Here is my question. My wife has her CCW and I would like to get her a Glock. Right now she is shooting my Taurus 617 7 shot .357. She like it but I would like to get her an auto. Problem is this. My wife has fibromyalgia and has a hell of a time racking an auto. Glock 19 and put in a weaker spring?? Please save your teach her how to rack it story. We are both Marines and know how to rack a weapon. Problem is that was years ago and now age is catching up LOL. any suggestions???
My wife and I both have 19s and I have a 43. I also have a 357 Security Six revolver and we know that nothing get's easier with aging. Fibromyalgia is nothing to sneeze at and a flare-up is to be avoided. She needs to go to a LGS and try a couple out of options, including a 42. I do think my 19 has become easier to rack over time and provides a wider rack grip than the smaller Glocks, so the idea of a used G19 by RonS above is a good one. Lots of research on fibromyalgia encourages staying active, so going out and shooting is a great idea, but don't over do it. Marines may be inclined to go over the top. Best of Luck, MCJ.
My wife has fibromyalgia also, a gluten free diet has changed her life 100% for the better. Anyway, she carries a g42 and loves it. She likes the weight and handles it well.
The only thing I don't care for is the caliber, but if it means she will actually carry it, I'm ok with the caliber.
I would not sneer at new techniques for racking the slide. If your strong you never bother to learn them because you just rely on strength and there is nothing wrong with that. Until you don't have the strength anymore.
I agree with ABD, G42. Pick up some Underwood +P 90gr XTP's for carry and she will have plenty of poke in a very easy to rack and soft shooting gun. I shoot my G42 almost as well as my G35 with target loads, a dream gun, really.
Otherwise, my Sig P238 (.380 ACP) is exceptionally easy to rack, significantly easier than my G42. Very easy to shoot and accurate. But the P238 is SAO with an external safety, might not be as easy to operate in a high stress situation as a Glock for your wife.
Just asking ... any reason she can't decide what weapon she wants to carry? You tell us that she likes the wheel-gun; why are you adamant about her having an auto-loader, considering her medical restrictions?
I would get her a S&w 5 shot 38 special. No slide to rack and reliable as heck. Pretty easy to carry and load it full of defensive +P ammo. I got one for my daughter although she also runs auto pistols quite easily.
My sister has no experience to run and clear an auto pistol, so she is buying a 38 special smith revolver as well. It's not massive capacity , but it will usually be plenty to defend yourself..
After reading OP's comments I'd be inclined to have the wife consider a J frame. No FtF drills to learn, just press the loud button.
But I'd let Her decide what she wants after she has tried several options at your local range via their rental fleet.
You don't pick her shoes, you shouldn't pick her pistol. If the taurus works for her, make sure its reliable and let her carry what she wants, provided its not a Jiminez or some such crap.
My wife carries a Ruger LCR38 because it's simple to use. I just ordered one for myself for fathers day because I like that much. She used to carry a G42 but I was always worried that she wasn't proficient enough to work it if it malfunctioned.
With that physical limitation, I'd be inclined to point her towards a better quality revolver. S&W J-Frame like the PD 340 in scandium. It isn't cheap but it's damn good and with some of the new 38 special loadings available to choose from, it should be more than adequate.
I'm a semi-auto guy. I grew up with the old westerns, but I've grown beyond them. I've got a bunch of revolvers, but I consider them novelties. Stay with me here. My step mom wants a semi-auto. She has a .38 revolver, but it's stainless and she finds it heavy to carry. I handed her my Bodyguard first after checking for clear. It's tiny and light weight. I asked her to rack the slide and she couldn't. Then I did the same with my Glock 43. There's a little more meat to hold on to, but again, she couldn't budge the slide. I suggested she look at a couple of revolvers that are much lighter for her to carry. Of course there will be the issue or recoil with a lighter gun. Sometimes a revolver is a better choice. The final say needs to be hers though.
Yep, it is the old advice already offered - If the revolver works for her, why do you want her to shoot an auto? Just take her to a nice gun store, drop her off, and let her get what she likes. She is a Marine for pete's sake.
I don't know about the 42/43 Glocks, but all the others have pretty much the same recoil spring weight, within a pound or so. If she can't rack the 19, she'll have issues with all the others. As has been pointed out there are several slide racker devices that can be attached.
As to the comments about getting a j frame revolver, those can be a handful, especially with hotter rounds. I'd look at something with an all steel frame. The K6S is spendy, but might be a good choice.
Take her to the gun shop and let her choose.
My 71 year old female friend had problems racking her Sig. She liked my wife's Glock 26 but had problems racking that. She ended up getting an attachment to the rear of the Glock 26 slide that allowed her to hook her finger in the metal loop - and voila, she can rack easily. Got the attachment from the Glock Store.
My 71 year old female friend had problems racking her Sig. She liked my wife's Glock 26 but had problems racking that. She ended up getting an attachment to the rear of the Glock 26 slide that allowed her to hook her finger in the metal loop - and voila, she can rack easily. Got the attachment from the Glock Store.
If she has trouble racking a Glock slide, you may want to consider another manufacturer's gun. The Sig 938 and 238 have a hammer that can be cocked and uses a barrel link that reduces the effort to rack the slide. If she should have problems with a semi auto, being able to manipulate the slide is imperative.
Revolvers are always a nice alternative and there is less to go wrong with them. If there is a problem, usually a second trigger pull clears the problem.
Mas reminded me of one thing to check and that is to make sure to check the ammunition being loaded to make sure there are no high primers.
My wife has problem with slides but no problem with revolvers. I've loaded duds to see how she would react and she freezes or tries the trigger again. A revolver misfires and she continues. Granted not the best move in a hang fire, but that would be a problem with a semiauto also.
Suggestions? Sure, take your wife to a range that has a plentiful array of rental firearms and let her have at it with as many different manufacturer's pistols and calibers as possible, in both semi auto and wheelgun alike.
You making the decision on what firearm she needs makes as much sense as her making the decision on what firearm you need...
There are plenty of alternatives to the Glock platform that work for individuals with hand strength and/or health issues, yet if for some reason you insist on the Glock platform there are ways of adding simple devices to aid in the racking of the slide and disassembly...
Brass Stacker slide pull charging handle:
Trapazoidal style extended slide lock:
STUL slide lock tool:
But please remember...there's not only more than one way to skin a cat, there are other animals besides cats...
While I am not happy with Springfield right now because of the stance they took on a gun control bill in their home state . I would have her look at a XD-E . It is marketed as being easy to rack and almost self cocking .
She is the one that needs to pick her own gun , that feels right in her hands . You can help by suggesting guns for her to look at and making a list and calling around LGS to see what they have in stock .
1) let her pick her own gun. SWMBO prefers revolvers.
2) If dead set on a semi auto, an RM380. Not a Glock, but the RM380 is the easiest auto I've found to rack. Several women friends who cannot rack any other semi, can rack an RM380. Loaded with good ammo, a 380 can be pretty darn effective.
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