PPK to small for hand: How to combat slide bite

[RMC51]

I shot my PPK 380ss for the first time, it racked me across the hand. I'm about to take a 12lber to it. any ideas on how to keep the slide from the top of my hand?

RMC

[mentalsigness]

It's called slide bite. You're probably gripping the gun too high. Try lowering your grip slightly.

[Pilotsteve]

RMC, you've just experienced a "love bite" from your PPK. It's a common thing with this fantastic, wonderful handgun which certainly does not warrant a 12 pounder being anywhere near it. It bit you because you were not holding it right.

Try this. No, better yet, do this and both your hand and your PPK will thank you. Go ahead, go and get it. Yes, right now before you read this any further. Go get it and hold it in your shooting hand. I'll wait...



Got it there? OK, good. Hold it as if you're ready to fire. Now, stop right there and observe the position of your thumb. See that? That's not right - and you're going to get bit that way.

Now, slide your thumb down ever so slightly until it overlaps your middle finger slightly. Move your thumb down so the pad of your thumb lightly rests on the top edge of your middle finger. It might feel a little strange at first but that's the way one must hold their PPK or you're going to get it. Here's some pictures to demonstrate:


In this photo, you can see the "natural" way most people who haven't had much experience with PPKs hold their guns. It's a natural human grasp and feels normal. But the PPK was designed to be small and the fact that the barrel also acts as the guide rod (a genius of design) dictates a low slide. The design keeps things small, simple, and more in line with the radius bone of the forearm, which promotes accuracy. However, it also allows for "slide bite." The red arrow I put in the picture shows where the slide will get me if I hold my PPK this way.


Here's a view of the same grip. You can clearly see where I'd get a nice double bite if I held her this way. That slide comes back viscously and mercilessly when it cycles a round, and human flesh will suffer if it's in the way:


Now, if you hold your PPK the way I described above, with your thumb slightly overlapping your middle finger on the grip, it can't get you. Try holding your PPK like this:


Same grip method, from the back. As you can see, there's no way it can get you.


Your soft tender flesh is now out of the way of the unyielding steel and your PPK will now give you a lifetime of joy. I hope this helps.

-Pilotsteve

[Milspec]

I wear a shooting glove for range work. For self-defense I just take a solid grip...the BG can worry about PPK bite...

Milspec

[prm]

mentalsigness pretty well pegged it. I have never had the bite, but I don't grip high enough to receive it either. I have intentionally gripped the gun high enough that it would have, if fired, and it doesn't feel right to me. I can see where people with large fleshy hands might have a problem if not careful.

I have read where larger grips help some ~ again I can't say that from experience. You should be able to look at your grip before firing and tell.

The S&Ws seem to be a mixed bag from what owners have posted concerning reliability, but, S&W will work out any issues and a lot of owners are happy with them. I would not be opposed to owning one of the S&Ws and the extended beaver tail is supposed to correct this.

Good luck with your gun. I would say give it some time and check your grip before firing until it becomes natural to you.

[KsThumper]

'Pilotsteve'

Nice photo's and excellent explanation ! ! !

[UniversalExports]

And the larger tang used on the S&W version does a great job of putting your hand out of harm's way. Can't help it, guys. Still love my S&W PPK/S in stainless.

[searcher451]

Doug is correct: The S&W model pretty much eliminates Walther bite. Sadly, for at least some, it also eliminated reliability ...

[RickJZ]

Pilotsteve,
Great job with the pics! Also, excellent job on the explanation.

[Gene83]

Originally Posted by UniversalExports

And the larger tang used on the S&W version does a great job of putting your hand out of harm's way. Can't help it, guys. Still love my S&W PPK/S in stainless.

I'm crazy about mine also. The more rounds I put through it, the better it gets. Sadly, that's apparently not the case with all of the guns that came out of Houlton though.