"Racking" handguns and age

DAKA

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Joined
Jun 29, 2025
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31
Seems I have a few guns that I can no longer rack..The older you get the harder it gets. :(
So, Ive decided that a few "have to go"
These days you need to be VERY CAREFUL about private sales, meeting a buyer somewhere,,,
Gun stores want to "steal" your guns offering very low prices....fortunately both of my sons are shooters
they have probably decided who get which already!! 🤣
 
I'm 72 and some guns can be difficult to rack. I find that holding grip firmly in right hand (finger off trigger) while holding dust cover (slide) firmly in left and pushing grip toward left at chest level helps a great deal. Joe
 
I'm 72 and some guns can be difficult to rack. I find that holding grip firmly in right hand (finger off trigger) while holding dust cover (slide) firmly in left and pushing grip toward left at chest level helps a great deal. Joe
I'm 76 and now have arthritis in both hands.
I too use the "push" technique Joe describes. I can still chamber a round the "old way" in my Colt 1911, but that little Walther PPK that I pocket carry is a BEAR to cock. I have to use the push rather than pull method.

I recently went over to the Dark Side and purchased my first polymer 9MM, a Taurus G3C. That one I can still cock in the normal manner.
 
You guys are still young, I'm 90 (NINE ZERO) all of this started about 4/5 years ago When Yu can hardly rack a Glock 26 you'ze got trouble.
I just bought an EQUALIZER (9 mm, nice gun, good shooter..easy to rack) but so many will have to go
 
You guys are still young, I'm 90 (NINE ZERO) all of this started about 4/5 years ago When Yu can hardly rack a Glock 26 you'ze got trouble.
I just bought an EQUALIZER (9 mm, nice gun, good shooter..easy to rack) but so many will have to go
Wife has a Smith EZ in .380. Is that something like that. Looks smaller though.
 
at 79, I don't yet have any issues with racking the semi auto slides. I do find that the 'push/pull' method is easier.
 
I think people age at different rates, grow old more slowly or more aggressively. Mannlicher, the fact that you can do that at 79, God bless you. Some people at 60 can't do that. Maybe you set the stand ard we should all shoot for,
 
You guys are still young, I'm 90 (NINE ZERO) all of this started about 4/5 years ago When Yu can hardly rack a Glock 26 you'ze got trouble.
I just bought an EQUALIZER (9 mm, nice gun, good shooter..easy to rack) but so many will have to go
You can get an EZ in 9mm, which is very easy to rack, however it is only a single stack and has the grip safety. My wife has one. Another option for easy racking is the FN Reflex.
 
Grip the pistol in the shooting hand. Bring your arms and elbows in tight against your torso. Support hand covers the slide and ejection port. Push with firing hand, push opposite direction with support hand and most old people (I am 75) can manage to rack most slides..... sorry I dont have a video demo to post.
 

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