Cut thumb shooting methods?

LASur5r+P · December 2, 2001, 02:17 AM

On Thanksgiving morning I tried to finish opening a can lid with my thumb...end result, cut my right thumb deep and got off all kitchen duties for the day. Actually, here it is December and I am just barely getting the bandage off the cut.
Found out that you are slightly handicapped on doing a lot of things especially if you had to handle a handgun.

I'd like to hear any suggestions regarding having a self-defense plan if you couldn't use your right thumb to operate a handgun for self=defense.

Thank you for your suggestions and opinions.

C.R.Sam · December 2, 2001, 02:31 AM

A.....I shoot either handed, nearly equally well.
B.....Don't think thumb much use cept in reloadin. That's what other gun is for.

Sam

Drizzt · December 2, 2001, 02:32 AM

I know this probably makes me sound like an a... ok, maybe a jerk, but I would say to learn to use your other hand, or at least your other thumb. I try (ususally not successfully) to practice with my weak hand, as well. Just in case my strong hand is injured. I know what you mean, though. I have no use of my left thumb. A little parting gift from Uncle Sam. I had a lot of concerns about shooting handguns again after it happened, but it's not as bad or as difficult as I thought.

LASur5r+P · December 2, 2001, 03:14 AM

Drizzt and Sam,
Thanks for the ideas and your thoughts, boys...I forgot to mention one peculiar thing with me.
Years back, a guy tried to decapitate me with his straight edge razor...caught me at the top of the stairs when I thought he was unarmed and almost severed my left thumb from my left hand.
Doc said about an 1/8 of an inch more...bye bye thumb. So I have limited use of my left thumb after 35 years from the time I was cut. The best I could do was get within grabbing range and pop a cap near the BG and maybe I'll hurt the BG with the flash and explosion. Naw, not that bad, but no target shooting with the left hand, course, I started heavy practice again with the weak hand, but I wasn't impressed.
I was hoping you guys had an alternative shooting style...I've learned to pull the trigger with my middle finger if that helps.

Don Gwinn · December 2, 2001, 10:24 AM

Not really. I had a pretty bad cut on the inside of my right thumb when my G30 arrived, and I don't really suggest doing what I did, which was just to go ahead and shoot normally. That was enough to pop it right back open (they'd used that super-glue stuff, not stitches) and keep it from healing for a long time.

I actually did start shooting weak-handed, and it was good to do it. I had practiced it before and thought I was OK, but after that I realized I had thought it was OK because I hadn't expected to have to do it.

C.R.Sam · December 2, 2001, 11:20 AM

Practice with the whole hand. Sight picture primary, speed will come.

Sam

December 2, 2001, 02:17 AM	#1
LASur5r+P Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2001 Location: soCal,Republic of Posts: 111	Cut thumb shooting methods? On Thanksgiving morning I tried to finish opening a can lid with my thumb...end result, cut my right thumb deep and got off all kitchen duties for the day. Actually, here it is December and I am just barely getting the bandage off the cut. Found out that you are slightly handicapped on doing a lot of things especially if you had to handle a handgun. I'd like to hear any suggestions regarding having a self-defense plan if you couldn't use your right thumb to operate a handgun for self=defense. Thank you for your suggestions and opinions. __________________ proud to be an American.

December 2, 2001, 02:32 AM	#3
Drizzt Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2000 Location: Moscow on the Colorado, TX Posts: 2,560	I know this probably makes me sound like an a... ok, maybe a jerk, but I would say to learn to use your other hand, or at least your other thumb. I try (ususally not successfully) to practice with my weak hand, as well. Just in case my strong hand is injured. I know what you mean, though. I have no use of my left thumb. A little parting gift from Uncle Sam. I had a lot of concerns about shooting handguns again after it happened, but it's not as bad or as difficult as I thought. __________________ "That a free citizen should have to go before a committee, hat in hand, and pray for permission to bear arms - fantastic! Arm your daughter, sir, and pay no attention to petty bureaucrats." Robert Heinlein - Red Planet

December 2, 2001, 03:14 AM	#4
LASur5r+P Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2001 Location: soCal,Republic of Posts: 111	Good points Drizzt and Sam, Thanks for the ideas and your thoughts, boys...I forgot to mention one peculiar thing with me. Years back, a guy tried to decapitate me with his straight edge razor...caught me at the top of the stairs when I thought he was unarmed and almost severed my left thumb from my left hand. Doc said about an 1/8 of an inch more...bye bye thumb. So I have limited use of my left thumb after 35 years from the time I was cut. The best I could do was get within grabbing range and pop a cap near the BG and maybe I'll hurt the BG with the flash and explosion. Naw, not that bad, but no target shooting with the left hand, course, I started heavy practice again with the weak hand, but I wasn't impressed. I was hoping you guys had an alternative shooting style...I've learned to pull the trigger with my middle finger if that helps. __________________ proud to be an American.

December 2, 2001, 10:24 AM	#5
Don Gwinn Staff Emeritus Join Date: March 9, 2000 Location: Virden, IL Posts: 5,917	Not really. I had a pretty bad cut on the inside of my right thumb when my G30 arrived, and I don't really suggest doing what I did, which was just to go ahead and shoot normally. That was enough to pop it right back open (they'd used that super-glue stuff, not stitches) and keep it from healing for a long time. I actually did start shooting weak-handed, and it was good to do it. I had practiced it before and thought I was OK, but after that I realized I had thought it was OK because I hadn't expected to have to do it. __________________ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Don Gwinn: Chicago Gun Rights Examiner

December 2, 2001, 02:31 AM	#2
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	A.....I shoot either handed, nearly equally well. B.....Don't think thumb much use cept in reloadin. That's what other gun is for. Sam

December 2, 2001, 11:20 AM	#6
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	Practice with the whole hand. Sight picture primary, speed will come. Sam