One-Handed Slide Racking

TacRack for One-Handed Slide Racking - The Firearm Blog:

The TacRack replaces the rear slide end cap of either a Glock or M&P pistol. It is CNC machined out of 6061 aluminum. The TacRack has ears that allow the user to rack the pistol on a hard surface such as a kydex holster or pistol belt.

I was introduced to a 'one-hand slide rack' technique in 1969, during U.S. Army Advanced Infantry Training (AIT).

But we were using the un-augmented 1911/1911-1A (we were SO "Old school" back then) and we all knew that we were going to a Combat Zone in a few months.  So we paid attention to this training phase as we thought we might be wounded, and discover a need for this skill in combat,

The drill was, if you had to rack the slide of your 1911 using only one hand, it took some strength and skill-training to learn the technique.



First, cock the hammer ... in this situation, every ounce of resistance was important.  (More on this in a moment.)

Taking the pistol in your strong hand (if available .. and few of us could do this with our 'weak hand', though we trained on it!) you first place your thumb INSIDE THE TRIGGER GUARD!  Obviously, forward of the trigger.

Unfortunately, if you put your thumb in the trigger guard, it will probably touch the trigger and drop the hammer.  That undermines the student's confidence that this was A Good Things.  And few of us were able to one-handedly rack the slide without the leverage provide from this grip.

This technique would not be used if there were already a round in the chamber; obviously, it would only require cocking the hammer and/or putting the thumb safety in the OFF positon to render the firearms operable.


Then the fingers of that hand we placed on TOP of the slide, as far forward as possible ... certainly, forward of the slide ejection port.

Finally, with as much force as possible, attempt to use the hand muscles which are used to grip a hammer to SQUEEZE hard enough to bring the slide back to achieve battery.

Usually, we bumped the grip against the thigh of our leg, to use as many muscle groups as possible to achieve our goal; to rack the slide and to load the first round from the magazine into the chamber.

Given all of the power require from a single hand and arm, none of we trainees failed to learn the technique with some  ANY confidence that we could perform it on demand ... ignoring any other injuries which we might have suffered under combat conditions.

I have no idea if this technique was ever used in combat; it was merely presented as a thing that's "Good To Know" ... like the first aid procedures they taught us to use when an squad member's jaw was shot off, so he wouldn't swallow his tongue before he bled out.

They never tried to convince us that this was a good thing to do.

I have been trying to take videos of myself performing this technique today.

 Yes, I can do it.  But  can't make it look easy.  Or safe.

I most heartily do not recommend this technique.