J-Frame vs. My Thumbs

[pairof44sp]

I am working on becoming passably proficient with the pair of 642s I bought a few weeks back.

They are excellent guns. They recoil much more comfortably and are easier to shoot straight than my LCRx 38, and they are better in just about every way than my Charters (although the Charters have a higher cool/weird/hipster factor).

The problem is that unlike with the other guns, with the 642s my trigger finger crashes into my thumbs when I shoot. The only way I can make it work is to hold my thumbs up and away from the gun. But then it feels like I don’t have a secure grip.

This is really tripping me up. How do you all who shoot small revolvers with panel grips keep your thumbs from getting in the way?

 

[John Joseph]

What kind of stocks do you have on 'em?
Factory J frame "peanut" grips are awfully little.
It sounds like you could use something more substantial to hang on to.

FWIW I shoot thumb down with Pachmayr Presentations which have a bit more "depth."
Lots of guys like the Tyler "T"

 

[Stophel]

How do you all who shoot small revolvers with panel grips keep your thumbs from getting in the way?

I don't. The J grip frame seems to have been designed for the average 8 year old girl. Tiny, tiny, useless little handle. I wouldn't even attempt to shoot with the plain handle scales.

"boot grips" seem to work for some people.. not for me. I finally had to fit a set of Taurus rubber wraparound grips to mine. The grips cover the backstrap and help fill that area.. some... so the thing doesn't hurt the web of my hand so much. There are grips bigger than this, like the Pachmayr compac grip, which does well.... but it's pretty big, and a J frame with these grips is simply no longer a pocket gun.

 

[pairof44sp]

What kind of stocks do you have on 'em?
Factory J frame "peanut" grips are awfully little.
It sounds like you could use something more substantial to hang on to.

FWIW I shoot thumb down with Pachmayr Presentations which have a bit more "depth."
Lots of guys like the Tyler "T"

I’ve got the factory grip w exposed back strap. I like the Tylers, but they dont move your hand back, so I think my thumbs would be in the same place.

Maybe i’ll have to put Pachmayrs on. That would solve the problem, but take away the ultra-concealability of these little revolvers.

I’m hoping there’s some gripping technique. Maybe I should look up whatever Hickok 45 vids where he shoots a j frame. He’s 6’9” with huge hands and somehow makes it work.

 

[Pat Riot]

I curl my thumbs down. I have large hands. I wear XXL gloves. It was something I started doing years ago and it’s now second nature.
I can shoot a J frame with boot grips, magna grips with a “T” grip or a Monogrip with no difficulty. It just takes repetition and practice.
I recommend you don’t try the thumbs forward style so many people use with autoloaders. You could burn yourself with the gases from the gap between the cylinder and barrel.

Try a Hogue Monogrip if grip size isn’t a CCW concern.

 

[John Joseph]

.... but it's pretty big, and a J frame with these grips is simply no longer a pocket gun.

That all depends on the size of your pockets!

 

[George P]

Ugly but effective, the Delta ERGO grip lets you get a better grip at a better angle

 

[P5 Guy]

Ugly but effective, the Delta ERGO grip lets you get a better grip at a better angle
View attachment 935429

Would they look better if made of wood?

 

[Steve C]

The problem is that unlike with the other guns, with the 642s my trigger finger crashes into my thumbs when I shoot.

Try using less finger in the trigger guard. Use the middle of the finger tip pad of your trigger finger to press the trigger. This should allow you to align your pistol in line with your arm and give you an in line trigger press that doesn't pull the barrel alignment to the right and the space allowed between the finger and the right side of your pistol should prevent pushing the barrel and shots to the left. Wrap your support hand around the grip hand keeping your right hand thumb on top of your left support hand thumb. This should keep your trigger finger away from your thumbs when depressing the trigger and in the follow through. This assumes a right handed shooter.

My 637 J frame air weight EDC has the standard boot grips provided at purchase and my little finger is below the bottom of the grip.

 

[pairof44sp]

Ugly but effective, the Delta ERGO grip lets you get a better grip at a better angle
View attachment 935429

Have you used them? What are your results so far?

 

[George P]

Have you used them? What are your results so far?

I go back and forth with the factory ones to see. As for recoil and manageability, they beat the factory; that said, I usually pocket carry the 642 and unless your pockets have large openings, they can be a PITA to get the gun out, especially quickly - at least for ME in MY shorts. They definitely helped with "pointability". It just feels more natural for my hands. With the factory grip, I have to wiggle and finagle my hand to get the proper grip to use my finger pad instead of the first joint. They aren't that expensive either, so it isn't like buying some name brand fancy wood grips only to find out you hate them.

 

[pairof44sp]

I go back and forth with the factory ones to see. As for recoil and manageability, they beat the factory; that said, I usually pocket carry the 642 and unless your pockets have large openings, they can be a PITA to get the gun out, especially quickly - at least for ME in MY shorts. They definitely helped with "pointability". It just feels more natural for my hands. With the factory grip, I have to wiggle and finagle my hand to get the proper grip to use my finger pad instead of the first joint. They aren't that expensive either, so it isn't like buying some name brand fancy wood grips only to find out you hate them.

Most revolver grips are narrow on top, fat on the bottom.

I tried holding my 357 with Pachmyers upside-down and backwards (unloaded). It felt great. Really better in every way.

Now I'm thinking they've been getting it wrong for 200 years.

 

[Dan-O]

Try touching off a cylinder full of .357 mags from a 340 with the oem grip. Talk about wrecking your thumb....

 

[Pudge]

Have you used them? What are your results so far?

I have them and find they make a J frame much more shootable, and they conceal just fine. Grip fit is an individual thing, but I really like mine.