Easier racking 1911?

Shak3s1977

Shak3s1977

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Dec 24, 2018
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Location
Illinois
Question about racking a slide difficulty. Let's say a Ruger steel commander in 45acp vs a Ruger steel commander in 9mm for example. Same brands, same length, same alloy, just different calibers. Will the 9mm be easier to rack?

I'm asking because I'd like to buy my 75 year old father a 1911 in 9mm. He's a avid 45acp 1911 guy but racking the slide is getting hard for him to rack. That's why he gave me his 10mm 1911.

I figure I owe him a new one, for all the guns he has given me, but if racking is going to be similar to 45 then I may go with a rifle. Yes, I know about EZ guns, but he's a diehard 1911 man. Thanks for any replies.
 
Jim Watson said:
The 9mm will have a lighter recoil spring and be easier to rack.

Does he cock the hammer to get the mainspring out of the way first?
Click to expand...
Honestly not sure on that one. He keeps saying eventually he'll have to move to 9mm due to recoil anyway.

I figured the recoil spring may be different, but wasn't sure if that's what makes it harder to rack. Thanks for the help.
 
While you are thinking about this, you might also look into getting your dad a 22LR Walther 1911 too. They are available in either the GI style or the more modern style with the upswept beaver tail and skeletonized trigger and hammer. They really do have the feel and weight of a 1911.
Your dad might still be able to shoot 9mm, but I'll bet he would have fun with the 22.

"Walther 1911" for Sale - Buds Gun Shop

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Zendude said:
While you are thinking about this, you might also look into getting your dad a 22LR Walther 1911 too. They are available in either the GI style or the more modern style with the upswept beaver tail and skeletonized trigger and hammer. They really do have the feel and weight of a 1911.
Your dad might still be able to shoot 9mm, but I'll bet he would have fun with the 22.

"Walther 1911" for Sale - Buds Gun Shop

Browse our "Walther 1911" for Sale on BudsGunShop.com. Use our advanced product search tools to find exactly what you are looking for!
www.budsgunshop.com www.budsgunshop.com
Click to expand...
I do have a Sig Sauer branded 22lr 1911. He's looking at commander or officer length 9mm's as maybe something to carry. He currently carries his Ruger lightweight 1911, full size 45acp.
 
I’ve only read about this and have not tried it but some are selling the firing pin keeper for the back if the slide that is profiled for easier racking of the slide.

Jim Watson’s suggestion is good.
 
Technique helps with ease of racking. Does dad hold the gun out in front of him and rack the slide with the weak hand? I teach new students to bring the gun in close to the chest (pointed in a safe direction), grasp the slide with the off hand and punch with the strong hand. This uses the larger muscles of the arm and usually works. 9mm still a good option.
 
I like the looks of the green thingy and may get one. Due to a severed nerve in my weak hand's thumb I can no longer rack most centerfire semi-autos with out holding the gun in my weak hand, rack with my strong hand, and then switching hands to shoot. Not only can I feel nothing except a tingle, the strength is gone from that thumb.

Edited to add: I didn't pay attention to the cost. $25 bucks for a small piece of plastic. I have some left over nylon sheet and may mill out something similar but not an exact copy. I might as well put leftovers and tools to use. I might even make one 1911 specific and one suitable for other guns and try to improve on the design.
 
Last edited:
I'm getting up in years, and have owned a number of 9mm 1911 type pistols. Yes, the 9s come with lighter recoil springs, and are much easier to rack. A couple of my 9mm 1911s came with 10# recoil springs; very easy to rack. When I was younger and stronger, I used 16#-18.5# recoil springs in .38 Super and .45 ACP, even heavier springs in 10mms, and thought nothing of it. Now I shoot more 9mm in 1911s and really appreciate the lighter recoil springs..
 
10lb recoil spring and a 19lb hammer spring and it will be easy to rack. I run those in my 9mm 1911s.
 
Col. Harrumph said:
Advancing arthritis made it no longer possible to rack the slide on my Astra 400,
Click to expand...
That makes two of us. The 400 probably has the strongest recoil spring of any automatic pistol. The hammer is internal and you can't cock it first to make things easier.

Thanks for the link. I'm gonna get one.
 
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