Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Slide's on most semi's

Is here any way to cut down on the effort to work the slide on some Semi's? It seems as if you need to have hands like a gorilla to work them. Even the small .380's. I don't know if you can install a lesser tension spring or not. That may inhibit the recoil and action. I know most would tell me to get a revolver, but I sort of like the 9MM's and .40's with a large capacity mag.

I have difficulty racking slides on some handguns. I am missing the index on my left hand making it hard to grab and pull in a normal fashion to rack a slide. Was shown a technique that works great. Grasp the slide with as many fingers as you can over the top on the slide so fingertips are perpendicular to the slide.Then instead of racking the slide push the grip frame away from you as you hold the slide. You can generate much more force by pushing than pulling and the grip gives you more surface area to apply force to.

The smaller the length of slide, the higher the spring tension.. Try a full-size 1911 and note how easy those draw back compared to a compact.. Putting in a lighter spring will only increase the speed of damage to the slide from use.. Not advisable - unless one is trying to match the spring rate to a specific lighter loading..

One of my compact pistols is quite easy to use the slide - the Ruger SR9C.. That, and 17 round capacity (9mm) is pretty awesome.. The Kahr's, however, do take some effort..

Some pistols have finger grooves on the muzzle end of the slide in addition to the usual rear end ones. I find that it is easier to grab them and bring your hands together on those high spring rates. I have seen 1911 slides modified that way and nothing says you couldn't do it to almost any auto pistol.

RAN