Man looses thumb using revolver.

offroader1994 · 02-23-2008, 05:23 AM

How NOT to hold a revolver!A St. Louis, Missouri guy had a bad accident with his S&W 460XVR Magnum yesterday. He was shooting with a two handed hold and got his left thumb up near the lower front of the cylinder. The normal (powerful) gasses blowing out at the barrel/cylinder gap ripped the top of his left thumb off. S&W 460XVR Magnum
460XVR blew my thumb off today!No joke, about 1/2 of my left thumb is gone ... what's left is a friggin mess.

It's pretty hard to type, and I'm only posting because you never know, it might save somebody else a thumb. I was using a 2-handed grip, fired off a Cor-Bon DPX .460 and the blast came violently out the side of the gun.
At first my thumb was so covered in blood that I couldn't see how bad it was ... and I was full of adrenaline and felt no pain. And honestly it looked really bad, my whole hand was covered in blood and it was kinda gushing.

The blown-off thumb was on my support hand. I'll re-create the grip tomorrow to see where my thumb was, but it's not like I didn't already know not to get any body part near the cylinder gap. And even if I totally screwed up and did, taking my thumb clean off seems a bit excessive?
Just be careful with those 460's. That case operates at such high pressure, it's just asking for trouble.

BTW, I bought my 460 new and had exactly 12 rounds through it. Info about the gun, it's a full-size 460 with the 8 3/4' barrel and factory installed compensator. It's one of the Whitetails Unlimited models. Ammo was 200gr Cor-Bon DPX.

The gun only had 12 or 13 rounds of the Cor-Bon through it, and 10 .45 Long Colt rounds through it. So it was essentially still brand new.Saw a hand specialist while there today. Lots of ways to try and save what's left, but first I just have to hope it doesn't get infected in the next few days ... then surgery early next week.
The hand specialist I spent a few hours with last night said that in gunshot wounds there is always a lot more damage than is first visible ... same with things like fireworks going off in your hand. A lot more flesh around the wound is dead, and will rot and fall off over the next couple days. That's why it's so important to keep clean, and that's also why they can't do surgery now. If they wrapped new skin over dead skin it would just puss out, possibly turn gang-green, and they'd have to start all over again.

DANA · 02-23-2008, 02:55 PM

Thanks for passing the info along. Always good to be reminded of basic safty.

DANA

utahvarminter · 02-23-2008, 03:52 PM

I've seen the after picture. It's disturbing. His thumb just ends at the knuckle.

rondog · 02-23-2008, 05:27 PM

Ay Carumba!

billy · 02-23-2008, 05:44 PM

what?
no gross pitchers?

Brother Bob · 02-23-2008, 06:08 PM

How not to hold a revolver!

A St. Louis, Missouri guy on my AR-15 forum had a bad accident with his S&W 460XVR Magnum yesterday. He was shooting with a two handed hold and got his left thumb up near the lower front of the cylinder. The normal (powerful) gasses blowing out at the barrel/cylinder gap ripped the top of his left thumb off. I've added some of his posts & some pics.

S&W 460XVR Magnum
460XVR blew my thumb off today!
No joke, about 1/2 of my left thumb is gone ... what's left is a friggin mess.

It's pretty hard to type, and I'm only posting because you never know, it might save somebody else a thumb. I was using a 2-handed grip, fired off a Cor-Bon DPX .460 and the blast came violently out the side of the gun.
At first my thumb was so covered in blood that I couldn't see how bad it was ... and I was full of adrenaline and felt no pain. And honestly it looked really bad, my whole hand was covered in blood and it was kinda gushing.

The blown-off thumb was on my support hand. I'll re-create the grip tomorrow to see where my thumb was, but it's not like I didn't already know not to get any body part near the cylinder gap. And even if I totally screwed up and did, taking my thumb clean off seems a bit excessive?
Just be careful with those 460's. That case operates at such high pressure, it's just asking for trouble.

BTW, I bought my 460 new and had exactly 12 rounds through it. Info about the gun, it's a full-size 460 with the 8 3/4' barrel and factory installed compensator. It's one of the Whitetails Unlimited models. Ammo was 200gr Cor-Bon DPX.

The gun only had 12 or 13 rounds of the Cor-Bon through it, and 10 .45 Long Colt rounds through it. So it was essentially still brand new.
Saw a hand specialist while there today. Lots of ways to try and save what's left, but first I just have to hope it doesn't get infected in the next few days ... then surgery early next week.
The hand specialist I spent a few hours with last night said that in gunshot wounds there is always a lot more damage than is first visible ... same with things like fireworks going off in your hand. A lot more flesh around the wound is dead, and will rot and fall off over the next couple days. That's why it's so important to keep clean, and that's also why they can't do surgery now. If they wrapped new skin over dead skin it would just puss out, possibly turn gang-green, and they'd have to start all over again.
This is an example of how he was holding his revolver.Wrong, wrong, wrong!

This is what's left of his thumb.

Hope you're happy now!

stitchclimber · 02-23-2008, 06:22 PM

still not seeing the pics.

samuel · 02-23-2008, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billy

what?
no gross pitchers?

A .454cas. will do the same thing.And I dont care to pray to anyone but GOD. sam.

Brother Bob · 02-23-2008, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samuel

A .454cas. will do the same thing.And I dont care to pray to anyone but GOD. sam.

I wonder about that boy sometimes........

billy · 02-23-2008, 07:38 PM

pray to anything you like.

evilblackrifle · 02-23-2008, 08:28 PM

Anybody got a link for this? You know, proof?

vel525 · 02-26-2008, 02:56 PM

i think this guy is on one the car forums i frequent. there are pics on there. pretty graphic.

Alleydude · 02-26-2008, 03:05 PM

So where are these pictures...???

vel525 · 02-26-2008, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alleydude

So where are these pictures...???

here are a few
Anybody with a large caliber handgun, BE CAREFUL! - Page 3 - RX7Club.com

page three, 4th post down.

lorcin25 · 02-26-2008, 03:50 PM

Holy smokes. Those pics are rough. Very educational though. Sorry you had to have that experience to teach me.

Alleydude · 02-26-2008, 03:57 PM

Yikes! I guess I asked for it, huh?

Um...

Yikes!

ander254 · 02-26-2008, 05:49 PM

well on the bright side, you still have your thumb nail to pick your teeth with

Pumpkinheaver · 02-26-2008, 10:05 PM

He admits he might have put his thumb near the bbl cylinder gap after hurting himself before by doing the same with a .357! And you guess it, he's thinking about a lawsuit.

Coeloptera · 02-27-2008, 03:16 AM

Actually, that may potentially heal. Human fingertips are one of the only body parts we have that can potentially regenerate. It didn't take the whole thing off and it looks like the bone is still there. He has a chance.

But I'm having difficulty picturing exactly how he was holding it to get his thumb up near the cylinder gap. Was he curling it around, with his fingers resting on the back of his shooting hand or something? Or was he just holding his off-hand really high and forward or what?

- Coeloptera

Scouse · 02-27-2008, 04:15 AM

This two handed hold is used by all the top Pistol shots, the idea being more contact on the frame, better control of the pistol, it is not a very bright revolver hold.

The reason for not teaching this hold to individuals who carry for defensive purposes IMHO is that it it leaves the gun more liable to be lost from you if some miscreant gets a grip of it, easier to be twisted out of your hands (spell check not working for me?)

02-23-2008, 05:23 AM	#1
offroader1994 Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: east Tn. Posts: 83	Man looses thumb using revolver. *How NOT to hold a revolver!A St. Louis, Missouri guy had a bad accident with his S&W 460XVR Magnum yesterday. He was shooting with a two handed hold and got his left thumb up near the lower front of the cylinder. The normal (powerful) gasses blowing out at the barrel/cylinder gap ripped the top of his left thumb off. S&W 460XVR Magnum 460XVR blew my thumb off today!*No joke, about 1/2 of my left thumb is gone ... what's left is a friggin mess. It's pretty hard to type, and I'm only posting because you never know, it might save somebody else a thumb. I was using a 2-handed grip, fired off a Cor-Bon DPX .460 and the blast came violently out the side of the gun. At first my thumb was so covered in blood that I couldn't see how bad it was ... and I was full of adrenaline and felt no pain. And honestly it looked really bad, my whole hand was covered in blood and it was kinda gushing. The blown-off thumb was on my support hand. I'll re-create the grip tomorrow to see where my thumb was, but it's not like I didn't already know not to get any body part near the cylinder gap. And even if I totally screwed up and did, taking my thumb clean off seems a bit excessive? Just be careful with those 460's. That case operates at such high pressure, it's just asking for trouble. BTW, I bought my 460 new and had exactly 12 rounds through it. Info about the gun, it's a full-size 460 with the 8 3/4' barrel and factory installed compensator. It's one of the Whitetails Unlimited models. Ammo was 200gr Cor-Bon DPX. The gun only had 12 or 13 rounds of the Cor-Bon through it, and 10 .45 Long Colt rounds through it. So it was essentially still brand new.Saw a hand specialist while there today. Lots of ways to try and save what's left, but first I just have to hope it doesn't get infected in the next few days ... then surgery early next week. The hand specialist I spent a few hours with last night said that in gunshot wounds there is always a lot more damage than is first visible ... same with things like fireworks going off in your hand. A lot more flesh around the wound is dead, and will rot and fall off over the next couple days. That's why it's so important to keep clean, and that's also why they can't do surgery now. If they wrapped new skin over dead skin it would just puss out, possibly turn gang-green, and they'd have to start all over again.

02-23-2008, 03:52 PM	#3
utahvarminter Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Utah Posts: 487	I've seen the after picture. It's disturbing. His thumb just ends at the knuckle. __________________ My Photo Album

02-23-2008, 05:44 PM	#5
billy spiritual counselor Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 11,928 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 145	what? no gross pitchers? __________________ internet yards and real yards are completely different units of measure.

02-23-2008, 06:08 PM	#6
Brother Bob The Mayor Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Olive Branch, MS. Posts: 2,670 Blog Entries: 3	*How not to hold a revolver!* A St. Louis, Missouri guy on my AR-15 forum had a bad accident with his S&W 460XVR Magnum yesterday. He was shooting with a two handed hold and got his left thumb up near the lower front of the cylinder. The normal (powerful) gasses blowing out at the barrel/cylinder gap ripped the top of his left thumb off. I've added some of his posts & some pics. S&W 460XVR Magnum 460XVR blew my thumb off today! No joke, about 1/2 of my left thumb is gone ... what's left is a friggin mess. It's pretty hard to type, and I'm only posting because you never know, it might save somebody else a thumb. I was using a 2-handed grip, fired off a Cor-Bon DPX .460 and the blast came violently out the side of the gun. At first my thumb was so covered in blood that I couldn't see how bad it was ... and I was full of adrenaline and felt no pain. And honestly it looked really bad, my whole hand was covered in blood and it was kinda gushing. The blown-off thumb was on my support hand. I'll re-create the grip tomorrow to see where my thumb was, but it's not like I didn't already know not to get any body part near the cylinder gap. And even if I totally screwed up and did, taking my thumb clean off seems a bit excessive? Just be careful with those 460's. That case operates at such high pressure, it's just asking for trouble. BTW, I bought my 460 new and had exactly 12 rounds through it. Info about the gun, it's a full-size 460 with the 8 3/4' barrel and factory installed compensator. It's one of the Whitetails Unlimited models. Ammo was 200gr Cor-Bon DPX. The gun only had 12 or 13 rounds of the Cor-Bon through it, and 10 .45 Long Colt rounds through it. So it was essentially still brand new. Saw a hand specialist while there today. Lots of ways to try and save what's left, but first I just have to hope it doesn't get infected in the next few days ... then surgery early next week. The hand specialist I spent a few hours with last night said that in gunshot wounds there is always a lot more damage than is first visible ... same with things like fireworks going off in your hand. A lot more flesh around the wound is dead, and will rot and fall off over the next couple days. That's why it's so important to keep clean, and that's also why they can't do surgery now. If they wrapped new skin over dead skin it would just puss out, possibly turn gang-green, and they'd have to start all over again. This is an example of how he was holding his revolver.Wrong, wrong, wrong! This is what's left of his thumb. Hope you're happy now! Last edited by Brother Bob; 02-23-2008 at 06:10 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

02-23-2008, 06:22 PM	#7
stitchclimber Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The great northwest Posts: 945	still not seeing the pics. __________________ turning up the radio, got just enough religion and a half tank of gas...

02-23-2008, 02:55 PM	#2
DANA Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: WAITSFIELD VERMONT Posts: 1,595	Thanks for passing the info along. Always good to be reminded of basic safty. DANA

02-23-2008, 05:27 PM	#4
rondog Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 1,321	Ay Carumba!

02-23-2008, 07:38 PM	#10
billy spiritual counselor Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 11,928 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 145	pray to anything you like. __________________ internet yards and real yards are completely different units of measure.

02-23-2008, 08:28 PM	#11
evilblackrifle Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 194	Anybody got a link for this? You know, proof? __________________ The patriot's blood is the seed of Freedom's tree.

02-26-2008, 02:56 PM	#12
vel525 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 13	i think this guy is on one the car forums i frequent. there are pics on there. pretty graphic.

02-26-2008, 03:05 PM	#13
Alleydude Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Kingsley, Michigan Posts: 118	So where are these pictures...??? __________________ USN '83-'92 FC1 CIWS M61A1 22mm 6-Barrel Gatling Gun USS Midway CV-41 USS Independence CV-62 [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

02-26-2008, 03:50 PM	#15
lorcin25 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Alabama Posts: 291	Holy smokes. Those pics are rough. Very educational though. Sorry you had to have that experience to teach me.

02-26-2008, 03:57 PM	#16
Alleydude Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Kingsley, Michigan Posts: 118	Yikes! I guess I asked for it, huh? Um... Yikes! __________________ USN '83-'92 FC1 CIWS M61A1 22mm 6-Barrel Gatling Gun USS Midway CV-41 USS Independence CV-62 [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

02-26-2008, 05:49 PM	#17
ander254 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 235 Images: 5	well on the bright side, you still have your thumb nail to pick your teeth with

02-26-2008, 10:05 PM	#18
Pumpkinheaver Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,336	He admits he might have put his thumb near the bbl cylinder gap after hurting himself before by doing the same with a .357! And you guess it, he's thinking about a lawsuit. __________________ Just because your paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you!

02-27-2008, 03:16 AM	#19
Coeloptera Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 1,844	Actually, that may potentially heal. Human fingertips are one of the only body parts we have that can potentially regenerate. It didn't take the whole thing off and it looks like the bone is still there. He has a chance. But I'm having difficulty picturing exactly how he was holding it to get his thumb up near the cylinder gap. Was he curling it around, with his fingers resting on the back of his shooting hand or something? Or was he just holding his off-hand really high and forward or what? - Coeloptera

02-27-2008, 04:15 AM	#20
Scouse Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 11	New and improved This two handed hold is used by all the top Pistol shots, the idea being more contact on the frame, better control of the pistol, it is not a very bright revolver hold. The reason for not teaching this hold to individuals who carry for defensive purposes IMHO is that it it leaves the gun more liable to be lost from you if some miscreant gets a grip of it, easier to be twisted out of your hands (spell check not working for me?)