Careful with the big bores
Mythbusters investigates whether a bad grip on a big bore revolver can cause the loss of digits. Video here.
Caught that on the DVR last night. The youtube is fast.
8 Responses to “Careful with the big bores”
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June 2nd, 2009 at 10:12 am
I like the slow motion footage of the handgun when it comes up and almost bonks Adam Savage in the head.
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:17 am
I seem to recall at least one video proving this in the past after that guy blew off half of his thumb shooting a .454 with a tactical grip. Some guy made a video of him holding a hot dog next to the cylinder/barrel gap of a .44 magnum and shot it. Cut the hot dog completely in half.
I completely understand not thinking about the gases venting out of that gap when you shoot. But I really don’t get the people that hear about it and then think it couldn’t happen.
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:05 am
Do people who shoot revolvers regularly even use a “tactical” grip??
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:35 am
I could see how someone who normally shoots semi-autos could make that mistake (just as revolver shooters are probably more prone to vampire bites), or even a revolver shooter who normally uses .38spl. Until I read about this kind of thing, it just never registered with me that there would be an area where superheated gas could possible hurt me.
Besides, I suspect alcohol was involved.
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:17 pm
A decade ago, as a newbie shooter at the local range, I admired the Remington cap & ball revolver the guy in the next lane was shooting. He invited me over to take a look. The thing was about 18 inches long, with a huge grip, 12 inch barrel,and weighed about 6 pounds, or so I remember….
He offered me a shot after reloading it, which takes several minutes, what with the powder measuring, pouring, pressing ball into the cylinder, waxing to prevent multiple chamber firing, and capping.
I had only shot a Ruger 22 pistol up to then. He let me pick it up, then immediately suggested I put both hands on the grip (rather than one on the grip, one on the barrel, like a very short rifle). And he cautioned me (after realizing how much a newbie I was, and no I was not at all offended). He said to grip it very tightly, and to watch out for the rise of the barrel to just about vertical. If I had not had my arms extended in a Weaver stance, I’d have gotten a front sight in my forehead.
When I pulled the trigger (single action) the huge cloud of smoke was impressive. Even more impressive was the slow but implacable rise of the barrel, despite my grip. Most impressive was that I hit close to center on the target 10 yards out.
He laughed with me, and told me that now I would know why I’d flinch from now on when firing a large bore revolver.
June 2nd, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Do people who shoot revolvers regularly even use a “tactical” grip??
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I dont. And revolvers are the only type of handgun I own anymore. I shoot offhand.(1 handed) I figure that if I need both hands to shoot a gun it’s going to be a rifle or a shotgun.
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:38 pm
Shooting offhand, some people have been taught to keep their thumb straight alongside the cylinder latch. It’s ok with a .22 or even a .38 but with a .44 Magnum you’re better off keeping the thumb tightly curled on the grip.
June 3rd, 2009 at 1:17 am
I own a Colt Anaconda .44 Magnum with a 4″ barrel. It doesn’t rise much, but, with factory ammo, delivers a sledgehammer blow to the wrists. I ALWAYS use a two-handed tactical grip when shooting it, just to take the pressure off my right wrist. If I am going to shoot 30-50 rounds, I put on gauntlet gloves (Army surplus shell gloves) and tape the wrists of the gloves.
The revolver is VERY accurate, and I can keep them all in a foot circle at 100 yards, rested, with open sights. It is by far the most accurate handgun I own at any distance.