Pistol Pinching Finger Upon Recoil

[cox3497]

Need some advice Ladies and Gents. I've got a Ruger GP100 .357 mag with 4" full underlug barrel. The pistol is a blast to shoot with .38 special, but with .357 magnum, the flesh of my trigger finger gets pinched between the trigger and the back of the trigger guard upon recoil. This is certainly not helping me concentrate on proper shooting techniques. I am wondering if there are any options available to eliminate this problem (i.e. wider pistol grip, etc.). I have tried holding the pistol in different positions, but this doesn't seem to alleviate the problem. Has anyone else had the same problem; and, if so, how did you fix it (aside from selling the gun)? Thanks a lot for the help.

cox3497

[Vern Humphrey]

How are you pulling the trigger? With the pad of the index finger, or the first joint? If the latter, you're getting too much finger on the trigger.

[cox3497]

Wow Vern,

That was a quick response! I have tried pulling it with the pad only, but to do this, I have to bend my finger out at an odd angle that doesn't feel right. Also, it still seems to pinch even when I do this. I hold my other revolvers the same way, and don't have any issues. What do you think? Thanks again!

cox3497

[Vern Humphrey]

Wow Vern,

That was a quick response! I have tried pulling it with the pad only, but to do this, I have to bend my finger out at an odd angle that doesn't feel right. Also, it still seems to pinch even when I do this. I hold my other revolvers the same way, and don't have any issues. What do you think? Thanks again!

cox3497

The odd angle is correct -- it moves the finger away from the gun, thus minimizing side pressure, and gives you a straight back pull.

Do you have much backlash in this trigger (movent after the sear has released)?

[cox3497]

I don't have the pistol with me right now, but I really don't think that the trigger travels very much after release of the sear. The main problem seems to be that there is a small gap between the trigger and trigger guard that allows the finger to get caught as the gun rises in recoil. Do you know of any wider grips I could attach so that my finger more properly alligns without having to hold it out from the gun?

[rick_reno]

I had this happen when I shot my neighbors new Taurus 44 shortie 44 mag. I don't shoot it anymore, it was really painful.

[Harry Stone]

You could put a trigger shoe on it to close the gap between the trigger and guard. Beware that a trigger shoe wider than the trigger guard can be potentially unsafe when used with a holster that covers the trigger guard.

[Vern Humphrey]

I don't have the pistol with me right now, but I really don't think that the trigger travels very much after release of the sear. The main problem seems to be that there is a small gap between the trigger and trigger guard that allows the finger to get caught as the gun rises in recoil. Do you know of any wider grips I could attach so that my finger more properly alligns without having to hold it out from the gun?

You might try Hogue overmolded grips, but I don't think grips are the answer -- if changing finger position doesn't cure the problem, then grips won't either. I think the gap between trigger and bottom of the trigger guard seems to be the culprit. Before you spend any money, contact Ruger and tell them your problem -- the fix might be a new trigger blade.

[slopemeno]

My suggestion would be to have a trigger overtravel stop installed. This will stop the trigger from hitting the inside of the trigger guard. You have a couple of choices about it, though-1) Make the gun DA only. This means the trigger will break the DA pull and stop. OR 2) Make the stop so it works on the SA break. You will still be able to shoot DA with a small overtravel, and the stop will work on the SA break. Either way will prevent you getting pinched. The 'smith can dehorn the edges of the trigger at the same time which will help as well.

I shoot my Security Six DA only, but I still have the SA available. Brownells sells overtravel stops that have a rubber stop in the center which goves a nice soft stop at the end of the travel.

[slopemeno]

My suggestion would be to have a trigger overtravel stop installed. This will stop the trigger from hitting the inside of the trigger guard. You have a couple of choices about it, though-1) Make the gun DA only. This means the trigger will break the DA pull and stop. OR 2) Make the stop so it works on the SA break. You will still be able to shoot DA with a small overtravel, and the stop will work on the SA break. Either way will prevent you getting pinched. The 'smith can dehorn the edges of the trigger at the same time which will help as well.

I shoot my Security Six DA only, but I still have the SA available. Brownells sells overtravel stops that have a rubber stop in the center which goves a nice soft stop at the end of the travel.

[Vern Humphrey]

My suggestion would be to have a trigger overtravel stop installed. This will stop the trigger from hitting the inside of the trigger guard.

Before you spend any serious money and permanently alter the gun, go to Wal Mart and get some mole foam (you'll find it in the foot care section of the pharmacy.) This is a soft foam pad with an adhesive backing. Put a bit of mole foam on the trigger guard behind the trigger tip, and adjust it to allow the sear to release with light compression.

[rich636]

I didn't like the sharp edges on the GP's trigger so I filed them off and polished them smooth with a dremel. It helps a lot with extended shooting sessions.

[cox3497]

Thanks for all the great responses, guys! I'm going to look into all the options you'all mentioned and see which works best for my situation! I appreciate all the insight you all had to offer. Thanks again and a very happy holiday to all of you!

cox3497

[Mr_Moore]

I am wondering if there are any options available to eliminate this problem (i.e. wider pistol grip, etc.).

On my SP101 I was experiencing some pinching until I bought a houge grip. I did NOT like the Ruger factory grip.