How To Easily Rack A Slide

Many of us struggle racking the slides on semi-auto pistols with strong springs. When I first got started shooting, I couldn't rack some slides to save my life making those guns essentially unusable. I soon realized it was not about body or hand strength, but technique. Watch to learn how you too can easily rack the slide on the toughest of pistols.
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[@billj5645]

If a person has trouble coordinating the slide release while racking the slide, just put an empty magazine in the gun and let it operate the slide release for you. Virtually all modern centerfire auto handguns will have a magazine that will operate the slide lock when the magazine is empty. You only have to concentrate on the push-pull action.

[@StevenGrahamHypnotherapist]

Your technique made sense and made racking the slide on my Hellcat sub-compact so much easier. In fact, it made all the difference. Thank you!

[@ExileDCC]

Your instructor experience is definitely showing. You are absolutely correct, technique in firearms handling can significantly make up for less physicality. Thanks for the video!

[@CharLie-kd9vb]

Thank You. I am an old man with arthritis in my fingers. Your vidio details were extremely helpful. I no longer struggle to Rack the slide.

[@briancampbell6921]

Yay! You're back. Thanks for the info for new people. One thing you might want to add is to turn 90 degrees when at the range so that the muzzle stays pointed downrange.

[@captainskippy6622]

You beat me to it.

[@AvaFlanell]

You’re right. I emphasize this to my students every class.

[@cryptosovereign]

Great video 👍🏽. You look absolutely stunning in that great top 🇺🇸

[@ThorMartini6]

Going to have to show my mom this.

[@javierdavis696]

😅

[@dalehenry4694]

Very smart way to rack the slide,ty Ava

[@jambajoby32]

Thanks for covering the basics! Fundamentals are key! & soooooo many new owners, this video is essential! Also love your earrings & hair in this

[@AvaFlanell]

Thank you 😊

[@jamesschilling4659]

😀😎 Hey Ava, great to see u back! Good demo on racking the slide. Keep'em coming! Jim 👍👏✝⚜👊☮🇺🇸

[@williamwiesand1870]

Thank you for this video Ava!

[@davidgcalderone]

Good simple advice

[@BassWhoopinFishingTeam]

I'm just here to see the sweet patch board. Love the Ninja Turtles! Sweet collection!

[@chrevychase]

Excellent advice! I'll be adding this to m'brain for future use. Thank you for sharing!

[@rjinnh3933]

Great suggestion which was well presented! At my age I've lost much Upper Body/Arm/Wrist/Hand Strength. Racking my slides has become quite difficult so I've recently begun exercises to lessen this problem. That will take time but along the way this vid will be very helpfull to gauge my progress. First saw you today in interview with Clint Smith and was Impressed with your Cool/Calm Demeanor. Will now watch your AK Range and other vids. Just Liked/Subbed and look forward to going through your Channel.....

[@vicchiapetta4166]

Ava, You are awesome!!

[@thedramastic5442]

Good stuff, Ava!!

[@ignitionSoldier]

Great, video! Like many things with marksmanship, it is about technique and not brute force. I look forward to more tips for beginners and veterans alike!

[@Wemissubooey]

Thanks Ava..very clear and straightforward video..very good indeed 👍👍🔫🔫👍👍👍

[@RJM1011]

Thank you. Your new hair looks beautiful ! ;)

[@AvaFlanell]

Thank you! I didn’t want to go this light, but it happened and I’m rolling with it.

[@dasgespenst979]

That shield is a pain to rack. For someone with bigger hands, I used to get my pinky pinched between the barrel and slide. And the spring seems heavy for a 9mm.

[@chubbethsthunder]

Thank you very much. It's Tickle approved. Have a beautiful and blessed weekend.

[@AlphaRomeoOneFive]

... I couldn't help staring at your patch collection 😍 That's so impressive! I'm going to turn mine around in shame now lol

[@AvaFlanell]

😂

[@theiviachine]

This is great advice! Also good for men in cold weather

[@jambajoby32]

Love the new intro! Pew pew ☺️

[@garylavorgna5976]

Thanks, great thumb trick!

[@mirali4467]

I feel like we need a video about those patches... so fucking cool

[@MrShtbrick]

Your wall of patches is likely the most impressive that I'll ever see.

[@AvaFlanell]

Have you seen the whole thing? I have about 10x10 ft covered. I guess you could say it’s become a hobby lol.

[@GUNMETALGUYUSA]

The Back Wall Picture Montage Is On Point, Young Lady. 👍

[@buckleymordecai9605]

Great little vid.!

[@waynewells7471]

Great video. My dads 75, and this will help him lots! & me too 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@tigerwolf78]

Great video Ava! :)

[@williamcarey6592]

When racking the slide always point the gun in a safe direction.

[@joelpeterson8424]

Great no nonsense instruction. However, at my range, pointing the muzzle to the side is considered "flagging" others, and you'll get a quick response from the Range Master.

[@GenericBrandDan]

Finally a video 🙃

[@RyanSpringer1984]

Thanks, been trying to teach my mom this but think your video will be more effective.

[@whskywolf]

Nice tip, never really occurred to do it that way, but notice some days my hands bother me so much it is hard to rack the slide, I will focus on this technique more and see if that helps.

[@tausha46]

THANKS GREAT LEARNING REVIEW

[@tumbleweedscout6844]

Always ensure you’re keeping the muzzle pointing down-range or in a safe direction. Tendency for people to point left (right hander) when racking like that. Will get you in big trouble at the range.

[@mr.b8372]

I brought my pencil.😍

[@wedgie502]

I don't feel tardy.

[@redhorseritter]

Damn that m&p Shield looks almost as good as you do!

[@nesano4735]

You can also achieve the same "push-pull" by simply pointing the gun at the ground and pulling back on the slide with your other hand.

[@nesano4735]

@Bob Charles That's another reason why you'd do it my way and not her way.

[@nesano4735]

@Bob Charles I think you are confused. Point the gun down range and down far enough so that you can rack the gun, but it's still pointing down range. Not hard to understand.

[@nesano4735]

@Bob Charles You can point a gun downrange and at the ground at the same time.

[@petercarmody4897]

I wish that you could have taught my daughter, as she is very petite, as an adult, even. I gave her the S&W EZ

[@Locoatown669]

Educate!! Great video!!! 😘😍🔥💯🇺🇸💪🏽

[@dirkpittthegreat4559]

Thanks Ava...will show my wife!

[@joelpeterson8424]

Muzzle discipline. Keep it pointing downrange. Don't let your friends stand next to you!

[@opiealvin]

Ava's back. Yay. Looking good, as always. And you've got great technique with your hands. Wait, that came out wrong. Oh well. We're rolling with it. 😀

[@ChairmanPaulieD]

She wouldn’t use her GREAT hand techniques on you or anything below your pants if she was deprived and desperate for some action to get her off 😂😅

[@bobmccune9381]

Just found your channel through the Colion. Glock 20 fanboy. I'd love to see your thoughts on that lone Wolf 10 mm.

[@AvaFlanell]

I think I posted a video on my channel about it

[@plouiswags1659]

We need part 2 video showing how to extract an unfired round from A 50 AE Deagle 😖

[@doejohn8674]

Thanks for video! It sometimes is easier to explain to a beginner by saying don't move you weak hand and push with your strong hand, as a first step to then move to 'push-pull'.Baby steps ;) (Personal experience, your mileage may vary).

[@AvaFlanell]

What if they’re left-handed and the gun isn’t ambidextrous? I’ll still with push/pull.

[@doejohn8674]

@@AvaFlanell I don't really have a simple solution for a left handed person with a non ambi pistol :(

[@captaincupcake57]

Warning TMI: I bought a 1911 Kimber 45 two years ago. I bought it because it was pretty 😂. I rack the slide using my thumb and index finger. When the slide snapped back so did my tendon in my wrist. It was a month before I could make a fist. That first night was so bad I almost went to the ER. I sold the gun at a $400 loss without ever firing it just to get rid of it. Wish I had seen this video back then.

[@AvaFlanell]

Oh wow 😳

[@deluxe1030]

❤️

[@evanbordash8580]

Do you ever go to see dragon man? He’s in Colorado as well.

[@Locoatown669]

You could say this Beauty Breathes Fire as well

[@vicdiaz5180]

Great video at a time where new gun owners are everywhere. 👍🏾 on a sidenote, I loved seeing you on Colion’s show. Hint: he was flirting with you a big portion of that podcast. I think you should invite him out on a date on range day lol. Remember if you do go to the range together he’s going to disagree with your shots lmao 😂

[@AvaFlanell]

Lmao 😂

[@pcbmale]

nice RACK, technique

[@andrewlundquist4888]

Showing my mom this. I did the exact mistake you mentioned about giving a woman a revolver if she can rack the slide. Come to realize a .38 S&W kicks like a tiny little son ofna bitch lol

[@dukenukem9770]

Autobot patch FTW!

[@crowsbridge]

Bad Snacks intro music

[@john4K47]

Where have you been?

[@AvaFlanell]

I’ve been teaching firearms classes about five days a week on top of all the other things I do lol. It’s been a busy year.

[@john4K47]

@@AvaFlanell nice, hell yeah. Well I hope that's all going good for you. I'm kinda new to your channel, a few months now. I like your content. Keep up the great work.

[@shawn78789]

Poor baby.

[@kierstinschmidt2514]

NICE RACK!

[@BoogalooBoy]

I think I'm gunna I think I'm gunna........... SHOOOOOOOOOOOT! I'M SHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTIN'! ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

[@johnnybeanz1296]

Or just buy the ez!

[@fun3000able]

oops, sorry, I read "how to slide a rack" ... my bad.

[@Catgat37]

Don't tell me where to grip it.

[@benjaminleinen]

I like your pepe patches specifically the one for "the boys"

[@N98858]

Yikes Ava... that Shield is almost as pretty as you! That said, good oratory and demonstration! Thanks

[@shawn78789]

She’s ok, geez, get a grip and a woman.

[@wp-nv3il]

@@shawn78789 LOL!

[@buttvader]

I know somewhere you could easily slide your rack

[@WV591]

this is going to wife

[@badgumby9544]

There is a better way to grasp the slide than the way you are doing it. Too easy for novices to get their palm pinched holding it that way. If you "pinch" the end of the slide from the rear, kinda like your pinching someone's nose, it eliminates pinching completely. I teach people that technique almost everyday in our shop. Even weak old lady's with arthritis can do it.

[@armedaustrian974]

Omg she is so beautiful and she likes guns Dreamgirl!

[@jacobmontoya5025]

You should do way more Glocks in your video's.

[@jacobmontoya5025]

@vic vapor Or just get a Glock

[@archangel20031]

I'm sorry, I thought she was going to show us how she would slide her rack. No, I will not take my mind out of the gutter, there is a beautiful woman here with a gun channel! Can she come over to my house and we can practice that push pull thing together?LOL

[@Perfer-gw6ir]

Wow!😍😍😍