wife got bit by a Taurus, 6 stitches

[IndyLongColt]

Been training the wife at home for awhile and thought she was ready for the range, so off we went.

She wanted to start with my PT709, liked it the best when working at home.


Well, her very first shot ever went bad. She let her thumb on her shooting hand float up, and yep the slide gashed her twice with each cut needing 3 stitches.

I failed as Im her instructor even though hand positiong and "remember, nothing ever up/back here" was the last thing I said to her before her first shot.

Shes always been afraid of guns which is why Ive been workinh with her at home and thought it was time, but shes a fighter and determined to get it right as soon as her thumb and her pride are healed.

 

[Bennettjh]

I'm sorry to hear that. Glad that she isn't giving up!

 

[Hoosier Gal]

Ouch. I've had a slide bite, but it was from riding the slide. Hope she heals quickly!

 

[IndyGunworks]

IMHO and with no offence meant to the OP, this is a great example of why ALL new shooters should start out on a small caliber. start with the fundamentals, and once those are down, explore other options.

 

[Wolfhound]

I started my wife out with a 38 revolver and that is still her favorite 5 years later. She will shoot semi auto's and has an SR-22 but seems to prefer the revolver.

 

[halfmileharry]

at least it wasn't a 12 ga with slugs and scope....
Even the best "spousal instructor" will get overridden and the student will get stomped. My ex insisted on taking the scoped 12 deer hunting and was smart enough to know she had to see how the gun patterned. She told me to shut up 'cause she could do it without my help.
I really did want to say something about her riding the stock to get "eye relief" but I'd already been told to shut up. Everything would have been fine if I hadn't "chuckled" when the scope knotted the orbit around and above the eye.
She listened more intensely after that.
YEP, sometimes it's just the student forgetting a small basic step.
Hope your honey is aok and ready to give it another whirl. Let her know she's not the first and surely not the last. Tell me you got video?

 

[Leadkrm]

Last week at beech grove firearms a lady came out the range with a good bit of blood on her hand from a slide bite.

 

[Hoosier Gal]

I started my wife out with a 38 revolver and that is still her favorite 5 years later. She will shoot semi auto's and has an SR-22 but seems to prefer the revolver.

I love my revolvers too. No slide bite to worry about.

 

[Lori]

Well good for her on not only willing to go again - but with determination! That is awesome! One thing is for sure, she will never let that happen again

I hope she heals quick and you can come back to report a successful day at the range very soon

 

[Mackey]

I can totally relate Indy. One of the first times I took my youngest son to the range he got bit pretty good. I felt horrible about it.

 

[BiscuitNaBasket]

Been training the wife at home for awhile and thought she was ready for the range, so off we went.

She wanted to start with my PT709, liked it the best when working at home.


Well, her very first shot ever went bad. She let her thumb on her shooting hand float up, and yep the slide gashed her twice with each cut needing 3 stitches.

I failed as Im her instructor even though hand positiong and "remember, nothing ever up/back here" was the last thing I said to her before her first shot.

Shes always been afraid of guns which is why Ive been workinh with her at home and thought it was time, but shes a fighter and determined to get it right as soon as her thumb and her pride are healed.

That says a lot and I'm glad she has not let that incident scare her away from firearms.

 

[DRob]

Lesson which include stitches usually stick! Hope she recovers quickly.

 

[ssprang16]

Sorry to hear about the incident -- let's all hope she is okay & wants to get back on the horse!

 

[88GT]

I'm glad she's taking it in stride and willing to get back on the horse. It will probably not be her only shooting wound. Keep it fun and this incident will be a conversation one-upper for her to use in the future.

IMHO and with no offence meant to the OP, this is a great example of why ALL new shooters should start out on a small caliber. start with the fundamentals, and once those are down, explore other options.

So the wound from the slide bite would only require 1-2 stitches instead of 3 or more? I'm not sure what caliber had to do with it.

 

[IndyGunworks]

I'm not sure what caliber had to do with it.

Seriously? You are an experienced enough shooter to know exactly how it contributed.

 

[looney2ns]

That's why its sometimes best to let a stranger teach a spouse. The spouse has better hearing that way.

 

[ajeandy]

I know a lot of people, if that happened to them, they would never want to shoot a gun again. Guns aren't toys!

 

[dmarsh8]

Seriously? You are an experienced enough shooter to know exactly how it contributed.

 

[Leadkrm]

I've seen those beaver tail things that can help prevent bites. I think that's what they call them.

 

[Bushido Devil Dog]

I've seen those beaver tail things that can help prevent bites. I think that's what they call them.

Per the original post, the pistol in question is a Taurus PT709:

The PT709 lacks an external hammer, and thus lacks the need for a 'beavertail thing', properly called a beavertail safety, to prevent the webbing of the gripping hand from being pinched between the hammer and the grip safety...


(note the red mark on the webbing of the shooter's hands)

...an issue most commonly associated with the 1911 pistol design.

The injury the OP's wife suffered was from having her thumb directly behind the slide and in the path of the slide's rearward travel during recoil like this...

...or sticking straight up like this , both of which are...