The Sig P238 is great and even if she felt it was a little tough to rack all she has to is cock the hammer and it's smooth as butter not to mention the sights are full size easy to acquire and as small as it is very accurate.

If your wife is just plinking, .22 LR is the best caliber for that (cheap!). And, the guns tend to cost less than higher-powered guns, too. Lots of good .22's on the market, both in semiautomatic and revolver. Have your wife try them out for best results. Good luck.

My Grandma had the same issue and liked how she could control .380acp the best so I bought her a Beretta model 86. It has a tip-up barrel so she didn't really have to worry about the slide if her arthritis has a flare up. I don't know if the model is still made but I found a used one that appeared unfired for $300. It is a tack driver. If you can't find one or don't like the model I would recommend taking her to a few gunshops and letting her test the slides and feel of what's available. Good Luck.

I have a very rare birth defect called arthrogryposis. Racking is always going to be a issue for me. But i found a nice .380 that is easy to rack and fun to shoot. The Browning 1911 .380 Black Label. It's easy to rack and super easy if i cock the hammer first. A bit on the expensive side $500-$800 depending on where you go and the model. Im probably the best to ask what's easy and what's hard to rack.

Medical issues will always plague shooters. However, there are different methods of charging the weapon that might be easier to employ than buying a handgun simply because of the ease of the slide. Have her try holding the autoloader next to her body while securing the slide in her offhand. With her dominant hand, push the lower forward using primarily the palm. This technique requires less finger strength and has proven beneficial to several shooters with varying degrees of arthritis. Changing techniques and using any number of the new gadgets now available will have her back on the firing line in no time.

the kimber micro 380 has the smoothest slide my wife has the same issue with her hands also she liked the smith&wesson m&p 22 fun to shoot n inexpensive

The best way of course is to first pick a gun that catches the eye and move on from there. By checking for comfort in the hand, craftsmanship, safety features and lastly firing the weapon. If she feels the comfort level is satisfactory and is easy to break down for cleaning, then that is the weapon to chose / purchase. I have a S&W .380 Bodyguard and it is kind of tricky to breakdown. I would not suggest that gun for everyone. However, I purchased a Glock .380 for my wife because of all of the aforementioned issues including racking and she loves it. 'Just a suggestion.

The Walther PK-380 has the easiest slide to rack and very low recoil. I recommended it to a concealed carry student and she loves it. You will not find an easier .380 to manipulate and if it does not work for her, she might need to go to a revolver.

If you can find them a lorcan l380 is a very easy to operate pistol and the slide is very easy to rack and very little along the way of recoil. They do have a bit of a bad reputation but have had mine for better part of a year and with a few hundred rounds through it not one issue. That is between myself, my wife, and my daughter all having fired it.

Unless you have the funds to buy a pistol and turn around and sell it at a loss, I would just take her to the gun store and let her feel the difference.

Unless you have the funds to buy a pistol and turn around and sell it at a loss, I would just take her to the gun store and let her feel the difference.

Before investing $ into a new weapon take your wife shopping. See what she's comfortable with. We can make all the suggestions we want but, it will come down to her own personal preference

If price isn't a problem, check out the Sig Sauer P238. My wife had problems racking all of the popular brands (Glock, S&W, Ruger, Taurus, etc). Once she held the P238, she knew it was "the one"! Not to mention the recoil...almost non-existent. Her 75 year old mother loves it as well for those same reasons. Hope this helps.

I own a Baretta Mod. 84, easy to rack and feels good in the hand. Also have a Browning 911 380, very nice racking, and a Sig 232 which is more stiff.

have heard great things about the eaa but look for a gun with front slide serrations. My HK's all have them and it also has little 'wings' that come off the back serrations for even better ease of use. Love the serrations on these. Other option is applying some grip tape to the handle will help her get a more solid hold onto it which in turn makes racking easier. good luck!

The Hi Point 380. Inexpensive, reliable and easy to use. My friend's daughter can rack the slide and use it easily. I hope this helps!

Jimenez makes a 380 pistol with the easiest racking slide I've ever used. Its only $109 brand new from Buds. Add to your wish list and they will get her one.

Jimenez JA380, easiest .380 I've ever racked by far. And I'm a .380 fan. If you add one to your buds wish list, they will likely have it in a week to 10 days. That slide can be operated by my 5 year old, it really is easy. Not a great reputation, but super comfortable, always fires ball FMJ ammo and, its only $109 to own! Great looking cheap plinker. Easy to breakdown and clean too. Great little gun in my opinion.

My wife did her on research for that same thing easy racking and she found EAA Witness Pavona. She has a 380 and enjoys it so much she now wants it in a 9 mm