Howdy
Study this photo. Notice I am curling my pinky under the grip. More importantly, notice that by doing so I have opened up a gap of about 1/4" between the trigger guard and the knuckle of my middle finger.
I learned this a long time ago. Shooting a single action revolver this way completely prevents my finger from getting whacked in recoil, even with my Black Powder 45 Colt loads which have a pretty stout recoil.
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This is of course contrary to everything you have been taught about shooting a pistol. Pistol (semi-automatic) instructors will usually tell you to grip as high as possible, to minimize muzzle flip. But take a look at a 1911 some time. The trigger guard is continuous with the grip. It is physically impossible to get your finger behind the trigger guard of most automatics.
Case in point. When I first got into CAS, I decided to start shooting Black Powder. I was shooting a couple of standard 'original model' Vaqueros at the time. Everybody told me that for the stouter recoil of Black Powder I was going to need a Vaquero with a Bisley grip. So I bought one. I brought it to exactly one match, and then sold it. I had already discovered that for the stouter recoil of Black Powder, all I had to do was curl my pinky under the grip. Curling the pinky under the grip does the exact opposite of what all those pistol instructors say. It moves the hand down on the grip just enough that the 1/4" of space between the knuckle and the trigger guard appears.
I ain't whacked a knuckle in years.
By the way, I have fairly large hands, but even with my pinky curled under the grip, I can still reach the hammer to cock it.
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