1911 tearing up my hand?

J

jory

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
99   0   0
Location
Mannville, AB
I was out at a gun store/range last week, and decided to see what all the fuss was about the 1911 frame pistols. I grabbed 100 rounds of .45, and 50 rounds of .40 S&W to put through a Sig 1911 tacops, a Kimber Custom 2, and an STI Edge (.40)

I can shoot pistol ambidextrously, but regardless of which hand I used it just hurt to shoot those guns. The inside webbing of my hand between my thumb and pointer finger felt like like they were being beat on every time I pulled the trigger, and by the time I was done, I had ripped a patch of skin clean off that spot. I normally shoot my P226/P229, and I do get a patch of skin worn down after a thousand rounds or so in the same spot on my left hand only, but this was almost immediate.

I made sure that I had a good purchase on the gun, fingers in the right spot, etc. Are my hands just too small for these guns? Anyone else have a remedy for this issue? I love the look of the 1911 platform, but can't see myself owning one if it physically hurts to shoot them.
 
Do you have smaller hands? I have larger hands and have no issues like that. I just have to remember to keep my support thumb off the slide (used to shooting a CZ 75)
 
seems odd too big hands i can see but too small...i assume it is the hammer catching you
get a model with a decent beaver tail grip safety should keep your skin out of the way
 
Hmmm, you are experiencing hammerbite. That's when the web gets caught between the hammer and grip safety tang on recoil. Usually, if you hold/grip a with a standard GI 1911 grip safety, correctly, meaning as high as you can get your hand,you will get hammerbit.

So that's a good sign that you're probably gripping a 1911 right. But your pistols already got Beavertail safeties, though they are tapered toward the tip. Stylish but offering a little less protection than a wide, full beavertail tang. Perhaps you are holding or gripping too high, and your web is going over the sides and tip of the beavertail. Do you have fleshy, bigger than normal hands?
 
Last edited:
I doubt it's hammer bite with a beavertailed 1911 and small hands as stated.
Sounds more like an issue with the way you are gripping the gun some how.... you need to find the sweet spot where your hand's web is in the pocket so to speak. Maybe try an arched mainspring if neither had one.
A thin glove would probably help as well I suppose.
 
People that I've known with smaller hands, women, have been better able my handle my 1911 than my Browning Hi-Power with 1911's smaller grip circumference. I have fat hands, they go with he rest of the body, and when I go my 1911 decades ago I replaced he small grip safety with a slight beaver tailed one. I also replaced the factory "Coltwood" with Pachmyrs wraparound grips and the arched mainspring with a Pachmyrs flat housing and the short trigger with a long one as well.

I recently got a Remington R1 Enhanced 1911 and the only complaint I have is the G 10 grip panels seem a ad more aggressive than I care for, I'll probably go for Pachmyrs or Hogue grips on it too.
 
Last edited:
Its definately NOT hammerbite, as the bevertails on all 3 pistols would stop that from happening

its the grip the OP is using, small or large hands that should not happen

possibly catching the skin on the grip safety by holding to tightly with thd grip had since the bevertail moves unlike the p226. He's pinching it between the frame and bevertail
 
What does the grip safeties look like on these 1911's?
BHRB10-v3-a.jpg
 
Definitely not small hands. I have rather small hands and shoot a Kimber Custom II in 45 auto and my hands are never sore after shooting 100 rounds out of that gun. The beavertail safety on my gun is smooth though. I can see this being an issue if the beavertail safety has some texture to it though.
 
So, if I read this right, you used three different, quality 1911s. None of them would have left RR tracks or hammer bite. I'm baffled, because the 1911 is famous for grip angle and fitting into almost any hand. If all three guns were tearing up your hand, something is amiss either physiologically or with your grip. My 8 year old grandson, my 12 YO granddaughter and their tiny little mom all shot my STI ranger II with full 230GR loads and loved it.

My 18 year old granddaughter put through probably 150 rounds from my STI Sentinel Premier and had a blast with nothing worse than hot brass down her blouse.

The 1911 platform and the 45 ACP round are not that aggressive. I'm not sure where to look for an answer. If I had to suggest something to try, it would be fairly hard grip with dominant hand and really hard grip with support hand. I'm embarrassed to suggest that to an experienced shooter, but I'm not sure where else to go. I too have small hands - stubby fingers - and the 1911 fits better than anything else.

Pursue it. The 1911 is one of the few platforms with which you can form an emotional relationship.

Rob!
 
1911 style fits small hands extremely well imo, the grips are usually thinner than other pistols and most people like the feel of them. I have a hard time picturing the issue you are having, I have shot 100's of rounds in a day with my 1911 and never felt any issue with my hands.
I also wouldn't give up on the 1911, perhaps try to find someone who owns one, lets you shoot it, and have them view you grip as there must be something fundamentally wrong to injure yourself with so few rounds.
 
Never got bitten up shooting my Sig Target 1911. Odd.

I was going to guess the backstrap checkering was too aggressive but that would be the palm of you hand, not your webbing. Got pics of your hand?
 
Dude, you been shooting any 1911's with nickel plating??????

Stainless 1911's would be the leader with this issue as there's a high nickel content in stainless steel.

Sounds like you may have a nickel allergy and that's what's breaking down your skin.

Look into it.
 
Still alive said:
Can you post a pic of your grip on the 1911? From both sides? Would make diagnosing a lot easier.
Click to expand...

If and when you rent those 1911s again, pictures of your hand gripping the gun would help. As well as pictures of the "injuries" to the web of your hand.

If you still have scars to show, take picture and that may help diagnose now. Or with a felt tip pen, mark where your web was torn.

Without pics, seems none of us can imagine how a beaver tailed 1911 can injure a web.
 
I appreciate all the help, guys!

Note that this does happen when I'm shooting ANY handgun- it just usually takes a thousand rounds or so with my 9mm's. This happened within 200 rounds of .45 and .40. I just noticed it right off the bat because it felt like the guns were smashing my thumb. It honestly hurt my hand with every shot.

Sorry to sound like a little baby about it- i just need to figure out what's going wrong so I can fix it. Pic for reference. This is a week old wound, so it's a little faint. The day it happened, it was an entire flap of skin that had peeled away toward the inside (index finger) of my grip.

r9CDC3A.jpg
 
When shooting a super blackhawk with full house loads and rubber pachmeyer grips, I would get a similar blister caused by the grip rolling in my hand. A past shooting glove solved the problem. A thin golf or curling glove works.
Not the same grip as a 1911 but maybe same issue.
 
jory,
From the look of your picture, it looks like your wound was caused by friction and rubbing, which means the gun was moving excessively during shooting and recoil. So, not criticizing here, but maybe find an instructor to take a peek at your grip. What you think is a good grip may have some flaws which allow your hand(s) to move too much and cause the wear and tear on your web. How about post a pic of your grip on your SIGs? From both sides as well as from the top and below. One of the things I look for in a sound grip is a lack of space and gaps between hand and gun.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom