Getting a good grip with big hands?

[Edwin]

I have big hands. I can easily palm a basketball. One of the issues I am having since I start competing last month was that I am finding I can't get a good solid grip since my fingers wrap completely around the grip. This means there really isn't a place to put the palm of my weak hand on the grip. Do you find that your fingers wrap completely around the grip preventing your weak hand from making contact with the grips? Am I approaching this all wrong?

http://i.imgur.com/EISYP0dl.jpg (http://imgur.com/EISYP0d)
http://i.imgur.com/oGCeKK9l.jpg (http://imgur.com/oGCeKK9)
http://i.imgur.com/qFCW5ZYl.jpg (http://imgur.com/qFCW5ZY)
http://i.imgur.com/0wdIwcWl.jpg (http://imgur.com/0wdIwcW)
http://i.imgur.com/JQrlLNYl.jpg (http://imgur.com/JQrlLNY)
http://i.imgur.com/fNaK1ZYl.jpg (http://imgur.com/fNaK1ZY)

[alpine44]

Wow. That Hi Power looks like a pocket gun in your hands.

Ideally, you want a small sliver of your support hand behind the back strap for best recoil management. If that is not possible you can squeeze the gun between your hands (tightening your pectorals) and use friction to "hold" it.

On the Hi Power, the distance between trigger and back strap is way too small for your paws. You want to press the trigger with the pad of the finger and that is going to be awkward with a trigger that far back.

Go to a gun store and try one of the large frame 4th Gen Glocks (.45ACP or 10mm) with the largest back strap insert or a double stack SIG with screws holding the grip panels. If the SIG is close but not quite meaty enough you could add a beefier aftermarket grip. Small handed people dislike these models for being "blocky" and that's what you need.

A Desert Eagle in 44 Magnum is another fine choice for very big hands but that one looses points in the concealability department. The intimidation factor and terminal effect is impressive though. I used to hunt with that cannon until I switched to a scoped wheel gun for longer shots.

[TR675]

A Desert Eagle in 44 Magnum is another fine choice for very big hands but that one looses points in the concealability department. The intimidation factor and terminal effect is impressive though.

DE's are probably the most underrated CCW platform. Sure it's hard to AIWB, but once you select the proper holster you're good, and popular with the ladies.

I'll gladly give up capacity, reliability and concealability for the intimidation factor and the ability to shoot through schools.

[JHC]

Wow. That Hi Power looks like a pocket gun in your hands.

.

God kittens! LOL I'll say.

I don't know where he's going to anchor the support hand. I'll ping a big shooter and see if he can offer something.

[TR675]

On a more serious note, you may want to go rent and try out a bunch of different pistols. I know a lot of folks recommend BHP's specifically for people with smaller hands; so it may not be the best choice for you.

[Chuck Haggard]

Locally our school police used to issue G19s. One of the guys they hired was a really big dude, like Coke machine with a head big, with hands to match. He ended up being a variance from policy with a G17 with a grip sleeve and Grip Force Adaptor and one of those finger rest thingies on his mags that people generally put on a G26 magazine. He woulda been better off with a G21 but they wouldn't allow it.
You appear to be in the same boat.

[JV_]

He woulda been better off with a G21That was my first thought for the OP, try a 21.

[Chuck Haggard]

Nowadays if 9mm was what was wanted I'd start at the suggestion of a gen 4 G17 with the biggest beavertail backstrap installed.

Edwin, I have the same problem you have, when I am shooting a J frame. I have to use the same grip Jerry Miculek teaches for shooting small guns. Your hands are big enough that might work for you with the BHP

[alpine44]

Nowadays if 9mm was what was wanted I'd start at the suggestion of a gen 4 G17 with the biggest beavertail backstrap installed.

Edwin, I have the same problem you have, when I am shooting a J frame. I have to use the same grip Jerry Miculek teaches for shooting small guns. Your hands are big enough that might work for you with the BHP

To save you the google fu

http://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?9221-Jerry-Miculek-talks-revolvers

[Edwin]

Thank you both for the link and the idea. I guess after this season is done and stop shooting the Hi Power, I'll have to find something more appropriate for my size.

[gringop]

I have these Pachmayrs on my Hi Power, they make it big enough for my kinda big hands. The backstrap helps a lot. I had always shied away from buying a HP until I found one with these grips. For $30 it might be worth a try.

http://www.brownells.com/handgun-parts/grip-parts/grips/pachmayr-model-b-hp-browning-hi-power-9mm-40-sku692500001-9764-25166.aspx

Gringop

[Trooper224]

You're probably going to need to ditch the High Power and find another gun. I love the HP but I have hands nearly as big as yours. As much as I tried I just couldn't get it to work for me. The controls were simply too small and cramped. I also found if I wasn't careful, my support hand thumb would contact the slide stop and induce a slide lock. There's a chance you could do enough modification and add enough widgets that it might work for you, but is it really worth the trouble?

[Edwin]

You're probably going to need to ditch the High Power and find another gun. I love the HP but I have hands nearly as big as yours. As much as I tried I just couldn't get it to work for me. The controls were simply too small and cramped. I also found if I wasn't careful, my support hand thumb would contact the slide stop and induce a slide lock. There's a chance you could do enough modification and add enough widgets that it might work for you, but is it really worth the trouble?

I shot my first IDPA match with the Hi Power tonight and I got no less than 4 premature slide locks.

What gun did you end up going with for your size?

[Edwin]

I have these Pachmayrs on my Hi Power, they make it big enough for my kinda big hands. The backstrap helps a lot. I had always shied away from buying a HP until I found one with these grips. For $30 it might be worth a try.

http://www.brownells.com/handgun-parts/grip-parts/grips/pachmayr-model-b-hp-browning-hi-power-9mm-40-sku692500001-9764-25166.aspx

Gringop

How much circumference does the grip add compared to standard grips?

[Trooper224]

I shot my first IDPA match with the Hi Power tonight and I got no less than 4 premature slide locks.

What gun did you end up going with for your size?

I went back to the 1911 I'd been using for the previous twenty years. I really wanted the High Power to work but it didn't love me as much as I loved it. I've since replaced the 1911 with an FNS9.

[Beat Trash]

I have slightly larger than average size palm with long fingers. The biggest selling point for me about the gen 4 Glock 9mm's is the large grip adaptors.

I know of a couple of officers who work for my agency who are about your size. They can hold an M&P9 and make it look like your picture of you holding your Hi Power. But the large grip adaptor on the M&P helps them to at least have something to hold onto.

[David S.]

The 1911 doesn't work for me for the same reason. I cannot make any significant weak hand contact with the grip. Strangely enough my thumb was also too short to hit the mag release.

Currently running a P226 with 2 piece grips. A G17 with beavertail runs fine for me. A HK or Beretta would probably also be good options.

[Edwin]

I ordered the Pachmyr grip since it does add some bulk. You would think they would list the measurements and specifications on their website but they don't have that anywhere. I called them and their customer support doesn't have the specs either. They were going to send someone out to the warehouse to open a package and measure it.