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Feeling Rusty and Uneasy
I miss my Glock.
A few months have passed since my husband and I have gone to the shooting range. With one distraction or another, and lots of excuses, we just didn’t get there (and it’s only 20 minutes away). My current excuse is that I’ve developed arthritis in my hands. My daily dose of prednisone that I take for PMR apparently disguised the symptoms; now that we’ve been trying to reduce the dose, the aching in my hands that has emerged is making it difficult to grab almost anything firmly, from milk cartons to door handles to guns.
I especially became aware of my lack of attention to my training when I heard about the Allen, TX, shooting. Several people mentioned that it’s the last town they would have thought of for a shooting to take place.
Just like our town and community.
So I’m reminded that basically there is no safe place. I have everything I need to protect myself: my concealed carry permit, my special purse for carrying, and my Glock 42, which I specially bought for its small size. But it was difficult for me to rack when I first bought it; I haven’t tried to rack it open recently, but it certainly won’t be any easier. A number of questions come up for me: should I try harder to find a drug that will reduce the pain in my hands? Is there actually a gun that I would be capable of grasping or racking? Should I rely on my husband to protect me? I hate the idea of taking more drugs almost as much as I resent having to depend on my husband (who is happy to oblige but respects my desire for self-protection).
I think, however, that it’s time to act. There may be too much at stake.
Published in Guns
I don’t know the answer. I found this on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Handi-Racker-Racking-Pistol-Leverage-Stripping/dp/B084T8KLL3. There are light revolvers, too.
That’s very cool, especially for practice. Wouldn’t help me in a rapid need situation, though.
Susan – have you tried Glucosamine with chondroiton? I don’t take it (supplement) but many swear by it including my husband. My old hair dresser also is never without it. Her hands hurt she said and could not do her job without it. It takes a month or two supposedly to work well – you might look into it.
I’ve been taking it daily since I started chemo, FSC–a couple of years. Now I wonder how bad it might be without it?! Thanks for suggesting.
I have the same problem Susan. I don’t yet have a concealed handgun permit, but I generally keep my pistol with a round chambered. That way I don’t have to rack the slide under duress, and if I need to change an empty magazine the slide will already be locked back. Just dump the empty, insert new magazine, and release the slide.
You may not be comfortable with this, of course.
Thanks! We were just discussing that very thing. Originally I didn’t like the idea, MWD, but it may just be my best option. I am able to release the slide.
EAA is importing the new Girsan 14T, a gun based on the clever Beretta Model 86. The barrel tips up, so you never have to rack the slide. Insert magazine, flip up the barrel, put in a round, latch the barrel down, and go. I have owned a Beretta 86 for 15 years and love it; Girsan makes good guns, so I would look into this if I were you.
Very interesting, Doug. You’ve spoken highly of Berettas. The only big change for me is the safety.
The S&W Shield EZ was specifically designed to be easy to rack, load, etc., for people with less grip strength. It’s even available in 380 Auto, like your Glock 42. See if you can find one for rent at a local range to try out.
https://www.smith-wesson.com/products/shield-ez
ETA: Note the “EZ” in the name. This isn’t the same as the standard Shield or Shield Plus, which don’t have the easy-rack feature.
Thanks, Terry. I think Doug Pratt recommended that one to me, just after I bought the Glock 42. It might be nice to have Doug weigh in on how the EZ and the Girsan 14Tcompare in his assessment.
In fact I distinctly remember Doug recommended the EZ for ease of use. Oh well . . .
I think the pistol brace was made just you to take to the range. They are still kind of legal until the end of May.
I take it every day and it’s been really helpful. So much so that I know when I haven’t taken it. It might take 3-4 weeks to settle in to feel a difference.
I also use a German made homeopathic topical cream (Traumeel) which works wonders for aches. (I’ve a bad rotator cuff from swimming miles my whole life and would have trouble without it. My workouts are different now to manage the shoulder pain but I can do it.) Heel Traumeel from Amazon is the stuff – no longer sold direct in the US.
You might have missed that I’ve been taking it for two years as part of my regimen following chemo. And my system is still adjusting to a life without those toxins, so I’m a bit reluctant to take unfamiliar supplements, although I do appreciate your weighing in.
I’d look at concealed carry revolvers. Personally i think the .38 Special is a better cartridge for thus oirpose as the .357 Magnum will have too much recoil.
https://gundigest.com/handguns/concealed-carry/5-standout-concealed-carry-revolvers-carry/amp#top
I’d also suggest looking at the .22WMR (.22 Magnum) as well. With a jacketed hollowpoint, it’s very similar to a .38 Special and has very little felt recoil and thus for a concealed carry revolver would make an excellent choice.
https://www.personaldefenseworld.com/2013/09/combat-test-ruger-lcr-22-magnum/
The Glock was a good choice when you made it. Times change. I also recommended the Beretta Pico, which is small and light, racks easily, has no safety, and has become my old-man EDC. It’s a front pants pocket pistol, with an appropriate pocket holster (which you should always use to avoid lint in the barrel). I think that pocket carry is better than a purse gun; harder to snatch. It’s an outrage that women’s clothing doesn’t have more pockets.
The S&W Shield EZ should be high on your list to check out. The question is ease of racking, which is another potential issue with the Pico. I like the Girsan (and my old Beretta 86) because racking will never be an issue. If you should happen to see a Beretta 86 you should consider getting it as an investment; I bought mine for $500 and I’ve seen them on auction sites for $1600.
Avoid the Colt Mustang Pocketlite. It has a reputation for beating up your wrist if you shoot it a lot. The SIG P238 is almost a clone of the Colt Mustang, but for some reason it is far easier to shoot; I have one, and have run a whole box of ammo through it in a single session. SIG did some magical physics with the recoil spring.
It is, however, different from your Glock or my Pico; it’s 1911 style with a safety, so you would have to carry cocked and locked. Thousands of shooters better than me do it every day, but having the hammer back just makes me nervous. I would rather rely on the long trigger pull of my Pico. Insert magazine, rack a round into the chamber, insert into pocket holster, and go about your day.
Another sweet thing about the Pico is that it can be had with an integrated laser, which I quite like. and for a Beretta it’s inexpensive.
If you go with a .22WMR, I suggest loading it with ammo designed for handgun velocities, like the Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel.
I was going to suggest a revolver in .22WMR. A very good EDC candidate for those of us on one end of the age spectrum.
I worked with a lady who had one of these at the range. My own mom passed away before giving up her grim determination for revolvers, so I could never get her to try small autos. Then they come out with this EZ, and MAN is that the gun of choice for anybody with darned near any hand/grip issues, to include general upper body strength.
Here’s a video by Lucky Gunner, whose excellent content caused me years ago to look for their ammo prices — which are also excellent. This is for the (CORRECTION) 380 EZ:
So, working with that one lady at the range, I got to handle this thing (and figure out how its buttonology is very different from my 938 and even from the regular Shield (mag interlock). I was thoroughly impressed, and the lady just loved it once we got the gun/gunner combo up and running.
So I HEARTILY recommend the Shield EZ for anybody in its sweet spot demographic, and it sounds like this thing is custom-made for you.
Comes in 9mm as well; no clue how the spring/round balance works out for that one. I presume the 380 is a lighter rack.
True. Thanks, Doug. What a wealth of information you are!
Take a look at the Walther PDP-F series. It is specifically designed for women and maybe it would be good for you. I appreciate the reduced trigger reach as I could barely get the tip of my finger on a Glock 17. From the paged linked above:
I have found UC-II collagen helpful. Of course you’d have to ask your physician.
Here’s another from “Armed & Feminine” on the 380 EZ. Watching this now (no promises) but she’s good.
Um, alright she brings up two issues, but seems to harp on the second one a bit much. I can not imagine somebody not getting the grip safety to go, but she says she’s seen it. SHe’s usually better.
This sounds excellent, too! I love the idea of low recoil, too. Thanks, BDB.
Thanks for great tips!
I heard the Smith & Wesson EZ was easy to rack . . .
This is exactly the one I got for the same reason. Lightweight and easy to use for weak arthritic hands. Susan, if we lived closer I’d give you my extra one!
I’ll also recommend not worrying too much about hand pain affecting shooting. When the SHTF, adrenaline etc will wipe out most skeleto-muscular pain signals long enough to get a magazine or two off at the guy. You’ll throw a small car at him to finish the job.
Ooh! As long as it’s not my husband’s 370Z! Yes, I thought about an adrenaline rush in a crisis, but I’d like to practice without pain.
I can’t tell if the above Walther is the same design as a Walther CCP M2. Without getting into the weeds, it uses gas pressure instead of spring pressure to delay the slide cycling. That also reportedly reduces recoil. Less spring pressure equals less effort to rack. Try them both if you can.
I don’t think the .22 mag revolver is a bad idea either if it works for you.
Good luck. I’ve had injuries interfering with my shooting habits the last 2 years and I’m unhappy about it.
See, there’s the important point. Shooting has to become a habit. I haven’t been to the range in over a year, but I just got my new Walther so I’m going to get a refresher lesson and get back at it. Nothing makes a woman feel confident, powerful and bada** like operating a firearm.
The PDP-F has a 15 round magazine.