJ's - Cornered Cat - Rack the Slide from SteveM1911A1. It will help to let her try other models at the next gun show also.
Doug

couple of years ago, when my mother was 68, she wanted a gun. We tried several, and she had the same issue.

The Hk USP 9mm and USP compact 9mm were the easiest for her to work. The grip on the compact USP is a bit smaller than on the fullsize.

Also, the Bersa 380 worked for her. The HKs were a little easier, but more expensive. So, she bought a Bersa 380.

Thanks Shipwreck, I'll look at the HK's. I've been eyeing the Bersa Thunder for a while.

Yea, the HK will work great if you can swing it. If a 68 year old woman can do it (she is 70 now), then your wife will be fine...

Easiest by far! Sig P238

Yankee Station: My wife and I actually looked at and held one of these in the gun shop Monday afternoon. I agree 100% that this is by far the nicest and easiest slide to cycle... It was great... Therefore, even though it's only a 380 cal.... It is a very good chance this may be the gun for her. Thanks for your response.
Doug

Originally Posted by qcdougn

Therefore, even though it's only a 380 cal.... It is a very good chance this may be the gun for her.

Don't let anybody tell you the 380 won't pack enough punch. Use Magtech 85gr HP or Federal Premium HST/Hydrashock or Winchester T-Series ammo and they are powerful enough with 3-4 rounds and a decent shot placement. I personally don't think the more expensive stuff is worth the extra cost because you want to shoot enough of them to know they will cycle in your gun.

Also, remember the P238 is a Single Action Only...no second strike action and you have to load a round and put the safety up. When needed for use, set the safety off and fire.

Good Luck and have her get LOTS of training...not just shooting but training.

Maybe this post is completely out of context... but if racking the slide is a potential problem, then consider a revolver.

Revolvers, especially double-action revolvers, have their very own hand-strength issues.
This is particularly true of the shooter's hands are small, or have a short finger-reach, or both. In such cases, a single-action semi-auto might be a better choice, notwithstanding the slide-racking issue.
My wife's hands are small. She cannot properly line a revolver up with her forearm's bones, and still press its trigger. Thus, the DA revolver is offset in her hands, and is thereby guaranteed to twist in her grip when she fires a shot. She shoots DA revolvers quite well, but finds doing it very uncomfortable.



(Jean and I will be away from 09/07 through 09/21, visiting our almost-new, one-year-old granddaughter at her new home in Providence, RI. We'll see you again on the 22nd.)

I didn't say she couldn't do it...But, easier would be welcome. No Revolvers wanted at this time.

Thank you for the information about the SAO, Safety Up and Training suggestion.

i've had a couple of different semi's in the past couple of years ranging in caliber from .22 to .40 and as of yet my walther pk380 has one of the easiest slides to pull than the others that i have had. and i agree 100% with trying out several different pistols. when i was looking to get a new pistol i shopped around and tried several in my my hand (fit and feel wise) and the pk380 was the winner. if you have any ranges near you that sells guns as well, see if they have a rental program where you can rent a gun while at the lanes and see which one your wife likes best.

You might consider picking up a reduced power recoil spring. 9mm can go down to 8 pounds safely, though most guys stick with 11 or so. Factory on a GLOCK is 15. On the bright side, you'll also notice a faster shot recovery as a bonus.

Heckler and Koch

Bar none, hands down... Easy as HELL

I always understood that the more powerful was the caliber, the stronger the spring had to be. So a .22 would be a very easy gun to jack the slide back on.

A Beretta Tomcat has a flip up barrel that allows you to check the barrel without jacking back the slide. It is very small and a very marginal round however.

I would imagine that one of the mid-sized .380s would be reasonably light. I had a Walther PPKS but I have no recollection of how hard it was to pull back the slide. It simply was not an issue for me.

Another option (and in my opinion a wise one) is to have her engage in some sort of strength conditioning program. It will benefit her shooting in many ways and will make the slide easier for her to manipulate.

Some grip exercises and some shoulder exercises would do it. These exercises will enable her to shoot better too.

"Also, remember the P238 is a Single Action Only...no second strike action and you have to load a round and put the safety up. When needed for use, set the safety off and fire."

Thanks for bringing the SAO to my attention...I'm not sure I want to carry, Cocked & Locked! This sure is disappointing. I really like this model except for that...

Thanks for the advice...I will look at the H&K's.

Beretta PX4 Compact is an easy one.