Handgun suggestion for people with LARGE hands?

[only1asterisk]

What handgun for people with small hands is a common question. With the selection of handguns we have today, the are at least a dozen ways to go for them. What about us, the people who have trouble buying gloves? Ever been to the orangutan habitat at the zoo? They have those plaques with the imprint on orangutan's hand where you can compare yours to to it's? Mine is bigger. My outstretched fingers can touch 3 sides of a piece of letter size paper, with the heel of my hand on the 4th. Anyone else here with paws like that? If so. what do you shoot? What if any adaptations do you need to be comfortable? If you are like me, and put custom grips on most of your guns, from whom do you get them? What do you carry? I don't really need suggestions for new guns to buy, as I have a list that will keep me busy for the rest of my life if my wife has anything to do about it, but I can't help but wonder what other's are doing, and if there is something I haven't I haven't tried.


Dave

[El Tejon]

only1*, yes, problems with standard gloves here as well. But can you curl up your thumbs so you can run on your hands like me? When sitting up in a tree what type of fruit do you like? Tangelos and apples here.:)

I have problems, but not because my hands are long, but because they are thick (do these gloves make my hands look fat? No, it's not the gloves, its' your hands). Great for making a fist or grip strength (for fighting the other apes), but bad for guitar and piano.

The solution, at least IME, has been software related. I need to practice obtaining a solid grip as anyone should. An excuse to dry practice.

[Skunkabilly]

They probably traded in their Kahrs and Glock 26s for Desert Eagles and HK Mk23 SOCOMs :D

[Shmackey]

My outstretched fingers can touch 3 sides of a piece of letter size paper, with the heel of my hand on the 4th.

First of all, that's insane.

As for the guns, I'd recommend all the ones that *don't* work with my small hands: Glocks, full-size HKs, full-size Berettas. You'll note they all have fat, double-stack grips and the last two have long trigger reaches.

I bet a double-stack "2011" from STI with a long trigger would work great, and you'd be the cool kid on the block.

[sanchezero]

Perhaps you should skip handguns altogether and just pay the tax on an M60 or something...

:p

[only1asterisk]

Skunk, DE's grip has a great feel, but the trigger is set back very near the grip (I assume so that more people can handle them).

Shmackey, What's insane about it? My hands are of normal proportion, they're just supersized. Ever shake hand with a pro basketball player? Their hands make mine look small. Want to really blow your mind? My wife's hands are 90% as long as mine (very long fingers). Of course, she is a former pro basketball player.
HK USP made a good carry gun for me, I regret parting with it. Beretta 92/96 D models put the trigger out where I like it. These are 2 of the better guns for folks like me, but neither has grips that cover the backstap, making it hard to fit custom grips that give it that last bit of comfort.


El Tejon, apples, peaches and pears! I played violin for years, but gave up after I started playing football.

Dave

[Tamara]

When the music instructors looked at my hands, they asked whether I'd prefer to play cello or trombone. :uhoh:

I'm partial to N-frames and 1911's with long triggers.

Bananas taste yummy. :)

[Mal H]

See if you can find a dealer or local shooter who has a CZ-97B .45 ACP. It fits me ok, but I think it would be ideal for someone with larger than average hands, more so than the average 1911. And the 97B is a very well built pistol, to boot.

[only1asterisk]

The CZ 97B is on my list of must have guns, I should probably get one before they discontinue them.

Tam, buying N-frames is what keeps me poor!

Dave

[s&w 24]

I use N frame S&W revolvers for most of my shooting but glock 21/20 work great in my hand , also para ord p14 fits very well. You also might check on EAA Witness pistols in 45 or 10mm.

[ACP230]

Have you tried a Para-Ordnance P14? Not the DA version, the original single action. There's quite a bit of grip to hang on to.

[10-Ring]

HK USP made a good carry gun for me, I regret parting with it.

If you liked the USP but need custom grips, I would suggest a double stack 45...in something like a P14. My first recommendation would be w/ the USP & the Handall sleeve.
Good luck

[Texas Bob]

:) Try a HK P-7 M-13 with a set of Nill grips attached.:rolleyes:

[lee n. field]

Get ahold of a copy of Bill Jordan's _No Second Place Winner_. Look at the picture of him on the cover. That's a S&W Model 19. The man looks like he had _enormous_ hands.

Try a Ruger auto. They're pretty big, with a nice big trigger guard.

[hksw]

3 out of 4 corners. I think the Desert Eagle would probably be the best bet. Also, LAR Grizzly in .45 WINmag, the larger caliber Automags.

How about stacking up on the grips like a pair of fat replacement Hogues topped off with a Handall.

[P95Carry]

DE44 would I'm sure be pretty good but ..... having pretty large hands myself, I find I agree re the ''N'' frame camp ...... and, do find the P97 and P95 suit well too ...... plenty to get hold of (as they say!)

[Correia]

I thought I had big hands until I read your description! I can touch 3 sides (easily), but the base of my hand is still a good 2 inches from the bottom side! :p

I personally love double stack 1911s. I use a standard length trigger, but that is because I shoot with my finger tip instead of my finger joint. If you prefer to use your joint they swap the regular trigger out with a long trigger.

Now if you are into abominations... err... double action autos. ;) I would second the USP and the CZ97.

And N frame Smiths are simply wonderful.

[DonGlock26]

Glock 21 .45ACP double-stack mag!!

[harrydog]

You do indeed have some huge hands! :eek:
Have you given any thought to hand reduction surgery? ;)

[Bullet Bob]

Have you had Herrett's make a pair of Jordan Trooper stocks for a S&W revolver? You van send them a tracing of your hands, and they'll make a grip to fit. They are called Jordan Troopers because they were developed by the aforementioned Bill Jordan, who also had huge hands.

[Dr.Rob]

I would heartily endorse the Glock 21 or Full sized USP 45 for anyone with really big paws.

I can't quite do that trick with my hands but I once drew a pretty good looking VW with my foot. Pommegranates are sweeter when eaten in a tree don't you think?

[Gary H]

P7M10 for a in the pocket small gun...

Bet you get a great number of dates.

[bad_dad_brad]

Most Ruger autos (the P97 is an exception).

Beretta 92.

Double stacked .45s. like the Para-Ordanance.

Large frame revolvers.

Why? - because I have small hands, and can't properly operate these big boys.

Heck, without changing the grips, the CZ-75 is eve too big for me.

[CMcDermott]

Well, with Herrett's Jordan grips (http://www.herrettstocks.com/jordontp.htm) most any revolver can be made comfortable for you - they will just keep adding to the thickness of the wood covering the backstrap until it fits you.
As far as stock guns go, get an old New Service Colt (also known as the "Shooting Master"). They have the longest reach from trigger to backstrap of any revolver ever made; most people can't come close to fitting them correctly.

[only1asterisk]

harrydog,-I have a friend that tried a home hand reduction with a band saw. I think I'll wait a bit for them to improve the procedure.

CMcDermott, Bullet Bob, lee n. field- I have grips from Herrets and Nill Griffe. I've also handled what was supposed to have been one of Mr. Jordan's revolvers. I like the looks of the Herrets grips, and both makers fit my hand very well (special order).

Gary- I would, but my wife shoots too well.

hksw- 3 of 4 CORNERS! HOLY COW!

sanchezero- Who says I haven't already? :cool:

CMcDermott- New Service? Being a Colt, I never gave it a second thought. Always wanted a Fritz Special!

Shmackey-Are the STI double stacks that much wider? I thought they went out of their way to keep them thin? I have a STI that I have yet to get working right, but it is a single stack, and a thread unto itself.

You P7 people will not give up until everybody’s got one! Little hands? P7! Big Hands? P7! No Hands? P7! :rolleyes:

Handalls? Never tried, not crazy about finger grooves. But I am going to see about sandwiching a layer of rubber between my 1911 grips and the fame.

1911 Triggers, what is the longest you can get? I remember seeing one from Enterprise or EGW that had interchangeable inserts that looks like it might be useful.


What about Ruger revolvers?

S&W N-frame
USPF 45
Glock 20/21
CZ 97B/75 IPSC Standard/Witness 38 Super, 10mm or 45
Double Stack 1911 (Para, Caspian, Springfield?, Kimber? STI?)
Beretta 92/96
Rugers?

DE
Griz
Automag
Wildey

[Gary H]

Hey, the P7 comes in different flavors. The P7M10 is hated because it is rather large. It has a double stack magazine and with the grip-cocker that makes for a larger grip, whereas the M8 has a much smaller single stack grip, but still doesn't usually sit well with small hands due to the grip-cocker.

There are a number of grips for the Ruger Super-Redhawk. I have one in Ruger 480. Also, The "N" frame revolvers with Square butt, I have a Mod. 25, can be equipped to fit a large hand. Both of these revolvers provide a great deal of flexibility in terms of grip selection. The Ruger comes with a trigger pull that only a real man could love. I quickly replaced the springs for a much lighter pull. Of course, the Ruger is much heartier and the trigger on the Smith is much smoother.

[Dorrin79]

I have big paws, and the gun that fits mine best out of those I have tried are the full-size ruger P-series autos. very natural-pointing in my hands.

[Smoke]

I'll second the Para Ordnance double stacks. Throw on a Hogue grip and you have a nice handful of gun there.

My hands tend to the large size also. Mine aren't thick like Tejon mentioned...just extremely long fingers. (I'm 6'6", 225lbs.)

I also like most 1911 style weapons, especially equipped with wrap around grips or aftermarket thick grips.

[Mikul]

I have pretty big hands, but I have really long fingers. Most triggers have way too short of a reach for me. The Beretta 92's are painful for me to shoot.

I have an H&K USP compact and a CZ-75 with custom grips. The custom grips make all the difference in the world. I have a Ruger Redhawk in .44 Magnum whose grips are WAY too small. I'm working on new grips for them too.

[firestar]

I have medium sized hands but I like smaller grips so that I can really get a hold of the gun.

The guns that I don't like because of large grips or too long of a trigger are:
Glock 21
CZ-97
CZ-40 (trigger too long)
CZ-75 (same)
Desert Eagle
Kimber double stack
S&W N frames
Any 1911 double stack

The guns that seem large that I can shoot O.K. are Ruger autos, Beretta autos, H&K autos. I don't what the difference is but some are worse than others. The Beretta 92fs fits me well but the Glock 21 is huge in my hands and I don't feel like I can get a solid grip.

[only1asterisk]

I've never thought of the CZ 75 as having a large grip. In fact, I've always thought of it as a gun for people with average hands. I've had good luck teaching people to shoot them.

It seems to me after doing some measurements, that the Beretta 92/96 and USP 9/40 don't really deserve to be compared to the bigger double stack 45's. The trigger reach may be on the long side (compared to some other 9mm's) but the girth of the grip is less.

I was kidding about the P7. Too be honest, I've shot a single stack, and it never seemed very natural (the whole covking lever thing), I'll go look for someone with a double stack to let me try.

David


Class I (big, but not abnormal)
Beretta 92/96
HK USPf 9/40
Rugers?

Class Ia (one size fits all)
Medium/Large frame revolvers (with custom grips)

Class II (larger, but still homo sapien)
CZ 97B/Large frame Witness
Glock 20/21
HK USPf 45
Some double stack 1911's

Class IIa
HK Mk 23

Class III
DE
Wildey
Griz
Automag

[firestar]

The grip on the CZ-75 is not too large, the trigger reach is too long.

[Tamara]

I don't mind grips that aren't very thick, as long as they're deep front-to-back; these seem to aid in getting a proper grip (read: pistol in straight line w/arm) on the gun.

[Shooter973]

I to have large hands, when I took my wedding ring in to have it sized they ended up tapping it off the end of the ring sizing mandrel, about a size 16 they think! The handgun that fits me the best is a Ruger Redhawk with Pachs. on it ! They fit my hand very well, as for Autos I use a 1911 with a arched main spring housing and a set of Pachs on those to. :D All other legends about other parts relating to big hands are not necessarily accurate! :rolleyes: