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Gun Slide
Posted on 9/9/25 at 5:31 pm
Posted on 9/9/25 at 5:31 pm
Ok fellas, looking to get a semi auto pistol for my Mom (she's 72, good health but not particularly strong) she can rack my slides but struggles a big. Is it possible for a gunsmith to make the slide lighter without potentially changing the guns reliability?
Also any recommendations on gunsmiths in Greater Houston (preferably West side or Katy) thanks!
Also any recommendations on gunsmiths in Greater Houston (preferably West side or Katy) thanks!
8
Posted on 9/9/25 at 5:38 pm to Cleathecat
What about a revolver in 22lr like the Ruger LCR? Could she pull the trigger back? She wouldn’t have to worry about a slide.
Posted on 9/9/25 at 5:46 pm to Cleathecat
Look at something in the S&W EZ family.
My recommendation is to find what fits her hands best and put a red dot on it. She can use the dot as a lever against a table and push down on the grip to rack. You can get a nice big 6 MOA dot that’s plenty bright. She’s would be better served by something she’s comfortable with and can hold on to over something that’s easier to rack.
You can’t really modify the springs too much without sacrificing reliability.
My recommendation is to find what fits her hands best and put a red dot on it. She can use the dot as a lever against a table and push down on the grip to rack. You can get a nice big 6 MOA dot that’s plenty bright. She’s would be better served by something she’s comfortable with and can hold on to over something that’s easier to rack.
You can’t really modify the springs too much without sacrificing reliability.
Posted on 9/9/25 at 6:35 pm to RobertFootball
quote:
What about a revolver in 22lr like the Ruger LCR?
The LCR .22 trigger DA is 12-14 lbs. pretty stiff. I got a .LCR 357 for my wife and loaded it with .38 special low recoil Gold dots. I also put a TK customs spring kit in it that reduced the DA pull to 7 lbs. it comes with an extended firing pin as well. Nice setup for a female.
Trigger kit.
This post was edited on 9/9/25 at 6:36 pm
Posted on 9/9/25 at 6:39 pm to Cleathecat
Another vote for the smith ez.
My MIL had one and she could barely rack the slide on several of my guns she tried but when she tried the EZ she had no issue.
My MIL had one and she could barely rack the slide on several of my guns she tried but when she tried the EZ she had no issue.
Posted on 9/9/25 at 6:40 pm to Cleathecat
quote:
Ok fellas, looking to get a semi auto pistol for my Mom (she's 72, good health but not particularly strong) she can rack my slides but struggles a big. Is it possible for a gunsmith to make the slide lighter without potentially changing the guns reliability?
A semi auto pistol for an older female that doesn’t shoot much is a bad idea. Sounds like you want to leave the chamber empty and have her rack the slide if ever needed. Again bad idea. She is going to be in a highly stressful encounter and need ti load a round. Best bet is a revolver like and others I suggested above. Just point and shoot.
This post was edited on 9/9/25 at 6:41 pm
Posted on 9/9/25 at 6:42 pm to lsufan1971
Thanks fellas, she's had a .38 in the past and is comfortable with a revolver.
Posted on 9/9/25 at 7:08 pm to Cleathecat
quote:
. Is it possible for a gunsmith to make the slide lighter without potentially changing the guns reliability?
No.
Im not a huge smith EZ fan because of the grip safety but they are incredibly easy to rack and operate vs a regular self shucker.
Ruger LCR is a great option as well. The triggers are much easier to pull than a typical DA revolver.
Posted on 9/9/25 at 8:08 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
quote:
Ruger LCR is a great option as well. The triggers are much easier to pull than a typical DA revolver.
Agreed and the grip is bigger than the Smiths which help mitigate felt recoil.
Posted on 9/9/25 at 8:20 pm to Cleathecat
quote:
Is it possible for a gunsmith to make the slide lighter without potentially changing the guns reliability?
It’s actually the other way around. A heavier slide has a lighter recoil spring because the weight of a heavy slide absorbs more of the recoil. A heavy spring on a heavy slide will stove pipe.
If you ever shoot a full size 2011 you’ll understand.
But like others have said, she needs a revolver.
Posted on 9/9/25 at 9:33 pm to Cleathecat
I have a model 10-5 3” revolver that would be perfect for her. Heavy enough to soak up recoil, trigger is smooth as silk, grip would fit small hands, reliable as all get out. The problem with alot of modern day revolvers is they’re so light and the recoil sucks on them.
Posted on 9/10/25 at 8:35 am to Cleathecat
quote:
Is it possible for a gunsmith to make the slide lighter without potentially changing the guns reliability?
You can lighten the slide by reducing the recoil spring's weight. There's a lot of aftermarket recoil springs available for any popular gun. It is easier to induce a "limp wrist" malfunction causing the gun to not return to battery with a super light recoil spring though.
With that said, my P365 has a 13-pound recoil spring and I haven't had it malfunction yet and I shoot one handed a lot. If you change anything, be sure to verify the gun's functionality with a few hundred rounds before strapping it on her.
Posted on 9/10/25 at 8:54 am to lsufan1971
quote:
A semi auto pistol for an older female that doesn’t shoot much is a bad idea.
This all day long. Get her an LCR, they're known for a really light double action pull for a revolver.
Posted on 9/10/25 at 9:12 am to Barfunkle
quote:Yep, this is the whole issue. Someone who isn't strong enough to rack a slide on a modern semi-auto is also probably going to run into issues caused by limp-wristing it, especially if they don't practice. Revolver.
You can lighten the slide by reducing the recoil spring's weight. There's a lot of aftermarket recoil springs available for any popular gun. It is easier to induce a "limp wrist" malfunction causing the gun to not return to battery with a super light recoil spring though.
Posted on 9/10/25 at 9:15 am to TideCPA
quote:
strong enough
It's technique not strength. Locking your wrists doesn't require any strength. I do agree with the revolver pick though, I doubt a 70 year old woman is going to spend time at the range drilling her technique
Posted on 9/10/25 at 12:10 pm to Barfunkle
quote:Racking a slide requires some level of strength. My point is that within the population group who struggle to rack a slide, you're also generally going to see cycling issues. There aren't a lot of proficient pistol shooters who need help charging the slide.
It's technique not strength. Locking your wrists doesn't require any strength.
Posted on 9/10/25 at 5:27 pm to lsufan1971
quote:
She is going to be in a highly stressful encounter
No she's not.
It doesn't matter what he OP gets her, she'll never have to use it.
OP needs to just get something he would like to inherit for that inevitable point in the furture.
Posted on 9/10/25 at 5:38 pm to Harry Boutte
Yea good point. Get her a model 19 classic
Posted on 9/10/25 at 8:11 pm to Harry Boutte
So a really expensive Colt! ??
Posted on 9/10/25 at 8:43 pm to Cleathecat
Beretta Cheetah and clones have a tilt barrel for people that don't have the strength to rack a slide but still want a semi auto.
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