Wife has a hard time with XD-40SC slide - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

sevesteen · 04-09-2006, 09:16 PM

My wife and I have bought an XD40SC. We made sure that the .40 didn't kick too hard, for her but being new to automatics, I didn't think to make sure she can work the slide. She can chamber a round, but she can't seem to work the slide at the same time as the slide stop. Our CCW instructor said that the slide will get easier as the gun breaks in, and suggested that she use an empty magazine if she needs to lock it open in the meantime. He also loaned us snap caps to practice handling.

She's the one who will carry this gun most often--She's got to be outside in basically every neighborhood in the county she's working in, including some where she smells pot smoke several times a day, and I'm frequently away from home at night. I want a CCW, but don't need one nearly as much as she does. (I'll probably be the one to carry if we are out together) We may eventually get a second gun, but it will be several months before we can afford that. Realistically, I will be the one cleaning and maintaining the gun, and she's not likely to even carry a spare magazine. We keep the gun in a safe in the bedroom. My daughter is almost 18, and the only minor in the house, she can shoot under supervision, and doesn't know the safe combination. Under my circumstances, I feel OK storing the gun with a round in the chamber.

Now to the questions: Any suggestions to help make working this gun easier for her? Is this enough of a problem that she should switch guns eventually, or is this so serious that she shouldn't carry until it is solved? Would some other gun or caliber have an easier slide?

docrice · 04-09-2006, 11:19 PM

I had the same problem when I bought my first gun (XD-9) a month ago. But it's easier now because either it's broken-in or I've gotten used to it. Here's a trick though: when handling the slide, put your "body weight" into it while using the right-thumb to push up the slide stop (assuming you're right-handed). By "body weight" I'm referring to the way you create a natural pivot from the center of your body (in aikido, we call this "ki"). In other words, as the left hand pushes the slide back, your body has this slight twist motion from your lower abdomen in the same direction.

jednp · 04-09-2006, 11:51 PM

My girlfriend has a hard time getting the slide stop up as well. Her hand is a little too small I think. If that's the case with your wife, the only thing she can do is just use an empty mag to lock it open. Or hopefully find some way she's able to use her thumb to do it. It may just take her time to get more use to racking the slide confidently first, then she may be able to more easily work the slide stop. My girlfriend couldn't rack the slide easy at all, until I explained what the other person before me here just said, you put your weight and force into it with your grip hand. Push forward with grip hand, and pull back with the other hand at the same time. Once she gets that down easily, maybe the rest will come to her.

ken_mays · 04-10-2006, 08:41 AM

Many women don't have sufficient finger strength to overcome the stiff recoil springs in compact autos.

It might be helpful to use an overhand grip. Put the left palm on the top of the slide, behind the ejection port, thumb pointing toward rear of slide.

Use the right hand to push the grip forward.

Two things to be careful of: don't let yourself get pinched by the ejection port, and don't let the muzzle point anywhere it shouldn't.

btadamsdvd · 04-10-2006, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sevesteen

Now to the questions: Any suggestions to help make working this gun easier for her? Is this enough of a problem that she should switch guns eventually, or is this so serious that she shouldn't carry until it is solved? Would some other gun or caliber have an easier slide?

The overhand grip is a good idea, also leaving the mag in makes it really easy to lock it back, and is easier anyways. The second question is one that your wife is going to have to ask herself. Is SHE comfortable with the gun, and does SHE feel confident that if she needed to use the gun that she would be able to operate it. I understand your wanting to keep your wife safe, but she is the one that needs to decide if she feels comfortable with the gun since the worst thing that can happen is she pulls the gun to use it, and she is unable to get it to work. As for question 3, the answer is simple. Get a revolver. Easier to operate, no slide to deal with at all. A S&W 38 Special can be purchased at any gun show for $300 or less.

sevesteen · 04-10-2006, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by btadamsdvd

Is SHE comfortable with the gun, and does SHE feel confident that if she needed to use the gun that she would be able to operate it. I understand your wanting to keep your wife safe, but she is the one that needs to decide if she feels comfortable with the gun since the worst thing that can happen is she pulls the gun to use it, and she is unable to get it to work. As for question 3, the answer is simple. Get a revolver. Easier to operate, no slide to deal with at all. A S&W 38 Special can be purchased at any gun show for $300 or less.

I was initially more interested in revolvers, but she didn't like any of them she handled. She was as involved with picking the XD as I was, I was mostly there to veto anything that I thought would be a problem. I'm going to see if our instructor is willing to bring his wife's Airweight when we do our range time.

one-eyed-fatman · 04-10-2006, 06:14 PM

It might be helpful to use an overhand grip.

Olivia Chillia · 04-11-2006, 06:38 PM

Yes, use an overhand grip as shown above. Except, with a smaller hand (like mine) she may need to grip with the palm of her hand touching the top of the slide. The more hand and finger she can get contacting the slide the better. The two hands (the grip hand and the slide hand) need to push toward one another. Also, she'll be able to get even better results if she keeps the gun close to her body (parallel to her chest/tummy) while working the slide. This allows her to lock one arm into her body and use the body weight.

txjeep · 04-12-2006, 05:57 AM

I find my XDSC slide to be the hardest to cycle of all my autos. No way my wife could cycle it consistently, even using the techniques suggested here.

I have several handguns and the only one my wife can consistently cycle is a Manhurin Walther PP .32. I also bought a Beretta Tomcat .32 for her because it has a tip barrel. No need to rack the slide on that one, but she does not like the trigger, so she prefers the Walther PP. You can pick the PP's up for $250 +/-. They are great little guns.

malkore · 04-12-2006, 08:06 AM

the other 'trick' i know to racking any slide, aside from making sure she's grabbing at the grooved area: make sure you push the frame away from you as you pull the slide back. in other words, use both arms to rack it, rather than hold it stationary with your main hand and only pulling back with the off hand.

Push & pull = double the force applied.

04-09-2006, 09:16 PM	#1
sevesteen XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 29	Wife has a hard time with XD-40SC slide My wife and I have bought an XD40SC. We made sure that the .40 didn't kick too hard, for her but being new to automatics, I didn't think to make sure she can work the slide. She can chamber a round, but she can't seem to work the slide at the same time as the slide stop. Our CCW instructor said that the slide will get easier as the gun breaks in, and suggested that she use an empty magazine if she needs to lock it open in the meantime. He also loaned us snap caps to practice handling. She's the one who will carry this gun most often--She's got to be outside in basically every neighborhood in the county she's working in, including some where she smells pot smoke several times a day, and I'm frequently away from home at night. I want a CCW, but don't need one nearly as much as she does. (I'll probably be the one to carry if we are out together) We may eventually get a second gun, but it will be several months before we can afford that. Realistically, I will be the one cleaning and maintaining the gun, and she's not likely to even carry a spare magazine. We keep the gun in a safe in the bedroom. My daughter is almost 18, and the only minor in the house, she can shoot under supervision, and doesn't know the safe combination. Under my circumstances, I feel OK storing the gun with a round in the chamber. Now to the questions: Any suggestions to help make working this gun easier for her? Is this enough of a problem that she should switch guns eventually, or is this so serious that she shouldn't carry until it is solved? Would some other gun or caliber have an easier slide?

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04-09-2006, 11:19 PM	#2
docrice XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern CA Posts: 391	I had the same problem when I bought my first gun (XD-9) a month ago. But it's easier now because either it's broken-in or I've gotten used to it. Here's a trick though: when handling the slide, put your "body weight" into it while using the right-thumb to push up the slide stop (assuming you're right-handed). By "body weight" I'm referring to the way you create a natural pivot from the center of your body (in aikido, we call this "ki"). In other words, as the left hand pushes the slide back, your body has this slight twist motion from your lower abdomen in the same direction.

04-09-2006, 11:51 PM	#3
jednp XDTalk 4K Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 4,691	My girlfriend has a hard time getting the slide stop up as well. Her hand is a little too small I think. If that's the case with your wife, the only thing she can do is just use an empty mag to lock it open. Or hopefully find some way she's able to use her thumb to do it. It may just take her time to get more use to racking the slide confidently first, then she may be able to more easily work the slide stop. My girlfriend couldn't rack the slide easy at all, until I explained what the other person before me here just said, you put your weight and force into it with your grip hand. Push forward with grip hand, and pull back with the other hand at the same time. Once she gets that down easily, maybe the rest will come to her.

04-10-2006, 08:41 AM	#4
ken_mays XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 401	Many women don't have sufficient finger strength to overcome the stiff recoil springs in compact autos. It might be helpful to use an overhand grip. Put the left palm on the top of the slide, behind the ejection port, thumb pointing toward rear of slide. Use the right hand to push the grip forward. Two things to be careful of: don't let yourself get pinched by the ejection port, and don't let the muzzle point anywhere it shouldn't.

04-10-2006, 06:14 PM	#7
one-eyed-fatman XDTalk 10K Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 10,210	It might be helpful to use an overhand grip.

04-11-2006, 06:38 PM	#8
Olivia Chillia XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 102	Yes, use an overhand grip as shown above. Except, with a smaller hand (like mine) she may need to grip with the palm of her hand touching the top of the slide. The more hand and finger she can get contacting the slide the better. The two hands (the grip hand and the slide hand) need to push toward one another. Also, she'll be able to get even better results if she keeps the gun close to her body (parallel to her chest/tummy) while working the slide. This allows her to lock one arm into her body and use the body weight.

04-12-2006, 05:57 AM	#9
txjeep XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Sugar Land, TX Posts: 6	I find my XDSC slide to be the hardest to cycle of all my autos. No way my wife could cycle it consistently, even using the techniques suggested here. I have several handguns and the only one my wife can consistently cycle is a Manhurin Walther PP .32. I also bought a Beretta Tomcat .32 for her because it has a tip barrel. No need to rack the slide on that one, but she does not like the trigger, so she prefers the Walther PP. You can pick the PP's up for $250 +/-. They are great little guns.

04-12-2006, 08:06 AM	#10
malkore XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: eastern Nebraska Posts: 646	the other 'trick' i know to racking any slide, aside from making sure she's grabbing at the grooved area: make sure you push the frame away from you as you pull the slide back. in other words, use both arms to rack it, rather than hold it stationary with your main hand and only pulling back with the off hand. Push & pull = double the force applied.