testtest

Magazine Releases

papa said:
I also have your problem due to medium small hands. I have always had to shift my grip a tad to hit the mag release. Other than that , the only major trouble I have had with a mag release is on my XDs . 45. It is the stiffest release I have ever used on a pistol.
Click to expand...
I’m finding the release on my new XD rather stiff. That’s what prompted me to post this thread. It’s nice to know I’m not alone in that regard. 😊
 
Bella, i also have small hands (I’m a scaled-down kinda guy) and my thumb also doesn’t reach on mid-size or larger guns**….,

I had some early success quickly tilting the gun to my left with support hand, then hit the button with my firing hand thumb (the usual way). But this didn’t keep pace with other speed-related skills. It hit its speed limit, and wasn’t fast enough.

Now i hit the button with my support hand thumb as it slides down to reach for another mag. Kinda depends on the gun as to how well this works. I’ve got an extended mag release I need to install on a 1911 to see if it’s better or worse.

It’s turned out to be a matter of practice practice practice drill drill drill.

** your mention that you don’t have much problem with the Shield intrigues me; i may have to look again at those… or Equalizer.
 
belladonna said:
This has been rumbling around in my head for a while so I finally decided to put it out there. All of my pistols, except for one, have the mag release button operational by the right thumb. My M&P9 2.0 compact is a used LE trade in and its mag release button came with left hand operation. I never changed it because I found it is far easier and smoother for me to drop the mag in that gun with my middle finger.

All of this being said, I find it a little difficult to drop the mags of some of my guns because not only do I have small hands, but my thumbs are really short...to the point that I don't have enough strength with my thumb to push the button because just the edge of my thumb catches the edge of the mag release.

Does anyone else here know of someone with this issue? I sort of feel like a freak of nature, and I plan on switching the mag releases of a few of my guns so I don't have to concentrate so much when reloading. I find I have the issue mainly with the M&P9 series (not the Equalizer or Shield EZ), the XD-M Elite, and my 1911s. I work on my grip always (thinking it might help) but the thumb digits are just too short to effectively drop my mags smoothly.

Anyway, just thought I'd put this out there for some feedback, and thanks in advance. The struggle is real.. :cool:
Click to expand...
I only own 4 semi-autos and over time, being a south paw, I learned to pass the pistol into my right hand for mag release, then reload the new mag with my left hand, then switching the gun back to my left hand for use. For some reason it just feels more natural to me. I too have small hands and the time I 'lose' in switching hands, I feel like I gain most of it back in the speed and coordination in reloading of the new mag.

I have three semi-autos I use regularly (PF9 & Hellcat & Ruger SR22), all three fairly small guns. I also have a full sized S&W 659 9mm that's just so big in my hand I don't even feel competent with it. Too big and heavy to CC anyway. I still switch hands to reload, but it's not nearly as fast or as smooth action as with the smaller framed guns.

BTW, over many years of hunting and competition shooting, I've also learned to use the right handed bolt action and semi-auto rifles shooting as a lefty, but working the bolt with my right hand. In all honesty, in long guns, I much prefer single shots, break actions, and/or pumps which eliminates most of the loading/shooting issues. jj
 
TidalWave said:
Bella, i also have small hands (I’m a scaled-down kinda guy) and my thumb also doesn’t reach on mid-size or larger guns**….,

I had some early success quickly tilting the gun to my left with support hand, then hit the button with my firing hand thumb (the usual way). But this didn’t keep pace with other speed-related skills. It hit its speed limit, and wasn’t fast enough.

Now i hit the button with my support hand thumb as it slides down to reach for another mag. Kinda depends on the gun as to how well this works. I’ve got an extended mag release I need to install on a 1911 to see if it’s better or worse.

It’s turned out to be a matter of practice practice practice drill drill drill.

** your mention that you don’t have much problem with the Shield intrigues me; i may have to look again at those… or Equalizer.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your input. I have also used my support hand from time to time, and like you say, practice, practice, practice, drill, drill, drill. I m just trying to develop good, consistent muscle memory. I’ve gotten lots of good suggestions on this thread. I’ll eventually find what works best for me. Like I said though, not all guns give me that grief.
 
Short fat fingers made just right for grubbing turnips out of the ground, not so much for a stringed instrument. I just shift the gun ever so slightly and hit the release. Been doing that all my life, don't even think about it. Maybe that's why I never had all that much heartburn over European/heal mag catch.
 
belladonna said:
Thank you for your input. I have also used my support hand from time to time, and like you say, practice, practice, practice, drill, drill, drill. I m just trying to develop good, consistent muscle memory. I’ve gotten lots of good suggestions on this thread. I’ll eventually find what works best for me. Like I said though, not all guns give me that grief.
Click to expand...
Keep us posted if you hit on anything !
 
Ms Bella, I wrote all that back in post #30 about how I worked it all out being a southpaw with a particular point in mind when I started. I know your question really didn't pertain to being left handed, but my point was going to be just do what feels right and with a little time and effort it will become almost natural to you.

Unfortunately I totally forgot to add my original thought/point I wanted to share with you ... so here it is now. Just do what feels right and with enough time and effort it will become almost natural to you! Well damn, I already said that now didn't I? ;):) (Left handed or not!)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top