thumb gets in the way of trigger finger

[JBrady555]

Hey guys I've been dealing with the tip of my trigger finger hitting my thumb on the other hand as a I squeeze the trigger. I have large hands and it happen on just about all my pistols. I use the grip where both thumbs lay on top off each other. If I try to bury the thumb even lower to not interfere it gets awkward, if I try to use less of the tip of my trigger finger it get awkward too. It's also important for me to use a lot of grip with my left hand to absorb a lot of recoil to protect my painful wrist problem on my trigger hand. Anyone else have a problem with your trigger finger wanting to hit your other hand? Thanks for any info that may help me. I mostly shoot a full size ruger p95 so it's not like I'm shooting subcompact lol.

 

[herrwalther]

I actually had to pull out a pistol to walk through your problem in order to visualize it. I have medium hands by most glove sizes and was able to replicate your issue on an XD 45. What you could try is bending the thumb of your support hand up toward the slide catch/slide of the P95. That way it should be out of the way of your trigger finger.

 

[peacemaker45]

You could always try and shorten the trigger finger, like I did:



That seems like a drastic solution, though.

I've actually never had the problem with full size guns, but did at one time with pocket pistols. The answer I found was to use the pad of the finger, rather than the joint, which works even though my thumbs both run out parallel to the trigger.

 

[Rushthezeppelin]

Get a cz75 (or clone). The frame has much more room above the trigger guard.

 

[tyeo098]

Move your thumb higher up?

 

[JBrady555]

Thanks for the input guys. I have always wanted a cz 75 sp01, maybe now I have a good excuse lol. I'll try the suggestions here thanks again.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I'm still not sure how you have your thumbs oriented. "both thumbs lay on top off each other" and "bury the thumb even lower" seem to contradict each other...unless you are bending them and locking them downward.

The optimal grip for recoil management and fast follow up shots should look something like this...note that this is on a sub-compact gun and I'm still not experiencing anything like what you are describing

It's also important for me to use a lot of grip with my left hand to absorb a lot of recoil to protect my painful wrist problem on my trigger hand

It sounds like you are also locking your arms out trying to control recoil. You'd have a lot better luck with recoil...as well as being easier on your wrist...if you unlocked your elbows and let your upper arms and shoulders take the recoil

 

[claiborne]

Bigger grips

Bigger grips will fill your hands and your finger will not stick too far in. You could get longer trigger or use a trigger shoe. You can also borrow my machete if you want to get drastic like Mr Not the doormat.

 

[tomturkey]

I guess I have never had that problem even though my left thumb is 1/4 inch longer than my right from the tip being cut off in the door of a Model A pickup door by my grandma. Old doc just taped it back together and said it might grow back together and it did, just 1/4 inch longer.

 

[Destructo6]

Using "thumbs locked/down"? Switch to "Thumbs forward." In modern pistol shooting the thumbs down is only used for revolvers.

Where is the trigger placed on your finger?

 

[ATLDave]

What 9mm' and Destructo' said. Your thumbs are way too low if they're on the same level as your trigger finger. Pick up a 1911, or other gun with a frame-mounted safety (CZ, Browning Hi-Power, etc.) and put your thumb on top of the safety. That's a good place for your thumb.

 

[JBrady555]

Thanks for all the info. If I move my thumb up it will be on the slide lock. Couldn't this cause the slide to be locked back in a high stress situation?

 

[BRE346]

My trigger finger digs into my thumb too and when the nail grows it actually cuts. So, I have to keep it very short. I try to use just the pad of the finger and keep the thumb high but that doesn't always stay that way. I have long thin fingers and must wrap the grip too. It's why we keep experimenting to find a way that works, then reliably, then habitually. Good luck.

 

[ATLDave]

JBrady, the position of the slide lock does generate some issues for Sigs. Just make sure to angle your thumb a bit away. The CW is that you don't want your thumb applying lateral pressure anyway.

That said, isn't the risk that the slide won't lock back, rather than that it will lock back prematurely?

 

[gym]

Thumbs up, should clear your problem. Just tilt them towards the sky. Experiment with the thumb on the edge of the frame, it will appear that they are on the slide but in reality not

 

[9mmepiphany]

Thanks for all the info. If I move my thumb up it will be on the slide lock.

Actually it won't. It might cover the slide lock...be above it...but it won't be on it. In this picture of a M&P9, the slide lock lever is inline with the base of my support hand thumb...and just in front of the tip of my right thumb...it actually could be higher



If you went with the less optimal Thumbs Up grip, the slide lock would be between the two knuckles of the support hand thumb

Couldn't this cause the slide to be locked back in a high stress situation?

If this is a concern, your thumb is still too low on the frame. The thumb should be level with the bottom of the slide

 

[JBrady555]

Thanks for the pics. I was using the same grip but with the thumbs laying on the supporting hand getting in the way of the trigger finger. It feels weird putting them above the trigger but I'll get used to it.

 

[ATLDave]

JBrady', you'll probably also have to get used to a more natural indexing of the gun and to faster recoil recovery.

 

[9mmepiphany]

...and less punishment to your wrist during recoil

 

[ATLDave]

I remember a golf instructor once advising me to change something in my swing to improve contact, and then to learn to live with the extra distance. Kind of the same thing for getting a higher grip on an auto pistol, IMO.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Shooting a handgun is a lot like golf, in that if you try to force it, it makes it worst

 

[ATLDave]

Shooting a handgun is a lot like golf, in that _____.

There are about 900 ways to finish that sentence that are true and insightful. The parallels are extensive. I'm kind of amazed that there's not a bigger overlap between the populations of avid golfers and avid handgun shooters. There's some overlap, but the Venn diagrams ought to be nearly superimposed.

 

[camsdaddy]

I wish I had read "Shooting a handgun is a lot like golf, in that if you try to force it, it makes it worst" years and thousands of rounds ago. I cant believe the difference in my shooting when I began to learn to relax. I found I felt better about my shooting when I was under pressure and not allowed to over think things.