Slide racking difference between K9 and MK9

[Redstate]

I have a MK9 and the slide is a little difficult to rack. My wife is not able to rack it. Is the K9 slide (no dual recoil spring) significantly easier to rack than the MK9 slide?

[muggsy]

How are to racking the slide? Are you using just your thumb and index finger or are you wrapping your entire hand over the top of the slide? It makes a big difference. See the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjLbFOw8sow

[Redstate]

I have no issues racking the slide; nevertheless, the pressure needed for the MK9 is more than say for example my Glock 26. And yes, my wife does not do it correctly, but I will attempt to teach her, when she is ready. She is somewhat resistant at this point.
Just want to know if there is any signifcant difference between the Mk9 and the K9. Thanks.

[Bawanna]

Really not much difference. The K might be just a tad easier but they are both sadly kind of tough. A lot happening in a small package.

When your wife is ready, and if she really wants too she'll be able to do it. The video is the ticket for woman and girly men. Myself included more and more all the time.

They do get considerable better after being shot a bunch, you don't mention a round count or anything. Even then they require good effort.

My best wishes to getting your wife on board.

[b4uqzme]

There's a little more to hold onto with the K9 (slide and grip) but otherwise I find them similar. Good technique is helpful although I use the lazyman's thumb and forefinger slingshot all the time. My left hand might be a little stronger than average after a lifetime of fretting acoustic guitars. We won't talk about my right hand.

[Redstate]

Thanks Bawanna. One of these days she will be ready. Kinda of surprised that you say there is not much difference in this regard from the MK9 to the K9 in light of the fact that the K9 has the single recoil spring. It is what I wanted to hear but not what I was expecting.

[Redstate]

There's a little more to hold onto with the K9 (slide and grip) but otherwise I find them similar. ...

Thanks. I guess you posted while I was composing my last response to Bawanna. Again, pleased but surprised to hear that they are somewhat comparable.

[CJB]

Please allow my to step into this conversation for a moment.

I've trained and educated hundreds of women, regarding the safe use of firearms. Although each person is unique, there are trends.

Women suffer from poor hand strength, and poor manual dexterity. There are exceptions to both, of course. We're talking trends....

Because of the poor strength and dexterity issues, there are several problems with the safe functioning of firearms, specifically handguns.

1. Unable to rack slide to chamber round
2. Unable to load magazine
3. Unable to rack slide to UNCHAMBER a round to make the FIREARM SAFE
4. Unable to rack slide sufficiently to ascertain that the chamber is empty
5. Unable to cock the hammer (sometimes) on a revolver or autoloader
6. Unable to DE-cock the hammer on a revolver safely

Remember - its not only the shooting, but "making the handgun safe" that matters.

I find that the tip up barrel .22's and .380's work ok for ladies, expecially if they have decockers and double action triggers.

The best, is the double action only (DAO) hammerless revolver. That is, there is not way to keep it cocked, and if you swing out the cylinder, its safe. Also easy to CHECK the chambers. The vast majority of ladies can manipulate this type of revolver, and shoot it sort of adequately at a full size silhouette at 15 feet.

Ok,.... I'll get off the soapbox.

[ReManG]

Thanks Bawanna. One of these days she will be ready. Kinda of surprised that you say there is not much difference in this regard from the MK9 to the K9 in light of the fact that the K9 has the single recoil spring. It is what I wanted to hear but not what I was expecting.

In effect, the dual recoil spring has no overall poundage difference i.e. if you have 18lb recoil springs in a MK and a K they will require 18lbs to cycle. The difference is that the MK with the dual recoil spring will initially be easier to rack, but harder to rack fully. The reason is that there is less dwell time of the bullet in a shorter barrel (Must keep breech closed when bullet is in the bore, or BOOM out of the ejection port), therefore the slide can recoil earlier with the MK vs the K. The slide will then hit the second spring after partial recoil cycling and slow faster as the second spring engages. Why would this have to be on the shorter MK vs the K? Because there is less mass in the shorter slide, therefore less resistance to cycling, coupled with less dwell time of the bullet in the bore with the shorter barrel, you need dual recoil springs in shorter pistols. They are only a bit easier to initially rack the MK vs the K, but the K will be the same strength the entire time to rack the slide.

The video is good, but do not press too hard, there are other options....

If you want to get a centerfire pistol for your wife that she can rack, the CT380 may be the way to go, but I have not handled one to check and see if the slide is less stiff to cycle. Two centerfire pistols that ARE easy to cycle, the SIG P250 IN .380, and the Walther PK380. Try them out if you see them in a LGS and take her in to try them as well... I think they are both great pistols to train weaker handed/less enthusiastic shooters on for semi autos. My favorite is the P250 in .380, very nice and either 12 or 15 rounds in a compact pistol.

If you just want to get her familiar with semi auto handguns, a pistol she can have fun shooting and practice owning a semi auto on, get her a Ruger SR22... My missus is having a blast with hers, even likes cleaning it as the thing shoots with no recoil and eats lots of ammo without a hiccup... I really wish Kahr would produce a .22...

[Redstate]

Thanks for the explanation, ReManG. Makes sense.

[muggsy]

There's a little more to hold onto with the K9 (slide and grip) but otherwise I find them similar. Good technique is helpful although I use the lazyman's thumb and forefinger slingshot all the time. My left hand might be a little stronger than average after a lifetime of fretting acoustic guitars. We won't talk about my right hand.

We all know the true source of the strength in your right hand and it comes from strumming something other that yer guitar.

[ReManG]

But if you are built like a hermit crab..... Everything in moderation..... Seems like B4uqzme HAS to keep his balance, no better excuse than a medical one...

[berettabone]

I wouldn't wait too long for either one to loosen up.....................I'm hoping mine will loosen up a bit at 2000 rds.

[JohnR]

My K9 is very hard to rack. My PM45 is difficult, but that's partly because there's so little to grab on to.

[Bawanna]

CJB input good stuff too.
My wife carries a Smith 638 for all the reasons he states. Very easy to clearly see if it's loaded. She doesn't practice enough and I would not call her proficient with it. She does carry a speed strip so she has a reload but I seriously doubt anything would ever go that far. She's comfortable and we learn more when we can.

The 638 allows me to still thumb the hammer back, I'm a cowboy at heart but it is real tricky to let that hammer down safely and not slip out from under your thumb.
It could benefit from a trigger job, it's a little heavy but tolerable and add some adrenaline and it might go unnoticed.
My elderly aunt has one of the tip up 380s which she gets along well with. There's a manual of arms to learn there but nothing too tough.