Ask the Community
Get answers from fellow firearm enthusiasts and share your knowledge with the community.
The P238 or the Kimber Micro are both easy to rack.
Rick, probably one of the easiest racking small CCW pistols is the Walther CCP. I would take your wife to a local gun shop to try it first hand (she can try others while there as well) - 380 is cool but I highly recommend a small 9mm just for the additional effectiveness. https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/415004799/Walther+CCP+M2+9MM+BLK+3.54+8%2B1+
I suggest spending some time at the local range and trying multiple guns
Rick, I own the P238 and have arthritis in my hand so over the years I've lost quite a bit of hand strength. The P238, in my opinion somewhere slightly lighter than a medium rack slide. With a good purchase on the slide serrations I believe your wife can rack the P238. A couple of key point to think about, it will initially be stiff but will improve with usage. A little wear on the slides and compression of the recoil spring over time "softens" the amount of pull required. Also keep in mind that factory tolerances will make some initially harder or easier to rack. If you purchase this model, make sure you clean it thoroughly and lubricate it properly before using it. After each session at the range (or wherever you practice) clean and re-lube the gun. Overall, the P238 is easy to shoot with a good trigger and minimal recoil due to its weight/metal frame.
I suggest spending some time at the local range and trying multiple guns