Opinions on "pinky dangling" handguns?

[Waitone]

2-1/2 fingers on a grip is a requirement I will not compromise. I find I can not control a gun adequately with 2 fingers. That requirement limits my selection of CCH pieces. As much as I like the Kel-Tec, I'll never purchase one because of the length of the grip.

 

[yzguy]

As much as I like the Kel-Tec, I'll never purchase one because of the length of the grip.

check out this:

13 rounds of 9mm in a small light package, with a full grip...
more info here:
http://www.1bad69.com/keltec/sw12.htm

 

[M1911]

I've fired my MK9 with and without the extended mag. And I found no difference in my accuracy/speed, etc. YMMV.

 

[Onslaught]

I will tolerate the "pinkie swingers" only if there is a benefit to them over a larger pistol. In other words, it has to fit in my pocket or on my ankle. Otherwise, I'll go for a larger pistol on the belt.

Pistols like the G27 etc. aren't small enough for me to carry in that manner, so I have no use for them. And that pinkie extension isn't good enough either, because the backstrap is still barely past the thumb joint, which just feels wierd!

 

[Kor]

Revolvers OK, Semi-autos NO WAY

I like the way my J-frames handle with boot(and similar) grips, 'cause I find I can curl my pinky up under from the bottom of the grip frame for a solid hold. These grips are also smooth/curved enough that I never feel pain/discomfort with this grasp.

I cannot do this with small semi-autos like my Glock 27 or the Kel-Tecs, because the magazine well is too thick for my pinky to curl under, plus the edges/corners are sharp enough to make this uncomfortable. Neither do I like curling my pinky into my palm - just feels too weak/unstable. Thus, I carry the gun holstered with a floorplate extension on the mag.

 

[Blackhawk]

Bothers me in theory and in fondling, but not in practice. I never even notice it when I have a firing grip. Must be an adrenaline thing.....

 

[Drjones]

I have a G-27 with the standard 9-round mags, no extensions, so my pinky curls underneath.

I shoot that 27 better than ANY gun I own, including my full-size Beretta 96's and G30.

Go figure....


Plus, its so tiny, its a breeze to carry...

Hmm....10 rounds of .40 in a compact, reliable as a brick package, that I shoot really well? I should get another!!!

 

[Hemicuda]

My Beretta 8040F Mini-Cougar is a pinky dangler...

It's also a sweet shooter, and with 9 rounds of .40S&W in it, I do NOT feel undergunned... so I choose to carry it as a CCW piece...

I am accurate with it... so, it is ok with me..

that said, I ENJOY a full size frame more, when target shooting... but the dangly pinky syndrome doesn't bother me that much... to each their own, I guess!

 

[DAL]

I don't mind; it's much ado about nothing. My Glock 26 shoots just fine sans a pinky grip, but I have small hands to begin with.
DAL

 

[Coronach]

I dislike it immensely.

I accept it on my J-frame, since the gun makes me look like I have a strange growth on my leg if I have the full-length grip on it for ankle carry.

I REFUSE to accept such an ergonomic error on my primary gun. Thats why I chose the Sig P232 above smaller weapons on my department's approved off-duty list. The Sig might be "big," but I can fit all my digits on the grip.

Mike

 

[Johnny Guest]

Regarding short stocks - - -

I really prefer them for all but the full size service handguns. And some of them, as well.

Old Fort Worth PD Lieutenant, Oliver Ball, showed me how he used to cut the bottom of the Colt "Target" woden stocks on his Troopers and Pythons. This way, he gotthe benefit ofthe built-in, behing the trigger guard "Filler." He curled his little finger beneath the grop frame, feeling it increased controlability, as well as making the piece more concealable. I tried it and really liked it. I got accustomed to putting the larger size Pachmayr adaptor on K-frame revolvers. this mostly filled the trigger guard-front grip frame gap, giving a hold similar to that of an auto pistol.

There's no real need to have a full, four finger hold on a mildly recoiling handgun, and they hide much easier without it.

Matter of personal preference, of course.

Best,
Johnny

 

[bad_dad_brad]

This debate makes me recall a former dealer's comment when I bought my Kahr MK9 from him and remarked that I was going to get a Pierce grip extention for it.

He reminded me that the index and middle finger did all the controling and that the pinky was just a vestige. And then he said something that seems so true. He said: "American gun owners are always trying to make big guns small, and small guns big."

It was at that moment that I realized that the reason I bought the MK9 was for concealment, and if I put an grip extension on it, it would not be as concealable, and so I did forgo that needless customization, and have learned to shoot the tiny MK9 with pinky curled underneath.

 

[russcoh]

It seems most people fire better without the pinkie floating midair. The question then becomes, how much less accurate will you be in an emergency situation? I wouldn't shoot competition with a short grip gun like that, though I wouldn't hesitate to carry.. just need to practice with it. It may never feel 100% natural, but for the extra level of concealment, it may be worth it.

 

[Kind of Blued]

It's a compromise. Sometimes it's worth it, and sometimes it's not.

The 642 on my ankle or the PM9 in my pocket are much more favorable guns with the short grip, otherwise they wouldn't be "there" and "there".

The nice thing about the PM9 (or Glock 26 or XD45 Compact) is that you can use the short grip for better concealability, or if you want to move it IWB or you're wearing a jacket, you can slap the extended, more comfortable, higher capacity magazine in there.

If only someone would make a J-frame boot grip that had a spring-actuated pinky groove that popped out when you squeezed the gun...

I'm patenting that. Don't touch it.

 

[cliffy]

So long as the caliber is .45 ACP, size only creates recoil

Anything smaller than a .45 ACP is NOT a 100% man-stopper. So, but it's true. The ONLY exception is the potent .357 Magnum. I've been toying with a .454 Casull lately, yet THIS I consider over-kill for most encounters of the less pleasant kind. .380 Autos are ladies' purse guns for ladies willing to die trying. James Bond only survived due to sequels on the silver screen. A 9mm Parabellum is MINIMAL, as is a .38 Special, with several rounds expended to stop a 300 pound target with rage in the eyes. Will a .327 Magnum prove itself? Maybe. cliffy

 

[NavyLCDR]

I amputated my firing hand pinky finger. No more problems.

Seriously though, I don't have a problem switching back and forth.

 

[MassMan]

dangling pinky finger

I shoot the MK9 w/o the mag extension fine, but I prefer shooting it with the extension. My pinky wants to grab something and feel important. The first time I shot my 360PD with mags it hurt my trigger finger something awful. Put on a pair of Hogue full size grips and the gun is much more enjoyable to shoot.

 

[mgregg85]

I can't get my pinky on the P3AT but I can still shoot it just fine. The tiny sights bother me more than the lack of a full grip. It does sacrifice a bit of controllability but, the smaller the gun, the smaller the caliber, so the recoil isn't too bad. I can't imagine trying to shoot a tiny .45 acp with a three finger grip, but a .32 acp or .380 acp isn't so bad.

 

[Eyesac]

I don't like shooting the G27 without the extension either, but that's the beauty of it, if you don't like it, change the mag floor!

 

[Eyesac]

You know what that said, try doing fast mag changes with anything with a two finger grip, you pinch your fingers every other try!:banghead:

 

[sherman123]

ive found i can grip my 340pd just fine if i really choke up on the bantam grips and over half of my pinky finger is still resting on the grip. i think the way the grips are designed makes it less of a pink dangler than my bersa thunder .380 i have trouble getting a comfy grip on that

 

[tipoc]

Holy Back From the Dead Batman! A thread from 2003!

tipoc

 

[shu]

With one exception, I never saw value in grip extension for small butt handguns.

Have a J-frame M36 which I used to choke up on when I first bought it, till I learned to grip it properly. My normal carry is a G-26 IWB sidearmor which works just fine with the pinky curled under.

The exception was a Heritage Arms Stealth in 9mm. Came with two mags: one with slick bottom plate, one with a small curled lip at the front. The center knuckle of the pinkie finger fit just right behind the curl, giving a better 'home' to the grip. Used to carry this gun in a soft suede holster w/ thumb-break, just stuck inside the shirt iwb without any kind of belt clip. The suede outside of the holster kept the affair from riding up. Lip at the front of the mag hooked over the belt and kept the affair from sliding down inside the trouser leg.

Now the SAA revolver is a whole different story. Curled-under pinky makes a secure base for the butt to rest on. Two fingers in front of the butt, and flesh pad at the base of the palm on the back of the butt, without any heavy squeeze provides just enough torque to counter the cantilevered weight of the cylinder and barrel in front. What a marvelous design!

 

[HuntAndFish]

Just curious who doesn't mind having thier pinky finger declared obsolete and who won't put up with it and why??

Doesn't bother me at all. I never use it to hold the gun anyway, whether there is room on the grip for it or not. I shoot better without using it.

I was once told that you should hold a handgun with your strong fingers, like you would shake someone's hand. Subsequently I have always shot them using my thumb, trigger and middle fingers. I try to keep the pinky either off the gun completely when I can, or put no pressure on the gun with it. Same with a two handed hold.

ETA: Sometimes with new shooters that I have introduced to handguns, the "flinch" at recoil sometimes comes from sympathic gripping by the pinky while the index finger works the trigger.

 

[Scotticus]

Doesn't bother me at all. I used to have a Detonics MkI Combat Master that gave me 2 fingers on that .45. If the ergonomics and recoil assembly are good, there seems to be no issue for me.