Finally, someone that gets it. These short grip guns are designed and intended to be shot with the pinky under the mag. Once you guys that need grip extensions get over your irrational phobia and get used to it, it will open a whole 'nother world concealable guns to you. Pinky extensions are for wusses.
The dangling pinky
- Thread starter Sergei Mosin
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Zaydok Allen
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No. I carry an XDs 45. If I'm out on the trail and expect to be around other people, or if it is winter and I'm wearing heavier clothes, I carry mine with the 6 round magazine. That gives me a full grip, but prints a bit more than the 5 rounder.
In summer when I'm wearing lighter or more form fitting clothing, I use the 5 round magazine.
The 7 round magazines have pretty much been relegated to range use, as they make the grip longer than I want on a carry gun. If SA had come out with the 6 round magazine before the 7 rounders, I probably never would have bought the 7 round mags.
I realized a few years ago after watching Hickok45 shoot and talk about how he never used magazine extension sleeves on a gun because his pinky had no bearing on his shooting, that the man was right. My middle and ring finger are what really grips the gun when I shoot. HK seems to know and be keen to this with their P30SK.
Like I said, a full grip is better, but not necessary.
Zaydok Allen
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Yes
Yes on the opening of new worlds.
No on the irrational fear part. We all have different comfort levels and different notions of what is and is not a good idea. There are things I refuse to do that I feel are a bad idea, but others wouldn't bat an eye at doing said activity (not gun related). It doesn't make me irrational. It's just that my life experiences and notions of my capabilities are different than the next guy's.
I also suspect that most folks who don't like a two finger grip are really just finding it uncomfortable to have their pinky dangling. We all have different hands that make different types of guns more or less comfortable. People should use what they are comfortable with mentally as well as physically. The more comfortable they are, the more they'll practice. The more they practice, the more competency they will have. Those differences also create variety in the gun world, which I will always welcome.
No. Extensions are just another accessory that some people like. Personally, I think they are unnecessary and defeat the point of carrying a small gun in many circumstances. If I want a larger grip, then I want that grip to be holding more ammo anyway, so give me a bigger mag. But to jab at folks who like them makes no sense. It isn't a competition or a test of manliness to shoot a small gun with no extension. It's just that some of us are willing to put up with a less comfortable grip and shooting method in order to better conceal our gun.
wrdwrght
Member
The pinky issue went away for me with the rubberized Talon Grip on my Walther PPS (six-round mag), and with the aggressive texturing on my Gen 4 Glock 26. Once assured I had enough purchase to keep my grip through the recoil, I began to use my pinky as a shelf for the gun butt, thus stiffening my grip a bit. So, I don't dangle.
EDITED TO ADD: Grip extensions accentuate printing in my book. If an increase in magazine capacity brings with it a grip extension, I'll carry that mag, but in a pocket, not the mag well.
EDITED TO ADD: Grip extensions accentuate printing in my book. If an increase in magazine capacity brings with it a grip extension, I'll carry that mag, but in a pocket, not the mag well.
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GBExpat
Member
Some of us simply add a little something (usually) to the mag to provide a resting place for that third finger.
EDIT:
In this last I was able to mod not only the mag extension but the bottom of the trigger guard.
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Zendude
Member
I just wrap mine under the mag."
Are you mad? That's the kaboom blowoff valve you're blocking!
TCB
Actually that's a good point. Hmm...my list of reasons for going back to carrying a revolver keeps growing
I dislike wrapping my pinky under the magazine (Glock 26/27/33)
I dislike the small gap between the frame with newer Glock magazines if using a pinky rest magazine base; my pinky falls right on that gap, so I put a plumbing o-ring on the magazine attempting to fill that little annoying gap. This applies to the Glock 26/27/33 and Glock 36, or 30SF with 10 round magazines.
I try to carry a Glock 19/23/32 which accommodates all my fingers, without an annoying gap between the magazine base & frame.
I dislike the small gap between the frame with newer Glock magazines if using a pinky rest magazine base; my pinky falls right on that gap, so I put a plumbing o-ring on the magazine attempting to fill that little annoying gap. This applies to the Glock 26/27/33 and Glock 36, or 30SF with 10 round magazines.
I try to carry a Glock 19/23/32 which accommodates all my fingers, without an annoying gap between the magazine base & frame.
sigarms228
Member
My main CCW is a Walther PPQ. Conceals easily and comfortably in my Raven Concealment Phantom holster usually OWB and also IWB on occasion. The extra half inch of grip does not bother me in the least bit for CCW. I can also comfortably CCW my HK VP9 in a Garrett Silent Thunder IWB.
The Lone Haranguer
Member
Human nature and anatomy being what it is, the hand always wants to wrap all the fingers and opposable thumb around any object. But you shouldn't be just letting the little finger hang out in space. You're holding a gun that kicks, not a cup of tea. Curl the little finger up under the butt and apply pressure, like this:
This will also have the effect of tightening the grip of your other two fingers.
Adding finger extensions to your magazines (or oversize grips to revolvers) is OK to a point, but if you go too large you might as well have bought the bigger gun in the first place.
USAF_Vet
Member
Taurus 709 Slim or a S&W 469. Both considered compact.
I prefer a full grip regardless of the size of the gun.
Hokkmike
Member
I tolerate dangling fingers on pocket autos - not much else.
BlindJustice
Member
1911s I have a full size SW1911 and a Colt Commander and use
Wilson Combat ETM mags - they stick out with the beveled base
pad it is not an issue with those. However, with the stock flush
base pad plate on the 7 rd mag I have pinched a outer digit
pinky first time. 2nd time is with my newly acquired Range
Officer COmpact with the shorter frame. I have long hands -
6' 4" o I still get a good frip with the Officers frame, but got a
blood blister on a mag insert, so now it's dangle that pinky....
2nd one was with a 47BOD 8-rd with lo-profile Base pad.
I declined on the CZ Compact model I handled - I have a CZ 75B
but the shorty frame CZ my pinky just hung out there I like all
four finger and thumb making contact
Wilson Combat ETM mags - they stick out with the beveled base
pad it is not an issue with those. However, with the stock flush
base pad plate on the 7 rd mag I have pinched a outer digit
pinky first time. 2nd time is with my newly acquired Range
Officer COmpact with the shorter frame. I have long hands -
6' 4" o I still get a good frip with the Officers frame, but got a
blood blister on a mag insert, so now it's dangle that pinky....
2nd one was with a 47BOD 8-rd with lo-profile Base pad.
I declined on the CZ Compact model I handled - I have a CZ 75B
but the shorty frame CZ my pinky just hung out there I like all
four finger and thumb making contact
Woodsman!
Member
No, your not the only one it bothers.
GBExpat
Member
Funny thing ...
I recently acquired a 103-year-old .32-20 Colt Police Positive Special and was surprised to find that, rather than being the same size as my Colt Army Special, it is a reduced-size version ... like ~¾ size.
Tiny (for me) grip ... trying to figure out how to wrap my paw around this thing so that I may comfortably get the pad of my finger on the trigger ...
... then I dropped my pinky under the grip, and it worked.
I just hope that this grip holds up to the firing test.
I recently acquired a 103-year-old .32-20 Colt Police Positive Special and was surprised to find that, rather than being the same size as my Colt Army Special, it is a reduced-size version ... like ~¾ size.
Tiny (for me) grip ... trying to figure out how to wrap my paw around this thing so that I may comfortably get the pad of my finger on the trigger ...
... then I dropped my pinky under the grip, and it worked.
I just hope that this grip holds up to the firing test.
It's not "dangling" if the pinky is curled under the magazine. And you've got three fingers holding the gun, not two. If anything, it's giving you a more secure grip on the gun than an extended mag floor plate. If you need that pinky extension, just get a different gun with a longer grip, because you've already ruined that concealability you thought you were buying the gun for.
GBExpat
Member
An HK P30 is also my EDC. The P30 is a compact with what I consider to be a proper grip size, and t have the largest backstrap & grip shells on mine so it fills up my large shooting hand nicely, and it makes a difference int the way I shoot it. HK just came out with the P30SK subcompact, but the grip on it is too short to be useful to me.
Zaydok Allen
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If your point is that some folks don't grip the gun properly, ok, but you again are making an assumption that everyone is or should be comfortable with a finger under the magazine. The reality, as this thread points out, is that some folks are not comfortable with that. I do wrap my finger underneath and am comfortable with it, and agree with you that it is simply a better way to grip and shoot the gun.
Well granted I guess. When I shoot my XDs, I do wrap my pinky under the magazine floor plate as I indicated. However it's more just so I have somewhere to put the dang thing and keep it out of the way.
I shoot thumbs forward, so my right thumb is barely in contact with the gun at all. In fact I intentionally keep my thumbs away from the slide. So 95% of my grip force is between the second bones of my middle and ring fingers, my palm, and the web of my hand. Incidental pressure is coming up from my pinky I suppose.
Sorry but I'm with GBExpat on this one.
On this I agree. If you need an extension, there is probably a better option like a different gun, or if you want grip length options on a small gun, an extended magazine that will add ammo to your carry piece.
I think we are in agreement on the topic Hexhead, and I'm not trying to nitpick. If we differ on anything though, it's that your stance seems to be that people are doing it wrong, and mine is that we are all different and have different comfort levels, and can understand why some folks don't like the dangling pinky, or the wrap under technique. Fortunately, they are not required to do things our way.
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