Are my hands just too small?

[couch]

The base of my thumb knuckle gets beat to hell when shooting a glock 19/26 or an M&P 9c. Is it because I just have small hands and the beaver tail hits the base of my knuckle? Any suggestions or remedies?

When I shoot my full size M&P 9 or Sig p320 compact my thumb knuckle doesn't get beat up. The fs and compacts do have a more pronounced beaver tail though.

 

[medic15al]

Mine are the same way. Heck, on my M&P357 I removed the backstrap period and taped a small piece of foam there to get a comfortable grip. Yep, my fingers are that short!

 

[OKFC05]

If that red mark is where the beavertail is hitting, you're crabbing around the butt of the gun to the right.
Has anyone showed you the two-handed "competition grip?"
youtube how to hold a pistol - Bing video

 

[Targets Guy]

Well I am doing some things correct.

 

[Ozark Marine]

Is the beaver tail the add on with groves cut on the bottom? Glock store after market? If it is, sand down (80 grit sandpaper) till smooth. I had that same problem on my G19.

 

[Brucenterry]

It looks like your twisting your hand to the right on the grip in order to reach the trigger. Make sure your only using the 1st pad of you index finger. Have you tried the small back strap on the 9c (Glocks not adjustable) and do you get the same result? If so, you hand may be too small but I doubt it.

Let us know how it goes.

 

[g8rb8]

Are my hands just too small?

Your last name isn't Trump, is it?

Have you tried the small back strap on the 9c (Glocks not adjustable).......

I think the Gen 4 Glock has an adjustable backstrap?

 

[couch]

Here are some pics of my grip with the small blackstrap. If I were to rotate my grip to the right to get that spot on my thumb knuckle to the left of the edge of the beaver tail I feel like I wouldn't be aligned properly.

In the second pic does my trigger reach look appropriate or is it to difficult to tell?

I have a Sig p320sc and the beaver tail edge sits slightly higher and is rounded a little and it doesn't bother me. I have the small grip module on the 320sc.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[couch]

Sorry. Here's the second picture.

 

[Rastoff]

How much do you shoot?

 

[amazingflapjack]

Biker gloves

 

[couch]

How much do you shoot?

Try to get to the range once a week or once every two weeks. Had an advanced pistol class a couple weeks ago and shot 500-600 rounds over two days and had no issues with my Glock 43 and Sig p320 sc.

 

[Arik]

I have a similar problem with older Sig 228 because of the way their grips are designed on the older ones.....not left hand friendly. Rubs my thumb

 

[Motorsporting]

It doesn't make sense to me that the MP full-size and compact fit your hand differently (at the point of concern - web of hand/thumb knuckle). Their grip width and design are identical, except for the length/height of the grip and a longer beavertail. If, when you grip the 9c, you shift your grip right/left because of the shorter grip (which doesn't make sense to me either), stop doing that and see what happens with your knuckle. Now, shifting from a G43 to a Sig 320, is a huge difference in grip. I know when I shift from my Shield to full-size the grip messes with me for a bit too (one of the reasons I just can't fall in love with the Shield), so it's just a matter of finding what works for me and being consistent. The same thing happens if I switch from a Glock to M&P to 1911 - they all have different points of "agitation," which is why I tend to stick with one frame/design for a long time. In other words, I might shoot my Glocks for a few months straight, then M&Ps, then 1911s etc. - or just don't shoot my Glocks a lot, since they, to me, are the most uncomfortable.

 

[Ofc.JL]

I have the same problem. Switched off to Glock Gen4 19/23. The full size(17/22) Gen4's do not fit a person's hand the same. And this is also true fr compact M&P's and full size M&P's. The radius from the beaver tail to grip swell is much more pronounced on the Compacts, while the radius on the full size guns is more gradual. For carry, I use the Gen4 Glock's. For duty use I use the M&P full size pistol. Thumb knuckle impact gone. BtW, try the small grip insert on all of your M&P's, if you haven't already.
Something else to mention, although the shape of the upper frame may still give you problems. The new Ruger American has just about the smallest in diameter grip insert of any pistol I have felt in a long time. It's even too small for me, and I like the small inserts on the M&P. But the American is a full size duty gun, so it may not be what you are looking for. Also, use a brand of glove that puts padding around that knuckle. I find mechanics gloves from the hardware store to be good in that respect. Just make sure the glove doesn't have too much padding in the palm area, that can cause new problems altogether. Best of luck, couch. The only thing any smaller is going to be a Kahr full size pistol, and I am kinda "meh" on Kahr's guns. Just my humble opion.

 

[couch]

The Palm swell on the FS seems to fit my hand differently than the compact. I believe the compact is just a cut down version of the FS? You can see below that there is some space between the FS beaver tail and my thumb knuckle that is not there with the compact.

I'll shoot the 9c some more but I have a feeling I will just use my 320sc as my double stack carry gun because it just fits my hand better and doesn't cause the thumb knuckle bleeding. I honestly think I shoot the 320sc better anyway.

Anyway, thanks for all the replies. I really like the M&P line but can't get bloodied up every time I shoot the 9c.

 

[Rastoff]

5-600 rounds over two days is a lot different than 100 every couple of weeks.

I had a similar problem:

My issue was easier to diagnose. I found that the shape of the safety on the right side was kinda square:

Sure it's a little rounded, but it could be better. The manufacturer fixed it up for me:

The cause of your abrasion is more mystifying. It could be due to the way you hold the gun. It could be because of a rough finish.

Can you take a pic of your hold with both hands on it?

 

[couch]

5-600 rounds over two days is a lot different than 100 every couple of weeks.

I had a similar problem:

My issue was easier to diagnose. I found that the shape of the safety on the right side was kinda square:

Sure it's a little rounded, but it could be better. The manufacturer fixed it up for me:

The cause of your abrasion is more mystifying. It could be due to the way you hold the gun. It could be because of a rough finish.

Can you take a pic of your hold with both hands on it?

Sure. Will try to find a third arm a little later. ;-). I'll see if I can stand up the iPad and set the timer. I think part of the problem is where my right thumb goes up a bit in the forward position with my two- handed grip.