Problem with the wife... but not *that* kind of trouble..

My wife is soon to take her concealed carry class, and that requires a demonstration of basic gun-handling and shooting skills.

The problem is that she has trouble racking the slide on the semi-auto she prefers to shoot. (A Kahr CW9). I've tried to show her how to hold it in close to her body and use her left hand over the slide, right hand on grip and push across her chest with both arms - but she still has trouble doing it smartly enough to completely chamber the round. (It's not the gun - I have no problems with it at all)

I've had her shoot my small 38 revolver, but she doesn't like the double-action trigger and doesn't want to thumb-cock the hammer. She also doesn't like the kick from the 38, even shooing 'cowboy' loads.

The rest of my guns are in .40 or .45 so I'm a bit stuck. Any suggestions? Tips?

Try telling her to hold the gun away from her body, pull the slide toward her while at the same time pushing on the grip. That usually helps a lot of smaller women.

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...hold the gun away from her body, pull the slide toward her while at the same time pushing on the grip.

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That's the way she prefers to do it, sort-of... but she can't get a firm enough grip on the slide and she has the same problem. That's why I went to the close-in method. More leverage, and she can get more fingers on the slide.

Try a pair of mechanic gloves that will not slip on the slide. Tell her to start low and come up with a push the right hand and pull with the left hand. Fast now and feel when the slide is all the way back and release. Tell her to keep her trigger finger pointed straight out and not inside the guard. With a little pratice she'll do fine. Good luck.

Know anyone with another gun she could use?

Ya know what might work? Have her squeeze tennis balls in her hands a few times a day. It will help strengthen her hands and possibly help her keep a grip on the slide.

The gloves idea might be worth a try, and the strengthening exercises too. As to another gun - yea, there's a fellow who has a light .22 auto that he's let other women use. In fact, he's one of the co-instructors.

But I'm looking past qualification - *we're* looking past qualification - we have to find a practical solution that will work if/when she's actually carrying. I don't happen to have any 9mm snap-caps but I can get some - whatever else we do, we'll do some 'dry' practicing.

Thanks for the suggestions - it helps to talk things out, and I can't think of a better place to do so than right here.

Just an idea. Cheap to try -- if it works good, if not, no big loss.
Get one of those rubber jar openers, that people give away as advertising premiums. For example:

http://www.csne2.homestead.com/jar_openers.html

Punch a hole near the edge. Run a string through the jar opener, tie it onto a belt loop, and let it hang there. When it is time to operate the slide, grab the holder, then grab the slide. It may be just enough to get her through the class.

If you have one in the house, see if it works.

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Originally Posted by kansas_plainsman

I've had her shoot my small 38 revolver, but she doesn't like the double-action trigger and doesn't want to thumb-cock the hammer. She also doesn't like the kick from the 38, even shooing 'cowboy' loads.

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Have her try some 38cal 148gr wadcutters. They are light target rounds and have little to no kick.

If that doesn't suit her then she needs to find a gun she can operate and shoot and use it.

I just looked up that Kahr online, and I confirmed my suspiscion.

If you can get her a semi-auto with a hammer, cocking the hammer makes racking the slide 100% easier.

When I want to rack the slide as easily as possible on my Sig P226, I cock the hammer with my thumb, and then the slide moves with great ease.

Also, when I want to check the chamber for a bullet, I first cock the hammer, and then I am able to move the slide with so much ease that I can slowly move in a half inch WITHOUT ejecting the round.

This implies buying her another gun, and I also noticed above that she does not like to cock hammers. She would only need to cock it the first time though, as all subsequent shots would be from an already cocked position.

What I have found is that the thickness of the slide has as much to do with difficulty racking as the spring pressure. I have lots of guns, but I to have some trouble racking my Taurus PT945. The only reason seems to be the slide is narrow compared to my 1911 or XD9. I know you want slim for carry, but try to have her rack an XD9 sub-compact in the store. Also, try other brands. No matter the spring tension they all rack differently. You just might find one that she can rack with no issues.