From the folks who brought you the Handi-Racker
Grimes, IA -(AmmoLand.com)- Handi-Racker has proven to tens of thousands of users across the country that it’s one effortless way for anyone to rack the slide on almost any semi-auto pistol, and makes slide operation extra handy (pun intended) for those with arthritis, weak or small hands, or disabilities to include missing appendages (or even congenital laziness!).
Available now for gun ranges: The Range-Racker is a truly novel device that expands the regular Handi-Racker capabilities into a device that is ideal for ranges or individuals with lots of guns. The Range-Racker will work with essentially all semi-automatics that function the slide from the front like 1911s and Glocks, etc. The Range Racker even works with the exposed-barrel Beretta M-9 family.
Making it work: The Range-Racker can be used the same way as the individual Handi-Racker, or purchased with a precision-fit base that allows mounting and operation anywhere (like attached to a wall, for example). Just push the gun into the correct slot with a charged magazine in place and (finger off the trigger!) pull back and it is loaded.
Stoppages: Also like the individual Handi-Racker, the Range-Racker makes it effortless to clear a hard-stuck jam and, when disassembling or reassembling, the Range-Racker makes it easy to hold the slide rearward while removing pins and/or levers.
The patented Range-Racker and Handi-Racker are CNC machined from an extruded block of high-density, tough-as-nails pistol finish-protecting polyethylene designed for many years of seriously hard use. www.handiracker.com.
Handi-Racker CEO Chris McAnich says, “The Range-Racker is great for gun ranges or people with extensive home ranges and would certainly makes the gunsmith’s job easier. It makes operating of the slide of any pistol child’s play.”
Specifications:
- Material: High-density polyethylene
- Functions: Loading, locking the slide to the rear, clearing jams, disassembly/reassembly.
- MSRP: $90.00 Racker assembly only; $120.00 with machined-to-fit matching base plate.
Bigfoot says: June 16, 2016 at 9:39 PM Cea: Thanks! I’ve never even tried to look at any of the Ruger Forums and that is a good idea. My pistols are about 5 years old and seem to be pretty well engineered and put together; but, they are tough to rack back. They serve their purpose for just fun shooting and carrying around the pasture; but, I will be searching for alternate carry equipment in the future. No problem. I was just tossing out some general info. But if you are looking for another semi that is easier to manipulate… Read more »
Thanks for the tip. This is what I was really asking when I first made my initial post. I have been considering getting a Kimber and have never even looked at a Glock. Also thanks for the Gen 3 vs. the Gen 4 tip too.
Hate to be the one to add to your confusion here, but I have gone from a Glock Gen 3 to a Gen 4 and have had zero problems and it’s very easy to rack. The only thing that I have heard , and I changed mine, is the guide rod on OEM. I bought a tungsten guide rod from the Glock Store. Never a problem and with the added weight of the tungsten, follow up shots came quicker. If you want to check out the store, just add a dot com to the name with no spaces. Hope this… Read more »
Guys:
Thanks for all the help. Now it is up to me to make a trip to Cabela’s or some other Gun shop that will have a good selection.
I’ve taught women to shoot handguns for over 40 yrs and racking a slide has usually been a function of getting a good grip more than a matter of sheer strength. Putting a strip of skateboard tape on both sides of the rear portion of the slide will give you a gripping surface you can work with. Of. Course, position it so that it doesn’t interfere with any moving parts of the weapon – safety, decocker, etc. put your off-hand in an overhand positive with thumb on the “inside” and other finger tips on the outside, resting on the tape.… Read more »
In my case, you are absolutely correct, as I stated previously that sweat/body oil seems to be the real problem. Here in central Texas it is most always quite hot, so if we are outdoors, we are sweating. I actually bought some “no slip” shelf liner material that I cut into pieces large enough to put in the shooters hand that could then be draped over the slide in order to prevent the slipping. Experience and communications is a great teacher. Thanks for the tip, I will give that a try.
Bigfoot. As a former instructor, I taught a technique called ” push-pull “. You use both your arms and push one way and pull the other. It allowed many women and older folks to be able to rack their slides.
Rick: Thanks! I’m definitely no expert when it comes to automatic pistols and I’m probably not good at it yet; but, that is the way I been been getting the first round into the chamber. These are relatively new guns and they haven’t been shot much so, they are still quite stiff, plus they are inexpensive guns compared to the Kimber and some others. I have been trying to do my homework on different guns and different type actions which may be the problem I am experiencing. There is some mention of this problem in the July 2015 issue of… Read more »
Don’t let anyone tell you a Ruger is not a quality firearms company. They are and they have always offered quality at a great price point on a lot of their products. I have owned many in the past, and currently have A mini 14, an M 77 in 30 06, a GP100 357 mag, an SR9 9mm and a 10/22 I got in 1987. The GP and also SP101 revolvers are excellent choices for a wheel gun.
Read any of the Ruger forums. You will see that they (Ruger) are slipping in their QC department. They are focusing on producing and selling as many guns as possible (last year was 2 million, this year it is 3 million). They are robbing Peter to pay Paul.
I too have a few older Ruger firearms. They are very good. But I also have a few new models, and the forum reports of lessened quality are spot on.
Cea:
Thanks! I’ve never even tried to look at any of the Ruger Forums and that is a good idea. My pistols are about 5 years old and seem to be pretty well engineered and put together; but, they are tough to rack back. They serve their purpose for just fun shooting and carrying around the pasture; but, I will be searching for alternate carry equipment in the future.
My father is 51 and spent 23 years in catapults/arresting gear as an ABE on the Kitty Hawk, Enterprise, and George Washington aircraft carriers. 23 years of wrenching and handiwork in confine d spqces on multimillion dollar machinery to lunch and catch planes. He retired at 48, and his hands ( and knees!) Are shot. Took him to the range a few years ago and noticed his finger grip strength as well as his fine motor dexterity made it difficult or painful to rack my 22/45 (pinching, specifically) as well as my BT380, and his Beretta 92 Inox. The man… Read more »
May be getting old but about s strong as I ever was.and yes I read this POS advertisement up front and first; but, IMO, it is a worthless POS unless I happened to be on a gun range or in my living room, otherwise it would be of no help. With an answer like you just sent me, I can’t imagine you ever selling anything if that is what you meant in your crappy reply.
Thought this might be a helpful blog; but, my first experience will be the last.
@Bigfoot – Those comments were directed at me. Don’t let some of these ‘nimrods’ drive you away!
Looks like you need to read the first paragraph again or are you anti-old and anti-handicapped or just an everyday troll?
I see your point, but what if that rack isn’t available where, not when, you need it? In that case (malfunction clearing, after the fight has started?), the gun owner might well need a different kind of gun to stay in the fight. If you can’t rack it anytime you might need to, you don’t need that gun.
That should be, where AND when, you need it.
There is also a belt mounted variant that can be slid on your gunbelt right next to the holster, that way you can always have it with the pistol. As for “what happens if you don’t have it when you need it…” The answer is the same as it is if you don’t have your pistol when you need it. Do YOU carry 24/7? If not, you are putting yourself in the same boat as someone who can’t rack the slide without help, when they don’t have one of these handy. I’m inclined to think that it is better to… Read more »
Actually, I carry 23 and half/ 6 and 7/8 of the time! Seriously, I carry, or have next to me, one of my chosen carry guns anywhere I go. Including the shower. I have a weapon at my disposal within 5 to 10 seconds (usually, within a 1 sec draw time) all of the time. I still say a small revolver (never a Derringer) is better than any semi that you may have problems racking. And I know, revolvers have very heavy DA trigger pulls. Not my Model 15, which has a trigger job by a very excellent smith. Trigger… Read more »
Amen!: The “racker” may be O.K for a practice situation; but, in reality this is sure no answer for someone that is not handicapped. I had an original question about pistols that are extremely hard to rack or pull the slide back. Speaking for me personally, I have no handicaps, big hands and IMO, a very strong grip; but, I’m still having a hard time racking the Ruger P-95 and P-89 9MM, especially if there is any sweat or body oil on my hands. Few if any women could rack these guns. I definitely like the idea of staying with… Read more »
@laughing Jack – I know what the first paragraph said. I was expressing my personal view about a gun that might be used in a stressful self-defense situation where a device to facilitate it’s usage might not be available. By the way ‘champ’, I’m not a troll and I’m probably older than you by many decades, so quit trying to cast aspersions!
I myself feel the age coming on. I changed from a Glock 23 Gen 3 .40 cal to a Glock 19 Gen 4 9mm and notice a significant difference in racking the slide. It is MUCH easier now. I even practice dry firing much more due to the ease of repetitive racking of the slide. Hope this helps. One other thing,,,getting old is not for sissies.
No, getting old ain’t for sissies; but, it sure beats the alternatives. One of these new additions sounds like something for Father’s Day. Of course, I don’t have to have and excuse these days and that is the nice part about getting old.
If you can’t rack the slide on your semi-auto pistol you better switch to another gun.
Janek: I like what you just said because it hit home and it makes sense. I am getting to be an old man; but, I still think I am about as strong now as I was when I was young. Just some more information. I like guns of all sorts; but, because I was raised on a farm and used long guns of all sorts all my life I never had a pistol until a few years ago. I used my son’s Kimber 45 ACP to take my Concealed Carry Certifications and then decided to buy a couple of less… Read more »