I am somewhat new to bigger revolvers and here so excuse a newby question. I picked up a 41 mag with an 8 inch barrel. When I shoot it smacks my middle finger on the trigger guard. I tried a pair of shooting gloves which I liked but there is no padding on that finger so it only helps a little. How do I overcome this? PS I don't know if it is newer than 1980 or not I am still trying to figure out the J K L thing I haven't started on serial numbers yet. It is a -2.

What grips?

Magnas leave your middle finger right behind the trigger guards. Targets drop it lower.

An adapter like a Tyler T-Grip or a BK drop your grip on Magnas.

Post a photo, it will help in finding a solution.

Get tough with it!
Seriously, new shooters who develop the habit with small calibers of just balancing the revolver on their hands with a gentle grip are going to get smacked by a magnum.
I saw one fellow at the range get hit on the forehead with his new Redhawk. After a quick trip to the emergency room, he returned determined to "hang on to that thing!"
I prefer rubber grips for serious magnum shooting.

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Science plus Art

A 41 magnum will be an N frame. Different grips will probably solve the knuckle rap problems or you may be gripping the gun wrong.
I had a Ruger Super Blackhawk that really beat my middle knuckle up. I used a glove with that finger padded with gauze and surgical tape. Ugly but it worked and was cheap

If Houge makes a Recoil Tamer rubber grip for you model you could try that. It will reposition your hand slightly, so your middle knuckle doesn't contact the bottom of the trigger guard. I had the same issue with my SRH .44 mag. You can see in the pic where your knuckle will contact the rubber on the grip instead of the trigger guard.

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SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS

The easiest fix is probably a different set of grips as others have suggested.

Thanks for the info, I may have to change the grips but I don't like the looks. I have a newer 44 that has rubber grips and it is easier to shoot but not near as pretty. The idea of padding under the glove I will try first. I did wonder if something like a tyler would help but just looking at them it looks like it would lower your grip.

The Tyler T or any grips that fill in the area between the grip frame and the back of the trigger guard will lower your grip.
If that doesn't work for you then padding the finger and hanging on tighter is the only answer. FWIW, ugly rubber grips will help with the hanging on tighter part.

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Send lawyers, guns & money...

Pretty=Painful.

The pachmayer diamond pro grips help a ton with the hard kickers. For me anyway.

The x frame hogue grips work great as well, just wish those were a little fatter in the palm area.

When the gun is in your hands and you’re looking over the sights, you can’t see the grips. Shoot with something comfortable and enjoy it. Put the pretty wood grips on after you clean it. ��

There are several quality wood grips that are both pretty and comfortable BTW.

Dan

Two ideas that you may find beneficial.

Get a set of Hogue Monogrips with the finger grooves and get copy of Mas Ayoob's " How to shoot a handgun accurately " . Free by Googling the title .

Excellent.

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I like Ike.

If I have to choose between vanity and comfort, I choose comfort every time.

Randy

Check out Jerry Miculeks You Tube page. Somewhere in his videos he has one about shooting revolvers correctly and goes into how to grip the gun. I have been shooting revolvers over 50 years. The video taught me afew things. Does not cost anything to watch.

Could be the stocks do no fit your hands well or allow you to adequately control recoil. It could also be a poor gripping technique, either improper hand placement or insufficient grip pressure.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

Same thing happened to me (XLG glove size) in 1968 when I was issued my first service revolver, a Colt OP. Range Officer suggested a grip adapter (regs proscribed changing the grips) and I’ve used them ever since. Rubber, albeit ugly, that cover the backstrap, also help.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

It’s a bit funny to me the way we look at rubber grips now. Seems we all, myself included, agree they are ugly. When I first started shooting handguns over 40 years ago it was quite different. The first thing everyone I knew did when getting a new revolver was replace the grips, usually with Pachmayr. Virtually every magazine article I read had pictures of revolvers with rubber grips on them. I competed with Hogue Monogrips, the old ones made of hard nylon. None of my Smith or Ruger guns wore factory stocks. I once sold a revolver simply because Pachmayr did not make a grip for it.

I slipped an old two piece set of Pachmayrs on the 4” 657 I just bought. Surprisingly they still work.

Dan

All Model 57s, including the -2s, came from the factory with the larger Target stocks (Goncalo Alves wood) as opposed to the smaller wooden magna stocks. As other Forum members have pointed out, there is a method for holding and successfully shooting magnum loads in revolvers. I'm a little surprised that you're having issues shooting your 57-2 with the 8-3/8" bbl. because it is slightly heavier than the 4" or 6" bbl., and the longer barrel helps with felt recoil by slightly reducing muzzle flip. In any case, don't be embarrassed to change out the stocks to a more comfortable style. There is only one screw and the swap out it very quick. Use the more comfortable stocks at the range, and put on the Target stocks when showing off your revolver to friends and family! With that long barrel, your 57-2 should be a tack driver! Enjoy.

I have a blued 29-2 with no wear at all on the finish - beautiful condition. I traded for it in the eighties, and have used it quite a bit but taken care of it. I now shoot my double-Magnaported Performance Center 629 more often, so my 29-2 is almost a safe queen. I store it, and occasionally display it, with GOOD grips. Others call them Goodyears, because they are made out of rubber by Frank Pachmayr, America's Master Gunsmith. Pachmayr Presentation grips, SN-S (the second S is for small).

These are not necessarily the best grips for your hand, but they are for mine. You might also try Hogue grips, in rubber, nylon or wood. These, also, will fit some hands but not others.

Just to keep things in perspective, S&W factory target grips, standard on the 57 and 29, **** *** ****** ****s. This is a crude but accurate way of saying that S&W erred egregiously in foisting their incompetence at grip design on innocent purchasers of their fine revolvers. This is not to say that there aren't some individuals, somewhere, for whom S&W factory target grips are suitable. There are many, many more for whom they are not.

Which grips are best varies with the individual, usually mostly by hand size. Don't be hesitant to take those abominable factory grips off and store them in the safe along with the box, paperwork, factory-supplied cleaning tools etc. They are worth money, but only when you sell them or the gun.

The Model 57 is a great gun. It should be displayed with great grips, not factory grips.

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Formerly Model520Fan

I really appreciate all of the responses. I watch Jerry Miculek and have learned from him and just enjoy watching him. I know part of my problem is a hand/wrist injury 40 years ago that hinders my grip some, I really struggle with 1911s, and I have arthritis in my trigger finger. It is not going to change so I just learn to work with it, everybody has problems. My wife tells me I am stubborn and maybe this one time she is right. I may have to give in to rubber grips but I will probably have to smack my finger a few more times. Now to go and rewatch Jerry's video on how to grip a revolver.

I got some big mitts and like bigger target stocks. But, I believe many people either don't have or use a tight enough grip. Besides if the grip moves in your hand every following shot will be a bit different. On heavier guns wood the fits your hand is fine. If the gun is on the small or on the light side for caliber or grips are on small side, rubber grips help a lot. My one 325 snub, a light 2 1/2" alloy 45 aco was flat painful with beautiful combat stocks. Not bad at all with rubber.

Regardless of the stocks on the piece, you need to practice gripping the snot out of any handgun, whether .22 or one of the big bores. Your strong hand should apply as much pressure as you can muster while still letting your trigger finger move freely and your support hand should be gripping to just below the point you induce a tremor to your sight picture. Develop that habit and treat recoil- whatever that is- as you would an empty milk carton. Don't give it a second thought.

For years, I never experienced a problem shooting. Now with arthritis in my hands, I have to be extra careful of the trigger guard hitting my knuckle. Those Hogue grips that keep your knuckle below the guard work great, but I can still use the target stocks if I make sure to leave a space between the guard and knuckle as I grip instead of letting it rest against my knuckle. Took some practice, but I got used to it