First, position is key.
Have a firm grip on the pistol with your strong hand (the one you write
with). This should be similar to your
shooting grip. You can pull the gun in
closer to your body. With the weak hand,
cup the top rear of the slide, it is often ridged for an easier grasp, being
careful to ensure that your hand does not extend over the ejection port, and
pull straight back while pushing forward with your strong hand. Pull the slide straight to the rear, and then
let it go. Yes, let it fly, if you hold
the slide as it is returning to position you can create several issues such as
a mis-feed, failure of the gun to return to battery (ready to fire). This takes practice. It is also harder on tiny gun, you may need
to adjust the position, but…you can do it!
If you need to strengthen your hands, there are products
available for that purpose. My personal
favorite is the GripMaster , available
in multiple resistance levels at Amazon.com.
It can be used to work the fingers individually. The other advantage to this exercise is that
is helps with your trigger control. Some
triggers are harder to pull than others.
Ironically, the triggers on revolvers, which do not have a slide and are
often recommended to women, have a harder pull than many semi-automatics.
Lastly, a good instructor can help you to adjust your hand
positions so that you can be effective.
Don’t hesitate to ask for help.
If you are at a range that has NRA Certified Range Safety Officers, they
are all instructors, and therefore can offer you some advice or assistance if
you need.
Safe Shooting!
