1911 - How to work the slide with less force?

[BNE]

My 81 year old father keeps a 1911 in a hidden spot in the den as his self defense weapon. With arthritis setting in he is having trouble working the slide.

How can you make the slide easier to work?
Change springs? If yes, where is a good place to get one?

We understand this will make felt recoil stronger and may not be good for the gun long term, but he is not shooting it every day and its primary purpose now is for that "What if..." scenario.

We also understand that a revolver is an obvious fix! BUT Dad is partial to his 1911 and is quite good with it.

It is a Colt Combat Commander. I can PM the specifics if needed.

Thanks for your help.

BNE

[Jupiter7]

Might wanna do this as a load specific project and "tune" the gun. I'd recommend Wolff springs. 14lbs would be a few pounds reduced from standard.

[Der Gebirgsjager]

Well, here's the deal: You can get recoil springs of various weights from Wolff Gun Springs, and that will reduce the amount of effort needed to manually operate the slide. But the catch is that the weaker the spring is the more battering the frame takes when the weapon is fired. So there are two things that come to mind in addition to installing a weaker recoil spring. First is that much of the effort needed to operate the slide is expended in cocking the hammer from an uncocked position. You might just give this a try: remove the magazine and clear the pistol, then try pulling the slide back with the hammer un-cocked and then with it cocked. You'll notice quite a difference. This brings up the possibility of having the pistol fully cocked with and empty chamber, and your father would only have to work the slide to load the pistol. Or, you might consider having the pistol already loaded with a round in the chamber, "cocked and locked." I think that any fears about the hammer spring weakening over the long term would be unwarranted. Since you state that the gun is kept in "a hidden spot"---why not just keep it cocked and locked and avoid having to operate the slide at all? Should you install a less powerful recoil spring, and since your father apparently doesn't target practice with the pistol very often or at all, frame battering may not be a consideration. You could reduce that problem by installing a Shock-Buff type neoprene washer around the recoil spring guide. There are several brands of these, and Brownell's sells most of them. If you do install a different spring and a Shock-Buff be sure to try the pistol out before relying on it for self-defense. I have several .45s equipped with the Shock-Buff, and all remain reliable.

[w5pv]

I think I would consider going to a double action revolver.If it needs to be concealed try a stubby.

[JSnover]

Someone marketed a handle or grip of some sort a few years ago. It didn't reduced the effort but it gave the shooter a lot more to grab, making it easier to rack the slide. For a piece that will never leave home, something like that might work.

[JSnover]

http://www.brownells.com/handgun-parts/sights/rear-sights/semi-auto-cocking-sight-cocking-sight-sku129-400-001-1846-7163.aspx
Briley makes it. Brownells is currently out of stock.

[725]

It's a last dispirit technique, but food for thought: A semi can be racked with a weak or injured hand by setting the sights against the edge of a table, counter-top, window sill, etc., pushing into the hard surface chosen and thrusting the entire pistol down to move the slide. Wrecks the sights, mares the table, but can put the pistol back into action. Not a method of choice, but sometimes choice is a slim option. Best of luck.

[Artful]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXZcjZLxsMs

[Skipper]

Leave it cocked on an empty chamber. It's much easier to rack without having to overcome the hammer spring.

[Char-Gar]

The pistol needs a proper recoil spring to function. Put a round in the chamber and either engage the safety or lower the hammer. The hammer can be cocked or the safety disengaged with two hand if need be. If he can't do that he needs to change handguns.

[BNE]

Thanks guys. This gives us a few choices to try.

[docone31]

I carried my Commander with the hammer back, and the chamber empty. With the hammer back, the slide is a lot lighter.

[DCM]

It's a last dispirit technique, but food for thought: A semi can be racked with a weak or injured hand by setting the sights against the edge of a table, counter-top, window sill, etc., pushing into the hard surface chosen and thrusting the entire pistol down to move the slide. Wrecks the sights, mares the table, but can put the pistol back into action. Not a method of choice, but sometimes choice is a slim option. Best of luck.

BIG +1
No alteration to the gun and one could attach a small sacrificial piece of soft pine to the edge of the desk to save the rear sight and desk.
Just hook and push to load, with a bit of practice of course.

[country gent]

Cocking the hammer first manually removes the main springs tension from racking the slide, making it much easier to work the slide. My wife would put the front sight on the edge of the bed frame and grip it normally pushing down with her body wieght and when retracted slide it off. Takes some practice but it does work once the technique is learned. Just lightening the spring with full power loads can be an issue causing heavy wear and battering. Slide velocity increases with the lighter spring making recoil harder on adjustable sights also. If all else leave a round chambered and saftey on and handle accordingly.

[Zouave 58]

As said above, be careful about lightening the recoil spring too much as it can cause feeding issues. I would think it would be a real problem for your father to clear a jam in a high stress situation. On the other hand, double action revolver trigger pulls can be hard to manage. I had an opportunity to handle a Ruger CLR the other day and I was impressed with how light the DA was; even my wife who can barely manage a Ruger Bearcat can cycle the CLR. Comes in 22, 38 special and 357, with or without laser sight. Might be an effective tool for your dad.

[John Taylor]

It's a last dispirit technique, but food for thought: A semi can be racked with a weak or injured hand by setting the sights against the edge of a table, counter-top, window sill, etc., pushing into the hard surface chosen and thrusting the entire pistol down to move the slide. Wrecks the sights, mares the table, but can put the pistol back into action. Not a method of choice, but sometimes choice is a slim option. Best of luck.

This was taught in the military many years ago. The issue 1911 has a good front sight that will take this method.

[Rogerf]

Try this technique, rather then hold the gun and trying to pull the slide back, griping the slide between the thumb and first finger, with a normal grip hold the gun in front of, across the front of the body. Grip the slide in the palm of your hand thumb on the near side and all 4 fingers gripping the other. The gun will be fairly close to the body and the thumbs should be pointing toward each other and/or overlapping each other, one on the slide and the other below it.. Rather then just pulling back on the slide, push the gun toward the slide. This push/pull motion with the majority of the work done by pushing on the grip, which is usually in the person strong hand. I have used this with several older gentleman and a few gals that were having trouble with working the slide. As mentioned earlier cocking the hammer will also make this a little easier. Remember to be safe as this points the gun in a direction they may not be used to.

good luck
rf

[ColColt]

As others have mentioned, I've found it far and always easier to cock the hammer first. My Ruger SR1911 is pretty stiff and not being a spring chicken myself have lost some strength, due to time, in my hands and find it difficult to rack the slide as easy as I could ten years ago...five for that matter and this method makes it much easier. I still use the standard 16# spring as I've found over the years with other 1911's this to be the best spring for functioning.

[lefty o]

Try this technique, rather then hold the gun and trying to pull the slide back, griping the slide between the thumb and first finger, with a normal grip hold the gun in front of, across the front of the body. Grip the slide in the palm of your hand thumb on the near side and all 4 fingers gripping the other. The gun will be fairly close to the body and the thumbs should be pointing toward each other and/or overlapping each other, one on the slide and the other below it.. Rather then just pulling back on the slide, push the gun toward the slide. This push/pull motion with the majority of the work done by pushing on the grip, which is usually in the person strong hand. I have used this with several older gentleman and a few gals that were having trouble with working the slide. As mentioned earlier cocking the hammer will also make this a little easier. Remember to be safe as this points the gun in a direction they may not be used to.

good luck
rf

this is absolutely the way to go. if its still difficult, get a variable power recoil spring, works just like a normal one, but easier to get the slide started moving.

[HeavyMetal]

Changing springs is not the answer!

My Father in Law only had one arm, his left, and he really wanted a 1911 but no one could figure how to set it up so he could load it.

My answer was real simple: I bought one of the Barrel bushing/ muzzle breaks for a standard 1911 and cut off enough of the bushing end so it would function in a Commander without hitting the locking lugs on the barrel.

In use he stood a mag on the table, slammed the Commander down on it to seat the mag and then pushed the muzzle break against a door frame and the slide moved back far enough to chamber a round when he pulled it back, quickly, from said door frame.


A dresser, end table or head board could perform the same task with ease ( and did for the FIL a couple times) this is the best way to rig a 1911 platform to "soften" slide work.

Never liked leaving a pistol cocked, or a mag loaded, for long periods of time it's hard on springs!

[DCM]

Try this technique, rather then hold the gun and trying to pull the slide back, griping the slide between the thumb and first finger, with a normal grip hold the gun in front of, across the front of the body. Grip the slide in the palm of your hand thumb on the near side and all 4 fingers gripping the other. The gun will be fairly close to the body and the thumbs should be pointing toward each other and/or overlapping each other, one on the slide and the other below it.. Rather then just pulling back on the slide, push the gun toward the slide. This push/pull motion with the majority of the work done by pushing on the grip, which is usually in the person strong hand. I have used this with several older gentleman and a few gals that were having trouble with working the slide. As mentioned earlier cocking the hammer will also make this a little easier. Remember to be safe as this points the gun in a direction they may not be used to.

good luck
rf

I would be extremely careful with that.

http://www.sightm1911.com/lib/tech/ejection_rack_injury.htm
http://www.usacarry.com/racking-pistol-slide-technique-not-strength/

Edit: Not the photo I was looking for, the one I saw was MUCH worse! but here one is.
https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/armed-senior-citizen-damage-to-hand.jpg

[BNE]

To all the commenters, I greatly appreciate the suggestions. Dad and I discussed all of them today. We tried cocking the empty gun first and then racking the slide. This showed a significant reduction in the force required. Dad was very happy with the simpe solution.

He is capable of racking it normally, but he recognizes that his grip is not what it used to be.

Thanks again guys.

[ColColt]

Good deal! Success is all that matters. I'm nearly 69 now and have a little trouble like your dad. If I really put forth a lot of effort I can rack the slide but it's not as easy as it was when I was 25-50. It got a little more difficult over time. Glad he found a way.

[KCSO]

First cock the hammer and then pull back on the slide and push forward with the other hand on the grip, this and a 14 # spring should solve the problem.

[Clark]

KCSO,
You beat me to it:(

But but but.... I made a graph of my 1911 of the forces I measured that shows the hysteretic loops for friction and cocking the hammer.

http://i757.photobucket.com/albums/xx220/ClarkM/1911Coltcommanderslideforce3-19-2013.jpg

[nicholst55]

Changing springs is not the answer!

My Father in Law only had one arm, his left, and he really wanted a 1911 but no one could figure how to set it up so he could load it.

My answer was real simple: I bought one of the Barrel bushing/ muzzle breaks for a standard 1911 and cut off enough of the bushing end so it would function in a Commander without hitting the locking lugs on the barrel.

In use he stood a mag on the table, slammed the Commander down on it to seat the mag and then pushed the muzzle break against a door frame and the slide moved back far enough to chamber a round when he pulled it back, quickly, from said door frame.


A dresser, end table or head board could perform the same task with ease ( and did for the FIL a couple times) this is the best way to rig a 1911 platform to "soften" slide work.

Never liked leaving a pistol cocked, or a mag loaded, for long periods of time it's hard on springs!

The operation of expanding and contracting is what wears a spring out, not leaving it in either position.

There is a video on Facebook of a fella who was born without arms. It shows him shooting and reloading his 1911 with his feet. While it may have taken him many, many years to develop the strength and dexterity in his toes to allow that, it just shows what is possible with enough determination.

[rodsvet]

Just put a round in the chamber and ease the hammer down with a full mag in the handle. I've got two 1911's hidden in the house this way. Just rotate your mags every now and then and check for spring tension.

[coleman]

Try a slide racker or a SEMI-AUTO COCKING SIGHT



http://www.1911store.com/slide-racker-bcg-zigracker-1.aspx

http://www.brownells.com/handgun-parts/sights/rear-sights/semi-auto-cocking-sight-prod1846.aspx

[flounderman]

ROGERF had the solution. I thought everybody knew this. Don't be messing with the spring. You wrap your hand over the slide and hold the slide with your whole hand, with your thumb pointing rearward, and push the grip forward. I try to teach women this method.

[6bg6ga]

Artful,

Thanks for that video clip. That in my opinion would help someone with arthritis. My wifes cousin has a 1911 and has trouble racking it and the muzzle brake compensator would solve his problems. I own a EAA Witness with a muzzle brake comp and your correct in it keeping the muzzle down. I also own a Colt and a Sig.

One thing to consider might be a different 1911. My EAA Witness is double action the first shot so it can have one in the chamber and you simply pull the trigger and after that it functions like a normal 1911.

[StrawHat]

My 81 year old father keeps a 1911 in a hidden spot in the den as his self defense weapon. With arthritis setting in he is having trouble working the slide.

How can you make the slide easier to work?
Change springs? If yes, where is a good place to get one?

We understand this will make felt recoil stronger and may not be good for the gun long term, but he is not shooting it every day and its primary purpose now is for that "What if..." scenario.

We also understand that a revolver is an obvious fix! BUT Dad is partial to his 1911 and is quite good with it.

It is a Colt Combat Commander. I can PM the specifics if needed.

Thanks for your help.

BNE

Maybe I am missing something. Why don't you load it for him, put it in condition 1 and let him put it where he wants it? In a "what if" scenario, all he needs to do is drop the safety and go.

[TenTea]

Another vote for *Condition One* storage in the den.

[MtGun44]

Locked and cocked is how the pistol was designed to be kept ready for use.
Actually, the Army acceptance board required the thumb safety to be disengaged
for the entire safety testing period, only the grip safety keeping it safe, and it
passed.

With a round in the chamber, hammer cocked and thumb safety engaged the gun
is totally safe for storage. To use, grip and disengage the thumb safety - pull the
trigger.

Folks carry around shotguns (dbl barrels, semiautos, pumps) all the time with a round
in the chamber and the hammer back, safety engaged. THEY JUST CAN'T SEE THE HAMMER
INSIDE THE ACTION, SO IT IS OK. Seeing the hammer back seems to cause fear in some,
and it is unfounded, there are TWO independent safeties at work.

Bill

[Rich/WIS]

If you use a lighter recoil spring also replace the hammer spring with a lighter one, a major part of the initial effort is cocking the hammer and the OEM spring is a lot stronger than it needs to be to firer a primer. You might also consider buying a couple of boxes of target SWC ammo, less recoil and the SWC actually produces a better wound channel that RN ball. Target 45's for wadcutter use usually run a 14lb recoil spring and a 1lb hammer spring. The lighter hammer spring will also lighten trigger pull slightly.

[scattershot]

Rodsvet nailed it. The 1911 has a rebounding firing pin, so you can lower the hammer on a chambered round and leave it that way. Then all you have to do is cock the hammer.

[leftiye]

The issue may be more about gripping the slide than it is about actual force needed to cycle the slide. My CZ52 is that way - poor gripping grooves (and especially with heavy spring for hotter loads), etc. I put some adhesive backed coarse sandpaper (medium coarse from sanding discs) on both sides of the slide, and colored it black with leather dye. Souds tacky maybe, but it is sooo fine to use now.

[StrawHat]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXZcjZLxsMs

Where can one find this compensator?

Thanks.

Kevin

[John Taylor]

It's a last dispirit technique, but food for thought: A semi can be racked with a weak or injured hand by setting the sights against the edge of a table, counter-top, window sill, etc., pushing into the hard surface chosen and thrusting the entire pistol down to move the slide. Wrecks the sights, mares the table, but can put the pistol back into action. Not a method of choice, but sometimes choice is a slim option. Best of luck.

This was actually taught in the military when I was in.

[samari46]

Used a 18.5 lb spring and a shok buffer to prevent frame battering. Went to a 16 lb spring as all I shoot is lead 230 grain same as hardball. But still use the shok buffer as they are cheap. If going to a lighter spring I'd still keep a shok buffer again to prevent frame damage. Cheap insurance. Does not affect racking the slide. Frank

[contender1]

I know this is an old post,, and much has been offered.
I did see a company at SHOT offering an item called the "Slide Racker." It's a molded piece that fits over the top of a slide,, and allows a weaker hand to have something more to grasp & allows a bit of easier cocking. It was designed to assist folks who have issues with hard to operate semi's.

[Mr_Sheesh]

725's technique can also be done against a belt or even your leg (with enough force), I've done that for 1-handed reloading drills since I was taught it many years ago. Rear sight, not the front, is where you put the pressure, and point muzzle in a safe direction please :)

My sister couldn't rack the slide at first, she was given 10 bazillion 2-handed racks as homework and strengthened her arms up fast!