Any shooters here missing fingers?

[avenomusduck]

Day before Thanksgiving they had to remove left pinky from a work related incident...
I'm reaching out to see if anyone has lost a digit and how it effected their function handling firearms.
I am right handed for handgun but shoot rifles left handed due to left eye dominance.
If this is too sensitive a subject I fully understand 🍻

 

[Dale Gribble]

Any shooters here missing fingers?

Just the tip…lol.

Missing 1/4 off the end of my left index finger…

I fought the saw and the saw won.

 

[kcult]

When I was shooting USPSA, I met a fellow at the Lion's Den in Wagram, NC.

He had shot himself in the left hand with his 1911 a few years earlier. I think he lost his index and middle finger. It improved his scores because he now used his strong hand, when a part of a stage required weak hand.

I wish I had thought of that.

 

[Dale Gribble]

The end of the nail on that finger has a “hook”…sorta like a talon…

Works great for nosepickin’.

 

[Inglis]

My Dad lost two in The ROK. Old eight finger Frank.

Still stayed in the Navy, just moved his wedding band to his middle finger.

He said the itched once and a while.

He shoot handgun left hand as well.

 

[DrScaryGuy]

my brother got his strong hand trigger finger in a mower when he was a kid. lost the entire segment with the finger pad, and most of the way down to the next joint.
He still shot rifle in the marines just fine, and preferred SAA revolvers with the traditional grip. all by using his middle finger.
Howe he managed that without having a SAA revolver completely flip up in his hand I will never figure out.
so, it can be done. just remember that those super snappy subcompact guns usually don't even have space for your pinkie, so you're not losing anything there, especially if you're shooting right handed. pinkie only does the least amount of work anyway. with rifle, your shoulder, support hand, and cheek are doing way more work than your pinkie.

 

[DrScaryGuy]

The end of the nail on that finger has a “hook”…sorta like a talon…

Works great for nosepickin’.

haha gross
after my brother's accident, the nail grew back... on the wrong joint, all crooked and gross. he would have to go rip it out every month or two because it was a narrow piece that grew at an angle and got ingrown.

 

[Dale Gribble]

haha gross
after my brother's accident, the nail grew back... on the wrong joint, all crooked and gross. he would have to go rip it out every month or two because it was a narrow piece that grew at an angle and got ingrown.

I have to keep it filed down and smooth, because it does get fairly sharp and can “catch” on things.

Needless to say, that finger is on the “Do Not Use” list for extracurricular activities.

 

[J R Green]

Just the tip…lol.

Missing 1/4 off the end of my left index finger…

I fought the saw and the saw won.

Damn, that's exactly what happened to me! Same finger, Same amount, and with a table saw and a dado blade.

Hasn't affected try shooting but ATF refused my fingerprints because the one wasn't the same as previous submission. Had to send them bach and label the one amputee.

I was in BLET with a guy that had lost his right index finger, he just choked up on his grip.

 

[BASIL]

Day before Thanksgiving they had to remove left pinky from a work related incident...
I'm reaching out to see if anyone has lost a digit and how it effected their function handling firearms.
I am right handed for handgun but shoot rifles left handed due to left eye dominance.
If this is too sensitive a subject I fully understand 🍻

I'm missing a bit over half my left Pinky. Only thing is when I'm getting change out of my pocket, the dimes slip through sometimes. It does save me 10 percent of nail trimming time.🤣

 

[J R Green]

There's mine. I had just the little crescent of the base of the nail left and it grew back.

 

[BASIL]

Do this if ya have enough left.

 

[avenomusduck]

Thanks for replies 🍻
Definitely going to take time getting used to....pinky does more than most believe... actually controls grip strength.
Ortho was able to save pinky ligaments and tied them into ring finger...
I am now a hand model for the Avatar movies 😁

 

[BASIL]

For real. I did have some moderate phantom pain for about 6 months, but went away over time. Ya picked the best one to lose it you had to lose one.

 

[Dale Gribble]

Thanks for replies 🍻
Definitely going to take time getting used to....pinky does more than most believe... actually controls grip strength.
Ortho was able to save pinky ligaments and tied them into ring finger...
I am now a hand model for the Avatar movies 😁

Damn.

 

[BASIL]

Wow, no pinky tat for you. I do hope you heal well with no problems.

 

[chiefjason]

Had a girl on the HS shooting team that had an issue with her trigger finger. She shot rifle, shotgun, and pistol with her middle finger.

 

[NCFubar]

Not much to say except we overcome stuff fairly easy with a little work. Just do your PT and follow what the therapist tells you to … don’t do anything you’re not cleared to do. Then with some extra practice and time your body will start to adapt to it.

 

[avenomusduck]

For real. I did have some moderate phantom pain for about 6 months, but went away over time. Ya picked the best one to lose it you had to lose one.

Yea those ghost tingles are wicked!

 

[concepthomes2]

Thanks for replies 🍻
Definitely going to take time getting used to....pinky does more than most believe... actually controls grip strength.
Ortho was able to save pinky ligaments and tied them into ring finger...
I am now a hand model for the Avatar movies 😁

You didn’t just lose the pinky…….that joker got erased.

 

[Frack N Cylons]

 

[Dale Gribble]

Amazing and inspiring…

I am in awe of folks who refuse to let “impossible” limitations keep them from doing what they want to do.

 

[Catfish]

I shot a match at Pappy's in Edgemoor a few years back and had the pleasure to be squadded with this gentleman. He did 100% of the gun manipulation himself, with his feet. Loaded mags,made ready, shot, cleared, holstered, smiling the whole time. And he shot well. Everyone's excuses were invalid that day:

 

[Jabroni]

Got a neighbor down 3 digits. Cant speak to how well he shoots though.

 

[Get Off My Lawn]

That sucks!
I can't find it, years ago I read a tip a top shooter told folks when they asked how to shoot better. He said get rid of your pinky, it sympathetically pulls you off target when you press the trigger. He then had several shooting exercises to prove his point.

 

[DrPhudd]

Cut off half my left middle finger 35 years ago, never missed it.
Unfortunately, you got a very important one. That little finger does a lot more than we realize for control. In time, you will adapt and hardly notice it

 

[Tailhunter]

 

[avenomusduck]

View attachment 405989
Cut off half my left middle finger 35 years ago, never missed it.
Unfortunately, you got a very important one. That little finger does a lot more than we realize for control. In time, you will adapt and hardly notice it

Yea ...Ortho has already informed me of just how much the pinky is used for grip strength...
Rehab starts tomorrow at 08:00...fun times ahead!

 

[RR]

My father in law lost his ring finger to a wedding ring/dump truck accident 50 odd years ago. Never has seemed to matter in shooting.

 

[nhusa]

Nope, just counted and I have all of mine.

 

[avenomusduck]

Thanks for replies and examples!
I am not here looking for a pity party...just reaching out for chatter from those with similar situation...

 

[rufrdr]

Had a girl on the HS shooting team that had an issue with her trigger finger. She shot rifle, shotgun, and pistol with her middle finger.

I met a guy at a range once that was missing his right index finger. He told me he lost it from adventurous reloading. He shot his Ruger .44 Blackhawk with his middle finger. I imagine he had a strong grip to be able to control the revolver with 2 fingers and the thumb.