Missing Index Finger

[scjbash]

Anyone have personal experience or helped someone who is missing their strong hand index finger?

Do people missing their index finger tend to do better using their middle finger on the trigger or learning to use their other hand?

Anything to keep in mind regarding weapon manipulations?

[Joe Mac]

An academy mate of mine, in the revolver era, did just fine pulling the trigger of his L-frame revolver with his middle finger -- because his index finger was literally too short to reach it effectively...

[wsr]

My buddy lost his trigger finger on a roll press, barely missed a beat transitioning to his middle finger

[voodoo_man]

Co-worker broke his index finger on the job, decided he could still shoot with his middle finger just fine, and he was able to. Just takes a bit to learn.

[Doc_Glock]

Anyone have personal experience or helped someone who is missing their strong hand index finger?

Do people missing their index finger tend to do better using their middle finger on the trigger or learning to use their other hand?

Anything to keep in mind regarding weapon manipulations?

A missing index finger is, all in all, not a big deal. The middle readily substitutes for its role.

I would imagine most people still use their dominant hand with middle finger.

[Lon]

Many years ago I shot the Ohio USPSA Sectional with a 10 year old named Josey Wales Rainer. He shot a G34, IIRC. As I recall, His hands weren’t big enough for his index finger to reach the trigger correctly so he used his middle finger. He whipped about a 1/3 of the squad.

I didn’t see his brother Jesse James Rainer shoot.

The middle finger works just fine if you put the time in.

His dad owned Rainers Range in SE OH.

[scjbash]

Thanks guys, that's where I'm at with it too. And when I've had a broken index finger I used my middle one instead.

Someone missing that finger asked me about it, and I could swear I read a discussion about it a while back and a good shooter with a missing index finger said he found switching hands to be better. I thought it was here but a search came up empty. It may have been on the Enos forum or who knows where, or my brain is fucking with me and created a false memory.

[JohnO]

A buddy recently trained with John Farnum. One or more of the drills was shot with the middle finger simulating a damaged index finger. Just might want to familiarize yourself in case it's needed.

[Jim Watson]

A guy I know changed hands on pistol. I think he middle fingers a rifle or shotgun, though.

[HCM]

Anyone have personal experience or helped someone who is missing their strong hand index finger?

Do people missing their index finger tend to do better using their middle finger on the trigger or learning to use their other hand?

Anything to keep in mind regarding weapon manipulations?

I have a female shooter at work who shoots with her middle finger. She isn’t missing her index finger but severely injured it while working as a K-9 handler (caught in a leash). She shoots fine with the middle finger.

[beenalongtime]

And another reason to practice off hand.

Wanting to remember this thread.

[CraigS]

I used to compete locally with a guy who was forced by some type of injury to switch hands. Didn't know him well enough to ask details but he said it took him a year to get back to roughly the same performance level. Based on that I think switching to the middle finger would be a lot easier.

[M2CattleCo]

A buddy recently trained with John Farnum. One or more of the drills was shot with the middle finger simulating a damaged index finger. Just might want to familiarize yourself in case it's needed.

The goofy stuff that comes from that guy just never quits.

[Jim Watson]

I used to compete locally with a guy who was forced by some type of injury to switch hands. Didn't know him well enough to ask details but he said it took him a year to get back to roughly the same performance level. Based on that I think switching to the middle finger would be a lot easier.

One southpaw here injured his left elbow. He could still shoot lefthanded but it was painful after a few rounds.
So he changed sides. But when the match CoF called for a short string "weak handed" he was way ahead.

Another shooter sustained an eye injury. Rather than just move the gun over two inches, he changed sides. The eye healed and he went back to where he started.

Another is just being contrary, he is shooting lefthanded for the challenge.