Author Topic: Busted knuckles (Read 2388 times)

huntswithdogs · « **on:** June 19, 2006, 10:11:14 AM »

Just wondered if any of you guys have to deal with your knuckles gettting whacked when shooting your Blackhawks. The big knuckle on my middle finger took a beating yesterday while shooting some hunting loads,300gr cast bullets in front of a charge of Win296.
I don't know if I'm not holding it right or what?

Can the back of the trigger guard be changed to prevent this from continuing without having to buy a Super Blackhawk frame?

HWD

KN · « **Reply #1 on:** June 19, 2006, 11:50:50 AM »

I'm going to assume you are holding it wth both hand and all fingers wraped around the grip. Thats the only way I have ever had a ruger bust my knuckes while shooting. Now I grip mainly with my right hand and use my left and the lower two finger on my left to support the grip from the bottom. my index and second finger are basically pointing forward away from the trigger guard. Hope this makes sense. KN

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #2 on:** June 19, 2006, 12:15:03 PM »

ive had my middle nuckle operated on twice to remove deposits caused by constant beating of big bores. Its permently swelled. Good news is it doesnt hurt much anymore when it gets beat up. Guess theres not to many nerve endings there anymore just scar tissue.

Glanceblamm · « **Reply #3 on:** June 19, 2006, 05:22:13 PM »

No operation or scaring yet but my right middle has taken a beating.
Am using the standard Vaquero so sometimes the hammer will whack the thumb on my left hand. This will take your mind off that finger. :wink:

Glanceblamm · « **Reply #4 on:** June 19, 2006, 05:25:52 PM »

If you browse (perhaps General discussion) there is a post about the shooting gloves with good testimonies on curing this problem. Some had build in padding especially for that right middle.

Dusty Miller · « **Reply #5 on:** June 19, 2006, 08:59:53 PM »

I've sometimes resorted to using a band-aid on that big knuckle to protect it.

huntswithdogs · « **Reply #6 on:** June 20, 2006, 03:23:21 AM »

I resorted to a lite leather glove on my hand after a while. I was using a 2 handed hold but only had the middle finger got whacked. It's nice(?) to know that it's not only me experiencing this.

Maybe Ruger will come out with a "super" stlye framed 45 sometime for those of us who want a little more power out of revolvers. Til then I'll just start wearing the glove when shooting some of my hunting loads.

Thanks

HWD

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #7 on:** June 20, 2006, 12:22:26 PM »

padded nuckles and bandaids just agravate the problem for me. It just takes up more of the space between the trigger guard and the nuckle. I do wear gloves alot when shooting the real big guns like the linebaughs but there a plain pair of leather work gloves with all of the fingers cut off.

frank405 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 21, 2006, 09:17:14 AM »

I really wonder who decided on the grip frame and trigger guard for the Blackhawk. Maybe a 10 year old girl? I use Hogue rubber grips and have no pain except when the trigger guard hits the front of my trigger finger. Am going to cut and weld the damn thing longer somehow and then I can shoot in the winter with gloves on. I do have big hands and fingers but the factory size is ridiculous.

dubber123 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 21, 2006, 10:02:34 AM »

I bet alot of the guys taking a beating have good sized mitts on them. I have a 475 that beats me pretty good, and I have pretty big hands. My brother has smaller hands, and it doesn't touch him at all. It actually is the gun he shoots best, and he doesn't even own it! I guess thats punishment in it's own right.

Bullseye · « **Reply #10 on:** June 21, 2006, 06:31:31 PM »

Hmm... Can anyone one guess one of the reasons I have sold all 3 of my Ruger Single Actions?

daddywpb · « **Reply #11 on:** July 07, 2006, 10:22:18 PM »

I had exactly the same problem. Both the Blackhawk and Super Blackhawk frames left me with bloody fingers after each shooting session. Switching to the Bisley grip frame has completely solved the problem for me. Factory grip panels work fine and no more bulky shooting gloves.

olywa · « **Reply #12 on:** July 29, 2006, 06:05:55 PM »

I put a Hogue Monogrip in Rosewood laminate on my SBH. I tried the rubber monogrip but it didn't feel right. The wood Monogrip I have on now is perfect for me. It is the style without the finger grooves and it covers the back of the trigger guard pretty well. It's smooth so it still rolls a bit under recoil and I find that I can shoot well with either a one or a two-hand hold. The only down side is that it is noticeably bigger than the stock grips. But no more knuckle-bustin' and it's durn good looking too.

flintlock54 · « **Reply #13 on:** July 30, 2006, 09:07:19 AM »

I second the Hogue monogrip without finger grooves. It is a handful. The wood in the pic is Pau ferro. Note my frame is standard Blackhawk. The cylinder and hammer is Super Blackhawk.

tominboise · « **Reply #14 on:** August 01, 2006, 04:55:59 PM »

The worst beating for me is from heavy loads in my Freedom Arms Model 97 44 special. i have reduced the loads to cut it back. Another good whacker, altho not an SA, is my S&W 340Sc with heavy loads. With it's small grips it will beat my whole hand to pieces.......

slabsides · « **Reply #15 on:** August 14, 2006, 10:27:54 AM »

The Super Blackhawk (Dragoon) frame beats up the middle finger knuckle too. Bigger grips may help. Or gorilla hands.
Anybody else here remember that's why Skeeter Skelton among others always swapped out his X-RED framed Blackhawks for the older original style X, that so resembled the Colt Navy grip frame? Same reason. The original style couldn't get a run at your finger like the later 'REDesigned' so-called 'improved' style could.
One of the few design mistakes that WBRuger made, in the course of his life. And of course, even though it was pointed out to him over and over, he never changed it, stubborn as he was.

HHI-7420 · « **Reply #16 on:** August 14, 2006, 03:21:07 PM »

None of my supers bother me in the least. My only bisley will bust my second knuckle everytime I shoot. Pat

inluvwithsara · « **Reply #17 on:** August 15, 2006, 11:08:19 AM »

I have Hobbit hands,(very small) but have eagle's Elk grips that are bigger than the factory. I shoot hot 300's with no issues...but I have the round trigger guard.

DWTim · « **Reply #18 on:** August 15, 2006, 12:32:38 PM »

(knocks on wood)

No issues so far with my SBH. I guess my long, skinny fingers are about right for the grip frame.

Glanceblamm · « **Reply #19 on:** August 18, 2006, 08:14:00 AM »

Has been a good read.
I keep going back to the picture of Flintlock54's blackhawk with the Hogue grip.

As an added accuracy benifit, this sure looks like it would be easier to place your trigger finger where
It is suppose to be. Exactly between the end of the fingernail & first joint where you can press that trigger straight back.
This should definatley reduce the chance of wrapping the finger around to the first joint which would cause one to "cant" the gun upon firing which is highly detrimental to accuracy.

I pay attention to avoid doing this but do have some excess (belly) in my trigger finger that the Hogue may eliminate. I need to see it and try it first so Come On Gunshow!

BloomGrad · « **Reply #20 on:** August 18, 2006, 10:36:36 AM »

When my hand started to swell and I started to feel faint from loss of blood I decided it was time to sell the SBH.

Super Redhawk took it's place.

RGS · « **Reply #21 on:** August 19, 2006, 08:36:46 AM »

I have 2 NM Blackhawks in .41 mag and a Bisley Vaquero in .44mag. The .41s roll in my hand and do not bother me. The Bisley bangs the palm of my hand and wacks the knuckle in back of the trigger gard. I shot a friend's .44 mag with the conventional frame and it rolled nicely for me with no pain.

Different strokes I guess.

Dusty Miller · « **Reply #22 on:** August 19, 2006, 06:05:15 PM »

I've now resorted to Molefoam, you can get it in the footcare section of the drugstore.

Tom C. · « **Reply #23 on:** August 21, 2006, 03:08:35 AM »

For me the answer is grip selection. Even though I have large hands, I favor thin, fairly flat grips on my Rugers. I find I like the Eagle Gunfighter grips, with checkering for guns that shoot predominently light loads, and smooth for guns that shoot heavy loads. I use them on my Blackhawks and Bisley.

singleVI · « **Reply #24 on:** October 30, 2006, 02:42:27 PM »

Im 18 y-o, 5'5" and 125lbs and I can put my hands through a chainlink fence. When I shoot my .454 Casull special

the only problem I have is the hammer hitting the web of my thumb.

snuffer#1 · « **Reply #25 on:** October 31, 2006, 11:23:16 AM »

I had an older guy show me how to hold my blackhawk so it wouldn't tear up my knuckles. I'm right-handed. After you have gripped the gun, take your other hand and grip your right fingers with your left fingers with your thumb along the left side of the gun with your thumb just under the cylinder. That way no busted thumb knuckles. I also wear a uncle mike's shooting glove on my shooting hand. Wrap your left fingers around your right fingers. I hope that I said it so you understand it.
snuffer

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #26 on:** October 31, 2006, 11:30:56 PM »

one good cure for the pain of shooting .44s is to shoot about 200 .500s the .44s feel like .22s then!!!!