Do I just have small hands?

[jpruitt]

A question for everyone: when you hold a semi-auto (high capacity/double stack magazine) in your hand the way you would hold it to shoot, can you hit the magazine release and slide release with your thumb (assuming both are in the usual place) without adjusting your grip? I have found that, more often than not, with most semi-autos that take double stack magazines, I can't reach either with my thumb. Do I have small hands, is there some trick to it, or can most people not reach them?

 

[Nushif]

I can't reach either, not even on ye fabled 1911.

But most of my training has involved bringing the gun into my workspace anyways, so I never really felt hindered in that aspect.

 

[HOOfan_1]

It depends on the gun of course

Yup, on my Glock and FNP I can reach everything without adjusting my grip. On the HK USPs I have tried I had to adjust my grip to reach the slide stop.

 

[Swichblade]

I can get the mag release on all of the guns I have used. I can even use the thumb on my right hand to operate European style mag releases, without adjusting my grip . I cannot reach the slide stop on a 1911, but on the other guns I have used, I can.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

That will depend greatly on the gun and where its controls are located. It isn't necessarily the size of your hands. And, within reason, I don't care that much if I have to shift my grip a little. It ensures that you won't touch either control with your thumb while shooting.

 

[rskent]

But can you reach the trigger? To me that is the question. Can you get a good angle on the trigger for a proper trigger press?
Sadly the pudgy little stubs that I call fingers keep me restricted to single stack guns. Good thing I like 1911s.
Steve

 

[GunFit]

For me, this depends on the gun. Glocks are no problem but the XD/XDm requires adjustment to reach the mag release. Berettas have an awkward safety and the mag release is a reach however the slide release isn't a big issue. 1911s are no issue at all for me but those are mostly single stack. Most Taurus single and double stacks fit my hand perfect but I am not completely confident in their reliability.

 

[balance 740]

Yes on guns with well designed controls, no on guns with poorly designed controls.

It seems like more and more gun companies are coming out with more ergonomic designs than before, especially in polymer pistols.

 

[drw2514]

I feel your pain!

The only double stack guns I've been able to reach the slide release on have been the Walther P99 and the Sig P226/229. I haven't been able to reach the magazine release on any pistols without an ambidextrous control ever... And on those pistols, I have to use the middle or ring finger of my right hand (I'm right handed) to control it from the right side of the firearm.

I've come to realize I have very short fingers and in order to properly place my finger on the trigger of a Glock, for example, I have to hold the gun almost sideways, pointing to the right. And when I do hold the Glock properly, my trigger finger barely touches the trigger, the botom of the trigger guard bashes the heck out of the bottom of my trigger finger, the rear left side of the beavertail bashes the heck out of my thumb joint, the barrel does not line up with my forearm, and I can absolutely not reach the magazine release nor the slide release. Single stack guns are even a problem for me most of the time. I certainly can't reach either control on a 1911 even with super slim grips on it.

The only handguns I've been able to reliably use are single action revolvers and double action J and K/L frame revolvers. N frames are too far of a reach generally, especially with covered backstraps. Never tried an X frame lol.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

I have trouble reaching the controls on my 1911 without shifting grip. (Well, the thumb safety was easy, but not the magazine catch, nor the slide release.) I don't think the problem is my small hands. I think the designer had unusually large hands. yeah, that's it

 

[PabloJ]

A question for everyone: when you hold a semi-auto (high capacity/double stack magazine) in your hand the way you would hold it to shoot, can you hit the magazine release and slide release with your thumb (assuming both are in the usual place) without adjusting your grip? I have found that, more often than not, with most semi-autos that take double stack magazines, I can't reach either with my thumb. Do I have small hands, is there some trick to it, or can most people not reach them?

Not sure about you but most Americans have long fingers, long feet and long arms.

 

[56hawk]

This post interested me, so I went and tried all of my pistols. Not counting duplicates, out of 32 guns I can reach the mag release on only 7, the slide release on 13, and the safety on 22. Of the guns I can reach the mag and slide release on all but one use double stack mags. These are:

Double stack:
HK USP
Beretta 8040
Browning HP
HK P7M13
Kel Tec P11
Walther P99

Single stack:
Sig P225

I found I could only reach the safety on the 1911, and nothing on the S&W 1076. Most of my other single stack guns are WWII and earlier with goofy controls.

 

[berettaprofessor]

Left handed but I can do both with my indexfinger

 

[longhair75]

I can reach both on all five of the semi autos I own:
Beretta 92,
Beretta 84
Browning HP
Ruger 22/45
Ruger LCP.

I can not reach the slide release on a 1911.

 

[Robbins290]

I voted slide release from mag release were im packing a makarov for a few weeks

 

[Robbins290]

Hey long hair. I love what you say about the 16 shots! I love packing the m9 in winter

 

[longhair75]

Hey long hair. I love what you say about the 16 shots! I love packing the m9 in winter

I love my Beretta.

 

[mmitch]

I have immense feet and a long nose, as well!

Mike

 

[Shimitup]

I can reach all controls only on the SW 6906 hitting the mag button with the middle thumb joint , on the 1911 though my thumb extends well past the slide release and mag button I must shift the thumb back to to push the mag button. On the Ruger P85 I've got to shift back to push the mag lever forward. I shoot with a high thumbs to stay away from the trigger finger. I wear an XXL work glove when I can find them.

 

[GLOOB]

I think anyone that can reach a stock 1911 slide release is a freak. Statistically speaking.

I actually don't like being able to reach either control without a slight shift in grip. My thumb basically rests on top of the slidestop on a G19. This can be an issue with last shot hold open; hence why I took the part to the grinder.

But a stock 1911 release is really short to me. I don't even try to shift my grip that far. I just use my left hand.

is there some trick to it?

Well, aside from the size (and fatness, longer and thinner = more reach) of your hands, your grip comes into play. If your grip places the backstrap on the base of your thumb, rather than smack dab in the web of your hand, your thumb won't reach as far.

 

[1SOW]

Can't reach either. I do have small hands and retain my grip for mags and slide release.
I use weak hand for mag release/change. My service pistols will release the slide with a firm mag insert.
I usually don't "release" the slide. I sling-shot with weak hand.

Pistols with a strong-hand mag release I can reach without losing my grip.