Do you have small hands and have issues with shooting some handguns?
Being tall or short is not an impediment to have fun at the range and shoot different types of handguns. However, it can be challenging for men and women with small hands.
So, this post is for those of you who have small hands and sometimes struggle to find the perfect firearm. The truth is that “perfect” does not exist, and most handguns simply are not designed by or for people with small hands. That said, some firearms provide different inserts such as the Walther PPQ or the S&W M&P pistols.
Does that mean that those of us who have small hands are limited to only those firearms? What about if you are like me that love to shoot and own different size of handguns.
For example, I shot competitively with a 2011 pistol for years, which is known for having a large frame. My current gun is a Walther PPQ Q5 Steel frame, which has a larger frame than the polymer PPQ line.
It is ideal to choose a handgun that better suits you and the activity you need it for. However, finding that perfect balance is not always possible, so I do the following to improve and be good at what I do:
- Dry fire is a must:
While everyone needs to dry fire to get used to their guns and their equipment, I dry fire almost daily to make sure I grip the pistol, in the same way, every single time. While someone with an average hand size might feel uncomfortable with a bad grip, most likely, they would be able to pull the trigger. In my case, a bad grip can be catastrophic because I might not reach the trigger. - Index with your trigger finger first to find the ideal grip.
Put your finger on the trigger of your unloaded firearm and then put your hand around the pistol. This is almost like a reverse version of how we grip a gun. Another way to do it is by gripping the handgun and then move your hand until your finger is in the ideal position.
It is essential to address that shooting a medium or large frame firearm means that the web of my hand or my trigger finger will be in the right place, not both. In this case, I prefer the latter.
- Don’t touch the frame.
If you are touching the frame of the pistol, it means that your finger is fully stretched, which prevents you from moving it comfortably and smoothly. Keep a normal curvature that will help you have a smooth trigger pull, without compromising too much of your grip. - Grip Strenght
Having small hands also means that I cannot wrap around the pistol as much as I would love to. Hence, I train physically to improve my grip strength.
Also, when dry firing, I make sure that I am not only gripping the firearm hard with my support hand but also that my articulations are locked.
Having small hands will not prevent you from shooting different sizes of handguns and have fun.
Always remember to at least follow these four tips: Dry fire, keep your trigger finger is in the ideal position, do not touch the frame with the trigger finger, and last but not least, have a tight grip with your support hand and remember to lock your wrist.
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