Just within the past few months, I noticed that my dry-fire routine, to train for double-action revolver shooting, and to keep my index fingers strong, was starting to vex the arthritis in my right index finger. Then, within the past two weeks, the problem is starting to show in my left index finger. So, a few days ago, I had a range session with my Glock G17 pistols, with a local instructor coaching me. It is a good idea to get critiquing/coaching, occasionally, and, I wanted to make sure I was not reinforcing any bad technique or habits.
The Glock G17 had previously come to my rescue, in 2015, soon after my then-chief had OK’ed 9mm to again be an alternative duty pistol cartridge. .40 S&W had been the standard duty cartridge since 1997, with .45 ACP regaining its status as an alternative duty pistol cartridge in 2012. with the opportunity to switch to 9mm, I also decided to go with the Glocks’s lower bore axis, and flexible polymer frame, in the same move, retiring my SIG P229. The .40 S&W, fired from a high-bore-axis, aluminum alloy-frame P229, had started to vex the arthritic in my right thumb and wrist as early as the time I turned age 50, in 2011. I do not “blame“ the SIG P229, or .40 S&W, for causing the problem. In the Eighties, during my immortal twenties, I had shot too many big-bore Magnum rounds, through S&W N-Frames that were too big for my K/L-Frame-sized hands. I fired the vast majority of the Magnums rounds right-handed, while tending to shoot my milder “back-up” guns left-handed.
After retiring from LEO-ing in 2018, I gradually transitioned to medium-sized revolvers for most carry, because an autoloader is at its best when it is supported and controlled my two strong hands. Ulnar Nerve problems sometimes resulted in my right hand not providing the firmest platform, to support auto-loading function. Revolvers do not require such firm support. But, with long-stroke double-action trigger-pulling becoming a problem, in and of itself, shifting back to shorter-trigger-stroke autos is looking like my next adaptation to handgunning while aging becoming infirm
Full-size duty autos are more-forgiving of “limp-wristing.” In my case, it is not so much limp wrist support, as it is lack of most-firm thump support, which amounts to the same thing as not maintaining a firm wrist. So, I amgoing to be dressing around big pistols, more of time. I am also going to be ordering a better lefty holster, because, my healthier left hand is likely to do a better job of support the weapon, especially if/when I am compelled to shoot one-handed. Thankfully, I write lefty, anyway, so, trigger control is not a problem, when shooting lefty. i have carried on my right side, for 40+ years, because I throw right-handed, and the draw seemed more natural when done right-handed, especially the type of draw I used in police academy training in 1983/1984, with hefty S&W L-Frames from the then-mandated low-slung duty holster. So, lefty carry is becoming part of my adaptation to handgunning while aging and becoming infirm.
Why dress around a large pistol? Well, little guns are no longer fun to shoot. Some have become painful to shoot. I no longer shoot a Glock G19 right-handed, for example. Short-gripped handguns can really hurt the arthritis at the base of my right palm. Fortunately, my left hand does not yet have this problem, but, I would rather not tempt fate, too much.
Some will choose milder cartridges for defensive carry; milder than .38 special and 9mm. That may well become true, for me, too, but, for now, I am going to try to keep carrying 9mm in Glocks, and .45 ACP in Glocks and 1911 pistols. I already have .32 H&R revolvers, for the times I need something really compact.
This is a gradual transition. I am not going to lock-away all of my revolvers, just yet. I will dry-fire less often, with the medium/large GP100 and medium-frame S&W K-Frame. My smaller-frame SP101 and S&W J-Frames seems to vex my trigger fingers less, so these smaller revolvers may remain important carry guns.
Then, dare I say it, there are my single-action sixguns, with plenty of weight, and the grip design, to tame recoil, and the short single-action trigger stroke, to avoid vexing the joints in my trigger fingers. For field carry, sure, but, how many times will I be kilt in the streets, if I tote a single action sixgun in the urban landscape?
