Question from an old guy

[Ken43]

I have a CW380 which has functioned without any type of malfunction. I am retired LE and have been shooting semi-automatics since 1970. This 380 has a slide that is very skinny and with my old hands I can not operate the slide by hand. I have learned that I can put the muzzle against something hard like my desk and push the slide back until I can lock the slide. Is there anything I can do to make this process easier??? I have two Kahr 9mm pistols and I can operate their slides with out any problem. I have thought about trading the CW380 for a different gun that has a slide that I can operate. But I like all my guns to function the same and have the same trigger pull. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

[berettabone]

Maybe it's time to get that revolver that you've been eyeing for some time. Same trigger, DA, smooth it out with some fluff and buff. No slide racking, and you still have 2 Kahr's.:)

[Ken43]

I have been looking at the Kimber and Colt 380's. I can work the slide on them. I just don't know if I can get used to the thumb safety.

[berettabone]

I know what you mean about the thumb safety........................never liked them myself. Don't own any firearms that have a safety...........................................

[gb6491]

I have been looking at the Kimber and Colt 380's. I can work the slide on them. I just don't know if I can get used to the thumb safety.
My wife carries a Mustang XSP. She's happy with it and picked up the manual of arms pretty quick.
https://s19.postimg.org/ueqaku3lv/xse.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

You might try some grip or skate board deck tape on the 380's slide. Some examples:
https://www.google.com/search?client=opera&hs=Bk5&biw=1517&bih=698&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=380+slide+grip+tape&oq=380+slide+grip+tape&gs_l=psy-ab.3...72410.72410.0.72940.1.1.0.0.0.0.214.214.2-1.1.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..0.0.0.1ZQH8AmRWwM

Regards,
Greg

[Bawanna]

Lakeline makes a little charging handle for the 9's but I just visited the site and they don't show one for the 380.

Depending on what your hand issues are it may or may not help. I'm dealing with some aggravating hand issues myself.

HarryLee awhile back send me some precut strips of skateboard tape that fit between the serrations on my PM45. It helps quite a bit and so far it's holding up much better than I expected. I only had one strip fall off and he of course has sent several extra so just put a new one on.

The thing about good safeties such as the 1911 and the Mustang Greg posted is they are a natural motion. Smiths had the safety backwards where you had to flip it up to fire, an unnatural movement.

I have no issue with a good safety. I use it as a thumb rest. Don't take long to get used to at all.

[wyntrout]

A couple of videos on racking a semi-auto pistol:

https://youtu.be/XSiOq_uvCmg

https://youtu.be/Al2rMXpw6c0 (https://youtu.be/XSiOq_uvCmg)

[OldBoldPilot]

I can say from personal experience that the Sig P238's are among the easiest-racking 380s out there. My P380 is a bear.

[b4uqzme]

Lakeline makes a little charging handle for the 9's but I just visited the site and they don't show one for the 380.

^^^ Maybe a new CM9 with a Lakeline charging handle is in Ken's future????

[topgun1953]

My sister had trouble racking slides, even the P238. Her problem was how to pull the slide back and then manipulate the slide lock. I had her put in an empty magazine. When the slide was pulled back, bingo, the mag locked it open. Maybe this might help you a little Ken. The P238 is good. I personally carry the P938...although I'll probably pick up a cm9 at some point.😀

[finpro]

An easy, if crude, fix is to apply rubberized skateboard tape or Talon Grip material to the sides of the slide. I did this years ago on a Kel-Tec 3AT, a roughly similar size .380, which had very shallow serrations on its narrow slide due to poor machining. I did not want to bother returning it, as I was told it would take some time. Due to the shape of this gun, I did this at the front, near the muzzle, where the slide narrowed. (This was an early slide version of this pistol.) I like front serrations and prefer to use them, if available. The tape material can be applied wherever you prefer to grip the slide. With the extra width and roughness of the added material, it was much much easier to grip and rack the slide. If this does not work for you, it is easy to remove the tape to return the gun to its original condition.

[Ken43]

I have a PM9 and a CW9. I have no trouble working the slide on those two guns. I taught firearms at 2 police academies and I taught firearms at a local college for their AOJ classes for 7 years. I know how to work a slide, but I have developed arthritis in my hands and I can't grip that slim slide on the CW380. I have talon grips on the gun maybe put some talon tape on the slide. Might work. Will also putting in an empty mag. see if that works.

[DavidR]

The Remington RM380 has the easiest racking slide I have ever experienced. See if you can handle one at your LGS.


Dave

[yqtszhj]

The Remington RM380 has the easiest racking slide I have ever experienced. See if you can handle one at your LGS.


Dave

This is a sure enough fact. I have never racked a gun I remember that is as easy. You'd just have to grt used to the LONG trigger.

That being said my cw380 came in today and it is a bugger to rack that last fraction of an inch. Good news though it will feed a round from the mag slow racking it. Range time tomorrow.

[TheLastDaze]

x7 in the grip tape, wouldnt change out the recoil spring but rather pick up something more managable for yourself if the grio tape doesnt do the trick..
good luck

[Ken43]

I tried everything. I even got some talon strips and put them on the slide. I am a retired LE and firearms instructor for many years. The gun just didn't work for me. I traded it for a Glock 42 this last week. I can rack the slide and the wife can also work the slide and we both shoot it very well. thanks for all your suggestions. They are appreciated.

[finpro]

I tried everything. I even got some talon strips and put them on the slide. I am a retired LE and firearms instructor for many years. The gun just didn't work for me. I traded it for a Glock 42 this last week. I can rack the slide and the wife can also work the slide and we both shoot it very well. thanks for all your suggestions. They are appreciated.

It sounds like you did the right thing!

[dsk]

A couple of years ago I sandblasted the slide on mine with 80-grit glass media to hide some dings. It turns out that the coarse finish also helped give my fingers a little more traction on the slide than when it had the factory satin beadblast finish. Just something else to chew on.

[dustnchips]

Try pushing the slide back instead of pulling it back. Off hand on top of gun with thumb pointed to the back of gun. Instead of trying to squeeze the slide between the thumb and forefinger you are squeezing the slide between all of your fingers and palm. Pull your arms in close to your chest for leverage.

[bugs]

while gripping the slide and grip in opposite hands, try pushing both hands together with vigor; kind of like doing the hand jive.

NRA LIFER

IDPA BELEIVER

[Armybrat]

Not all of us old guys know how "hand jive" goes. :D

[bugs]

if you don't know how the "hand jive" goes, you could piece of skateboard tape on top of the slide between the rear sight and the ejection port. that may help give you a better grip also.

NRA LIFER

IDPA BELEIVER

[Armybrat]

Oh, I've used the same method you mention in post 20 - but the hand jives thing threw me off a bit.

[AIRret]

I have a PM9 and a CW9. I have no trouble working the slide on those two guns. I taught firearms at 2 police academies and I taught firearms at a local college for their AOJ classes for 7 years. I know how to work a slide, but I have developed arthritis in my hands and I can't grip that slim slide on the CW380. I have talon grips on the gun maybe put some talon tape on the slide. Might work. Will also putting in an empty mag. see if that works.

Arthritis is a B!!!tch! I shot right handed for most of my life…..had to switch to left hand in 2011 because of ARTHRITIS…..Grrrrrrr! AND it has worked out for me…..thank God!
Have you thought about switching hands??? It's MUCH better than "NOT" shooting!
Good Luck!!

[DM123]

I bought one of the gizmos called "The EZ Racker" from Midway I think but could have been Brownells. Dandy little plastic thing. They come in small and large. My biggest problem was at cleaning time. Now I put the little plastic bar in a small vise on my reloading bench and rack away.