Big hands, small gun.

[Arizona_Mike]

I have large hands and long skinny fingers. I have a natural straight back trigger pull on really big automatics like the original Glock 20/21. For revolvers, I suspect that the actual human behind Uncle Mike's grips has similar hands to me.

On my compact Khar PM40 which is my usualy CC gun, I end up exerting lateral pressure on the trigger to the right using a natural grip in line with the arm bones. Trigger engagement comes well past the half way point on my index finger curling. While Googling around, I saw this article by Rob Leatham that says trigger reach is more important than alignment with the arm.

3. Position The Gun In Your Hand So You Can Reach The Trigger

The angle the gun sits in relation to your arm is not that important. Being able to place your finger properly on the trigger is.

Don't try to align the barrel of the pistol with your arm. For me to reach most triggers, because of my short fingers, the gun actually points a little to the right or outside of the line of my forearm.

So should I "choke up" on the gun moving the butt of the grip up the hand more towards my knuckles to get the straight trigger pull? Is this going to work well for recoil?

Mike

 

[Mizar]

In my opinion - no, it won't work. It's one thing to shift your gun towards your thumb - lots of short fingered people do that, but the opposite is not that simple - your grip weakens and you loose control over your firearm. I tried it and it didn't work for me. Try Hogue Handall or similar, fitting and gluing some ready made backstrap, make one from kydex, or get yourself another gun - like Glock 27 gen 4 for example. Just try some rapid firing with "hand more towards your knuckles" grip and see for yourself.

Best,
Boris

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

I am a big proponent of doing what works for YOU.

I have done a lot of reading, watching and studying on trigger technique and the overwhelming suggestion is that the only proper way to shoot a pistol is with the end pad of the index finger. For me and many others, this is simply not possible with compact or moreover subcompact guns.

I have very large hands myself with long fingers. Depending on the gun I'll use the end pad, the next joint closest to it, or the middle pad.

IMHO there is no "one size fits all" when it comes to trigger pull. But more important than what part of your finger you use to pull the trigger, is the technique. And PRACTICE.

In my experience no amount of instruction will compare to PRACTICING what works for YOU.


YMMV...

 

[entropy]

Try this, see if it works for you; Keep the grip the same and pull just the trigger finger 'out' of the trigger guard until just the tip is in contact with the trigger, and pull that straight back. I have a hard time doing it with smaller SA autos, and on my 1911 I put the older 1911-style trigger in to keep from doing what you are doing.

 

[Valkman]

I agree with entropy, just put your trigger finger where it normally contacts the trigger. I have xxl hands and shoot guns like the XDs just fine.

 

[Arizona_Mike]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll experiment.

Mike

 

[murf]

wrap tape (bicycle, or skateboard) around the grip until it fits your hand. i think hickock45 uses skateboard tape on his pistols.

murf