Don’t cross your thumbs while holding a semi-auto pistol

Slide Bite, sounds like a disease we should all be inoculated with each year like the flu. It is preventable but very painful. It could possibly send you to the hospital if badly injured.

The slide bite I am referring to is caused by crossing thumbs behind the slide, while shooting a modern semi-auto pistol.

This was a common technique with revolvers that ruled the day before semi-auto loading pistols came about in some prominence in the early 1980’s. Now for those that say that Lugers and Colt 1911’s were around long before the 80’s they are correct.  I am speaking of the current ubiquitous nature that semi-auto pistols are bought and purchased every day in our country. With the advent of striker fired guns like Glocks and such a variety of sizes and calibers now available, they out sell revolvers by 5:1 on the market.

As I stated earlier, crossing thumbs on the back of a revolver was very commonplace in a two handed grip. This is probably very natural to the human hands. As natural as it is, it is a habit that must be broken with a pistol.

In all of our classes, I advise our instructor assistants to look for the crossed thumbs and stop the shooter if they see a potential slide bite. It isn’t just civilians or regular people that do this, many a police officer, has been bitten by slide bite. I’ve also had to stop the soldier that hasn’t been around firearms in some time.

Look for a video showing details of this and how to avoid it. Treatment to avoid Slide Bite: Practice, Practice, Practice.

Until we meet again,

Be Alert. Be Aware. And be SAFE!

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Author of article: Lead Firearms Instructor-Jeffrey Washington. ©2017 Brick Street Safety Academy