Blister on Hand

[Bo]

Has anyone ever had a blister caused by the bump on the grip safety? I bought a new SA Loaded 1911. Shot a little over 300 rds. and got a blister on my palm. Kind of makes me wonder if I should replace it with a smooth grip safety.

 

[davepool]

or wear a shooting glove

 

[Captain Bligh]

I'm a 1911 shooter and have never had that experience. How aggressive is the grip checkering or your Springer's stock grips? If it was me, I think I'd experiement with different grips before I give up and shoot with gloves. You could go less aggressive wood, smooth wood, or rubber.

I also wonder if you might take a tigher hold. It seems to me that there are two factors involved in blistering: (a) an abrasive surface (b) moving around against soft skin. I'd eliminate one or both.

If you intend to use this pistol at all for self-defense, I think one should practice is the mode the gun will be used. If the SHTF, you're not going to say "hold it right there while I put on my gloves."

 

[cobrian45]

I have a couple of 1911s that I shoot all of the time. My full size Thompson 1911 (now retired) has a smooth grip safety. My Les Baer custom has a beavertail grip safety with a "bump" or pad on it. Neither give me problems, expecially in the palm area. To consider the first thought I had, what type of hold do you use on the gun? I shoot with the "high thumb" hold and the groove of the grip safety is firmly set in the web of my index finger and thumb. The pad of the grip safety applies very little pressure to my palm. Most of the "grip" in this hold is palm pressure from both hands on each side of the grip. It also provides a more direct back recoil, less barrel rise for a follow up and, I think, less abrasion on the hands with more aggressive grips.

 

[AndyC]

Whereabouts on your palm? It's unusual to get a blister there unless there's a small burr somewhere - I assume you're 100% sure that it's the grip-safety? Is it smooth, checkered, striated, what?

Matche the blister against the pistol using your normal shooting grip and see if you can spot anything on the gun - burrs, pinching, etc.

 

[CWL]

For hardcore training, I usually bring a few bandaids or pcs of moleskin to put in the web of my hand as well as my thumb.