BigDave Posted June 12, 2005 Share Posted June 12, 2005 A local shooter let me fire several rounds out of his Bedell 9mm shorty Open blaster today. I load it up, feels really good in the hands. I put the dot on a broken clay on the backstop, trigger... OUCH!!! sonufabeeeeeatch! The slide racker came and smacked my left thumb. Scared the crap out of me because I wasn't sure what happened at first. Anyway, finished the test drive. Nice gun, Dan! The thumb is still in one piece, allbeit a bit sore. This is why I don't shoot open. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chp5 Posted June 12, 2005 Share Posted June 12, 2005 I took my slide racker off (during my short stint in Open) for that very reason. Mine pulled my left thumbnail 1/2 off. OUCH, S**t, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XRe Posted June 13, 2005 Share Posted June 13, 2005 That'll teach ya to let those thumbs float around up there! When I used to shoot a P9 in Open, I had that happen a couple of times. On any CZ style Open gun, there's even *less* slide to grab than on a 1911, so the racker really helped. I had to have my smith bend the racker around so as to help avoid that situation. Bruised my thumb up nice a couple of times, though... Never had it return once I started shooting an STI frame.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulW Posted June 13, 2005 Share Posted June 13, 2005 I was never a big slide racker fan because I was always worried about it hitting my thumb. Welllll, what I did on my latest gun was took the sidewinder racker, heated it up and bent it. I bet even the guy with the fatest thumbs could not hit the racker now. It's way up there and I have not even thought about it since (thanks for the info on how-to Bedell). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritinUSA Posted June 13, 2005 Share Posted June 13, 2005 The last slide racker that I had was on my P9... I had to remove it in order to get the slide off for cleaning (due to a scope mount). After a while it started getting a tad loose. As I was shooting a stage the slide racker flew off and hit square in the middle of my Oakleys. If I hadn't been wearing them I would have lost an eye. I didn't think about it at the time but got the shakes a few hours later... It's the reason why I still use Oakleys. Other glasses are just as tough I'm sure, but I've never tested them by smacking them with a lump of aircraft grade aluminium zipping along at 60mph. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38supPat Posted June 13, 2005 Share Posted June 13, 2005 I've never used a slide racker and likely never will, they just don't seem worth the aggravation. Never needed it on my P9 or any gun since. A little skateboard tape (or slide grooves) at the back of the slide will work fine enough for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Larry Cazes Posted June 14, 2005 Share Posted June 14, 2005 Just get some decent rear serrations and the need for the racker goes away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulW Posted June 14, 2005 Share Posted June 14, 2005 Table starts, unloaded starts, and speed of clearing a malfunction can all be good reasons to use them. I never ever wanted one until I took TJ class, since I have tried (unsuccessful until I bent mine) to use them. Setup right I like them now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tightloop Posted June 14, 2005 Share Posted June 14, 2005 They are UGLY... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingerjg Posted June 14, 2005 Share Posted June 14, 2005 They are UGLY... <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I can agree w/ that. Back when my open gun was an EAA 9x21, the gun came w/ a slide racker already on. It was mounted on the right hand side of the gun so i never had any problems w/ it hitting my thumbs. I tried shooting w/ it removed, but because of the low Weigand mount it wasn't possible to grip the slide. It did however save my slide from the concrete the time i broke the slidestop. The racker caught on the scope mount preventing slide launch. On my new STI, i opted not to have any slide cuts or racker. I really like the clean look of the gun w/o the racker and I have never had a problem clearing a jam quickly or operating the gun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulW Posted June 14, 2005 Share Posted June 14, 2005 No GLOCK's are Ugly. Really is that a reason? I'd be willing to race anyone with one vs. w/o one. Yes it's a small advantage, but still an advantage. I remember when I had an STI GM and was shooting with the super squad a few years back. Stage start was gun unloades and hold this helmet thing over our heads. ( I sold DVD's of it, stage 3 I think) Chris Tilley got out of the box and gun loaded and racked better than anyone. He gained some match points and the stage win on that stage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redmercury2 Posted June 14, 2005 Share Posted June 14, 2005 i love those table starts with a open gun propped on its racker! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ong45 Posted June 14, 2005 Share Posted June 14, 2005 We bust our asses to gain that extra tenth (or less) on the draw, reloads etc. Why give up the advantages of a racker coz it ruins the lines of the gun? James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingerjg Posted June 14, 2005 Share Posted June 14, 2005 i love those table starts with a open gun propped on its racker! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> <thread drift> a 'gas pedel' mounted on the scope mount will do the same Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now