Whenever I take my CZ Gibbs to the range my middle finger gets busted nearly every time. The guard bow slams into my middle knuckle and by the end of the session I’ve got a nasty bruise. This has never happened with other rifles, though until recently the largest rifle I’ve fired was my RSM 458 Lott. Is this a technique issue on my part or a design issue with the configuration of the rifle? I’ve got very large hands (XL gloves) and am wondering if anyone else has had similar problems?

Thanks for any replies....

Matt V.

That's not unheard of, and can be the result of heavy recoil, an oversized trigger guard and/or a 'bad' grip angle on the stock.

George

I had the same problem with my 500 NE; I finally figured out it was because my right hand was weaker than my left due to a motorcycle accident and the resulting reconstructive surgery on my right wrist. I bought some exercise grips and used them every day; now I never bust my knuckles when I shoot.

You can't shoot a heavy recoiling rifle with a target shooter type grip. Try hanging on tight with your right hand and see if that doesn't cure the problem.

465H&H

You can also get a small piece for the trigger guard that protects your knuckle. I forget what it's called but it attaches to the rear of the trigger guard and is usually made of hard rubber. There might've been some made in bone of some sort at one time. All your shops that carry DR's should carry them.

quote:

Originally posted by trophyhunter5000:
Whenever I take my CZ Gibbs to the range my middle finger gets busted nearly every time. The guard bow slams into my middle knuckle and by the end of the session I’ve got a nasty bruise. This has never happened with other rifles, though until recently the largest rifle I’ve fired was my RSM 458 Lott. Is this a technique issue on my part or a design issue with the configuration of the rifle? I’ve got very large hands (XL gloves) and am wondering if anyone else has had similar problems?

Thanks for any replies....

Matt V.

Your finger gets busted because the trigger sets too far forward in the bow.

Get a Timney 550M replacement trigger which will set it back toward the rear of the bow.

either your grip is weak (not an insult, just an observation), the stock is WAY too long, or the gripshape is not allowing you to hold one right.

i've shot the 550 magnum in an (oversized) american stock, without banging my knuckles...

but my 550 flanged USED to hit me EVERY time... either trigger... so I brought the grip closed and restocked it.

jeffe

I had a 3" 12 Gauge that did that to me.

As previously mentioned.....someone makes a soft guard for the back of the trigger guard that really helps.

Also I used a heavy wrap of tape on my (abused) finger and that helped a lot.

Once the finger is injured it gets worse and worse.

Let it heal and then use the precautions.

I think Will has a good suggestion too!

No offense taken on the grip strength, but if grip is an issue then it’s probably not a problem with me. I used to compete in strong-man events before illness and other personal situations changed the direction of my hobbies to big bore rifles & hunting. I have all of the Captains of Crush grippers from Iron Mind Enterprises. I can still close the # 2 (195lbs of force) ten times in my right hand and seven times in my left.

The reason I asked about technique is that I know others here have more experience in shooting really hard kickers than me. So the question arises, how do you grip the rifle?

I have a tendency to be ham fisted, my buddy bought me a FAT torque wrench for tightening screws on my rifle because I have a tendency to over tighten (hand tight to me is different than hand tight to most people).

So how hard should I be gripping the wrist? I can put a kung fu grip on if I have to, but this could throw my shot, no? I try to relax when shooting and don’t want to anticipate the recoil.

I’ve noticed the trigger configuration is different on the CZ than other rifles. I like the trigger, but will replace with aftermarket if I have to.

I’m going to start putting tape on my finger up with some gauze as a short term fix until I can get it straightened out.

Matt V.

Hi Trophyhunter5000

quote:

So how hard should I be gripping the wrist? I can put a kung fu grip on if I have to, but this could throw my shot, no? I try to relax when shooting and don’t want to anticipate the recoil.

The last part of your quote pretty much sums up your problem. You can grip the pistol grip pretty hard and still shoot OK. You should be griping the forend firmly and pulling the rifle into you at the same time. Doing this will make it so your hands end up where they started. Lean into the rifle as well. Do not exagerate this part but do not keep your balance nuetral. It sounds like I'm a shrimp compare to you and I've never had any problem. It just might be that you X-large hands may just put you that much closer to the trigger guard but a tight grip should cure the problem.
Take good care,
Dave

Big hands and fat fingers can be a liability on hard kickers and especially with a double trigger rifle or shotgun. Might require customization of the rifle.

I wear a size 8 surgical glove, maybe "large" but not XL. I have never had a knuckle busted by the back of the trigger guard, nor bolt knob, including my shooting of the straight factory .505 Gibbs CZ culprit here.

But I have had the trigger finger bitten by a non-articulated front trigger of a double rifle, not badly, just required assuring that front trigger has any sharp edges rounded and polished smooth so as not to cause bleeding. A relaxed grip may have been at fault there too, but only one time!

A death grip with both hands and leaning into it as Dave says is the best prevention for knuckle busting, assuming the geometry of gun and of hand size are within "tolerance."

You can still shoot sub 0.2 MOA with a big bore even if you grip it properly. Technique and practice until it is hardwired into you.

I got whacked in the knuckle by Dave E's 500 A2 once, so I know how it feels. It was a reminder not to relax too much when shooting the big kickers. Never got touched by it or and of the 470 Mbogo's I have shot since.

Cheers,
Canuck

a 110 lb. munchkin with tiny hands and each time I take my 11.2z72 schuler to the range it will get me at least once out of a dozen rounds. It has double set triggers and I just attributed it to streaching my hand to get the front trigger without using the set trigger. I shoot the 416 and 458 & never have a problem with them.

A muzzel brake will easily solve the smacked fingers problem ... and make playing and genral blasting ,,FUN>.. If you get a threaded cap you can take the brake off ...Were it me I would leave it on .. My first 458 win mag would really pound my middle finger .. I was young and tough then and learned to ignore it .. When I had a KDF muzzel brake put on it became the most fun rifle I had .......A shorter LOP does help ..

One other suggestion would be to buy a knuckle protector from Kick Eze. The same folks who make recoil pads. Its a sorbathane padded elastic ring you wear on the middle finger.

I think the grip tightness may be the main problem. For months after I started on a .458 I had no problems, then with experence came over-confidence and a weaker grip, then my middle finger started to take a hiding.
Plus with an elbow rest off sticks my arm probably can't move back as freely as before.

trophyhunter, the trigger on the CZ sits too far forward in the guard. Also a stock with a longer, straighter grip would move that knuckle away from the rear of the guard. Try the trigger replacement first and go from there. We can install a trigger of our own design that does just that. It also gets rid of about 47 different little pins, springs, and C-clips in the process. It cleans the whole thing up and puts the trigger where it should be, to the rear of the guard.

Thanks for the replies guys….

After reading all of the posts I think part of my problem is getting lazy with my technique. I’ll be heading to the range this weekend (first day above freezing in a while) and am going to concentrate on gripping the rifle firmly and pulling it back into my shoulder.

Bitterroot,

Welcome to the forum. I agree the CZ trigger configuration is screwy. I am going to have this rifle slicked up and have a new trigger put on it some time, perhaps we could talk later.

Thanks all…

Matt V.

Matt,

Like drdlongshot suggested there's also a little finger condom outa rubber that you can slip over your finger; had the same issue with a double trigger sxs .12 ga. shotgun - it helped cure the issue.

Like Vapodog says too, once you start getting some bruising on the finger it seems to get worse, nothing to do but let it heal before getting at it again.

You got alot of good advice on this one though....