How can my wife strengthen her hands/arms to rack the slide?

[randypollock]

Thanks for all the tips guys.

Here is my post and video of my wife Gerri trying the tips.

There was success!

http://rphoto.me/ie8oc1

Thanks everyone.

[jslaker]

Great effort.

A pointer - it looks like she's still making most of the effort with her weakhand arm while anchoring her SH arm. Have her try it the other way around. I generally anchor my SH forearm against my side, with the push coming primarily from that side. My weakhand arm does flex inward some, but most of the movement is from the stronghand side.

She also looks like she may be starting to hesitate toward the end of the slide cycling, which could be making things more difficult for her. You want to keep continuous pressure on the gun until the slide hits its rearward stop and "slips" past your weakhand. The gun will keep going forward a bit, and that's totally okay. The gun deals with far more abuse when cycling a live round, so it's not going to hurt the firearm.

Great job, and I'm sure she'll be able to get the hang of it in time.

[randypollock]

Great effort.

She also looks like she may be starting to hesitate toward the end of the slide cycling, which could be making things more difficult for her. You want to keep continuous pressure on the gun until the slide hits its rearward stop and "slips" past your weakhand. The gun will keep going forward a bit, and that's totally okay. The gun deals with far more abuse when cycling a live round, so it's not going to hurt the firearm.

Great job, and I'm sure she'll be able to get the hang of it in time.

Yes she gets nervous that the slide is going to pinch her so she gets slow on the slide. Time should help with that. I was proud of her for trying number one then getting over the first hurdle

[jslaker]

Yes she gets nervous that the slide is going to pinch her so she gets slow on the slide. Time should help with that. I was proud of her for trying number one then getting over the first hurdle

Yup. Might be worth pointing out that, paradoxically, you're more likely to get pinched if you lose momentum and the slide cycles forward with your hand still in the way than if you punch through, get your hand out of the way, and let the gun do its thing after the slide slips out of your hand.

But again, it's great that she's willing to try. Keep experimenting and she'll figure out something that works for her.

[randypollock]

I'll tell her that...also the suggestion to pull the hammer back first could help. As you can see on the video with the 45 she had an easier time once she racked it the first time and the hammer was back for the other times.

[jslaker]

I'll tell her that...also the suggestion to pull the hammer back first could help. As you can see on the video with the 45 she had an easier time once she racked it the first time and the hammer was back for the other times.

I watched the video on my phone and couldn't see the hammer, but that would absolutely help. Most of the resistance comes from the mainspring, so precocking the hammer compresses the mainspring and makes the slide quite a bit easier to manipulate.

[randypollock]

The glove helped some but it was just a garden glove so she was annoyed that it was awkward with the fingers.

I saw this company in American Handgunner http://gripswell.com/ does anyone know anything about them or is there a good glove maker for shooting?

[JulieG]

YAY!!!!! That's just awesome!!!
Please give her my congrats!

[mrozowjj]

I want to preface this post with the information I'm not any instructor but I end up taking a lot of people relatively new to the range because I'm a member at a private range. (A lot of "Can you take me and my wife shooting?" kind of things.)

Based of everything said so far this probably isn't the problem with the OP's wife but is something to think about on the general issue of people having difficulty racking the slide. When I'm taking someone new a lot of them are very ginger with the gun because they are afraid of damaging the gun by being rough with it. This includes not wanting to slam the magazine in hard enough to seat it properly, not wanting to put enough force on the slide release lever to actually release the slide, and slide manipulation in general. I've watched a few ride the slide very slowly and end up with the slide not closing completely.

Once I explain to them that they aren't going to damage the gun they seem to overcome this mental hitch.

[randypollock]

I agree about the handling of the firearm. Gerri is better about that now, but she still on occasion hold it with more care than needed. I have told her that she can't break it and like was said that has helped.

I am looking forward to the weather getting better so we can go to the range and she can practice with loaded magazine.