Easy to handgun for wife CC

[cstone]

Just curious if you care to share; Why no revolvers?

[Great-Kazoo]

Have her practice the push/pull slide racking method. Push forward with shooting hand, pull side rearward with opposite one. She should be doing this with opposite hand over slide, behind ejection port.
Not sling shoting it, that uses too may muscles, it's an awkward position to utilize and has tendency to throw your balance off. Plus it takes your eyes and muzzle off target muzzle.

[cstone]

I've seen guys who could pick up a refrigerator struggle with racking a slide on their first few attempts. Like most things in life, it is hard when you try to do it the wrong way. With the correct technique and practice, difficult things become simple.

[hurley842002]

Have her practice the push/pull slide racking method. Push forward with shooting hand, pull side rearward with opposite one. She should be doing this with opposite hand over slide, behind ejection port.
Not sling shoting it, that uses too may muscles, it's an awkward position to utilize and has tendency to throw your balance off. Plus it takes your eyes and muzzle off target muzzle.

This^ I prefer to be in the low ready position, with the pistol closer in, utilizing shoulder/chest muscles to do the work, I see many folks holding the pistol out away from the body, as if they are scared of it, keep the barrel in a safe direction, and finger off the trigger, and you won't have any problems.

[Mazin]

My wife loves her p238, keep in mind that the slide will loosen up the more rounds you put through it (work the recoil spring a bit).

[brutal]

This^ I prefer to be in the low ready position, with the pistol closer in, utilizing shoulder/chest muscles to do the work, I see many folks holding the pistol out away from the body, as if they are scared of it, keep the barrel in a safe direction, and finger off the trigger, and you won't have any problems.

This.

Assuming RH operation, left hand over slide, push hands together. That's what I taught my wife to do with her P238.

Great thing about the P238 is you can cock the hammer, safe it, insert mag, and still rack the slide on safe.

[Big E3]

Beretta 3032 Tomcat, tip up barrel, don’t have to rack the slide.

[Mazin]

Beretta 3032 Tomcat, tip up barrel, don’t have to rack the slide.

Didn't even thing of the tomcat but your also trading a little bit more bulk and carrying a 32 auto. Great gun though!

[Ianski]

Have her practice the push/pull slide racking method. Push forward with shooting hand, pull side rearward with opposite one. She should be doing this with opposite hand over slide, behind ejection port.
Not sling shoting it, that uses too may muscles, it's an awkward position to utilize and has tendency to throw your balance off. Plus it takes your eyes and muzzle off target muzzle.

This^
The push/pull method of racking has made huge differences for past students in my basic pistol classes!

My mother-in-law and wife both had similar issues with what your wife is experiencing. After trying most if not all of the options listed here we settled on the Sig p238 for mom-in-law and the p938 for the wife. Both were in my opinion substantial improvements in recoil as well as ease of racking the slide compared to other similar style firearms. Additionally, the improvement in accuracy due to the nice single-action trigger over the long double-action triggers in the other striker-fire options was noticeable.

Also, may be worth looking at some revolvers, as some of the others here have mentioned. My mother settled on an S&W lady smith. She has arthritis in her hands which makes racking a slide an impossibility.

It is worth noting as well when considering sub-compact and smaller handguns, lighter isn’t always better. While it makes carrying options easier, lighter firearms mean more felt recoil. Even though .380/9mm/.38 spl are smaller rounds they can have substantially more felt recoil. The less talked about results of this can be more pronounced flinching or more general discomfort shooting resulting in a diminished desire to practice, which for anyone who intends to carry is a necessity. Also, smaller semi-auto pistols have a shorter, and usually sharper, cycle stroke which makes them more prone to “stove-pipe” failure to eject/feed issues resulting from limp wristing. For this reason, with newer or more recoil sensitive shooters, I usually recommend staying away from the lighter polymer frame CCW pistols. I've shot the new Glock options G42/G43 a bit as well and must say I like them. All this being said, if she finds one she feels comfortable with and enjoys shooting, practice can make up for most of these issues. just my 2 cents Hope this is helpful!

[def90]

Does anybody have any recommendations for small CC semi-auto handguns that are easy to rack? Wife went shooting with me yesterday and tried a G42 and Sig P238 - both had semi-stiff recoils springs that made racking tough for her - she has limited strength in left hand. Wife absolutely does not want a revolver, so don't recommend those please.

All I can say is go to several ranges that rent guns and try as many of them as you can..