Finger guard

[Gerald McPherson]

First o frame for me and I have arthritis in my hands. Never had a problem with 1, 1 1/2, or 2 frame Parkers before but with this little VH 20 ga I am having trouble unless I'm very aware of how I grip the pistol grip. If my middle finger is close to the guard, it hurts like the devil. Any suggestions for a good finger guard? I'm shooting it really well and think I can do better without that worrying me. Getting old is not for sissies. I have short always swollen fingers.

[Dan Steingraber]

Maybe try a lighter load or a slip on pad to extend the lop a little.

[Gerald McPherson]

At least 1/2 in longer grip area. I've not seen this before. Unless I grip it forward my trigger finger does not reach the front trigger very well. Meant to say VH 20.

[John B White]

Maybe you could sell it to me and buy a straight grip ; )

I’m getting arthritic in my shoulders and knees. I feel your pain.

[Phil Yearout]

I put one of these on every double gun as soon as I get it; I don't even wait. It only took me banging my finger a couple times for me to want to make sure it never happened again!

https://i.imgur.com/jzm9OFTl.jpg

[Jim Beilke]

I agree with Phil, these finger guards work great. I have several. Google Beesley finger guards I think

[Gerald McPherson]

Phil where do you get those?

[Phil Yearout]

Galazen has them I think.

[Jim Beilke]

Correction: I misspelled the name of the finger guard, it is Bisley.

[Phil Yearout]

Just an FYI, they were available as a clip-on and with the screw fastening. I haven't looked for them in a while so I don't know what's offered these days. I initially thought the clip-ons would be great as I could change them from gun to gum, but for me they didn't fit well and were hard to keep in position. The ones with the screw work much better IMO.

[Gerald McPherson]

Galazan Products offers them in Bumper Buster. Looks different but may be as good. Anyone tried these?

[edgarspencer]

Gerald, I don't know if this will help you, but here is what I did. My favorite gun to shoot is an 0 frame VH28. It's a straight stock, and bangs my middle finger pretty good. The barrels get hot, so I wear a glove on my right hand (I'm a lefty). I cut the fingers off the left glove (Tractor Supply calf skin) just below the knuckles. The remaining leather gives enough cushion that I don't feel the trigger guard bumping my middle finger.

[Phil Yearout]

Look the same to me.

[Gerald McPherson]

Edgar, I actually put a glove on to see how it would help but it was difficult to get on the rear trigger. Since then, I have been thinking about doing just that. I may cut the thumb and trigger finger off and then use part of one of them help pad the middle finger. Yesterday I shot a 2 frame 12 gauge and by the time I started my hands were getting cold. My hands began to hurt from the recoil so the gloves may be my best bet. I see people on this site shooting in very cold weather with snow on the ground. That would be impossible for me. Cold and arthritis do not mix. Back years ago, we quail hunted in really cold weather and didn't think nothing about it.
I remember hunting by myself on a very cold last day of the season. I had a good hunt and I recall standing after I put the dog up in the wind and thinking how good it felt. That memory has stayed in my mind for probly 40 years.

[edgarspencer]

I can sympathize with you Gerald. I don't hate the cold, as long as I'm dressed for it. It's been below zero most mornings here, and there is still over my knee deep snow. As long as my toes and fingers are warm, I'm ok. Problem being, that much clothing and there's no shooting.
Back to that glove for a second; If you leave the top leather, all the way to the tip, say 5/8" wide, and cut away the rest, you could fold that strip back over the part of the finger that's getting slammed, stitch or glue it in place and Bob's your uncle!