Flesh burn
I went out to the back 40 yesterday and did some shooting with my brother and some friends as posted about on my blog. Near the end I received a rather nasty burn due to a hot barrel and inexperience.
Thus I have decided to purchase a pair of shooting gloves to keep this from happening again. I have seen some online but they are so big they look like they should be sold with a parka. Anyone have suggestions or warnings on the type to buy or avoid?
March 26th, 2006 at 12:33 pm
Buy something leather or made of natural fibers that won’t melt. I picked up a pair of paratrooper gloves at a surplus store. They are thick leather and feel a bit like old stiff gardening gloves. But I could handle hot coals and not feel a thing through them.
March 26th, 2006 at 12:34 pm
They look a bit like this:
http://www.clementstrading.com/LH-SALES-04.html
March 26th, 2006 at 2:15 pm
I’ve found various occasions to wear gloves, especially during the winter, and recently bought a pair of Uncle Mikes leather open-fingered. If you buy online, here’s a way to determine hand size. They certainly aren’t bulky or too hot…so far.
Another alternative would be to go to a cycle shop and see what they have along the same lines. I’d definately avoid nylon or anything of that nature if they could be exposed to high heat. Hurts thinking about it.
March 26th, 2006 at 3:03 pm
While I don’t have any particular answers, I’ve seen lots of photos of competitive rifle shooters wearing a bulky glove on the fore-end hand, but I recall a similar glove on the trigger hand. Protection from a hot barrel certainly comes to mind as a reason for that. Might be some other reasons as well.
There’s also a difference between “tactical” gloves, and those designed for sport shooting, and those for hunting. For example, I have a pair of hunting mittens, with a velcroed slot on the edge of the mitten, through which I can extend my trigger finger.
March 26th, 2006 at 3:04 pm
Uh, make that “don’t recall a similar glove on the trigger hand”.
March 26th, 2006 at 5:58 pm
The rifle shooters use the over-sized glove or mitt to do two things: to a minor degree it provides a slightly more stable cradle for offhand shooting. The main purpose is to protect the hand from the sling as when you’re slung up properly the leather will hurt ya.
For protection against burns just about any insulated winter type glove will do fine. Incidentally I just use an insulated glove for sling protection. So unless ya wanna get into High Power (or even if ya do) I’d just get a nice heavy glove for your left hand that you’d otherwise use if you were out hunting or just working in the cold.
March 27th, 2006 at 3:24 am
If you know somebody with access to a Military Clothing Sales Store, I recommend Nomex gloves. I was issued a pair in the USAF when I was aircrew, and they are invaluable in the Arizona summertime when the Black Rifle (and black Riotgun) gets hot just sitting there in the sun. They’re available through some of the “Tactical” stores, but probably cheaper at MCS.
March 27th, 2006 at 10:41 am
I second Cowboy Blob’s reccommendation for a pair of Nomex gloves. They work well for things where some dexterity is required. They’re issued to armored vehicle crews in the army. You can also use them as glove liners under a pair of heavy leather gloves if necessary.
Here’s one source. All of the tactical gear suppliers should have a pair.
March 27th, 2006 at 7:49 pm
Another factor in the padded gloves for rifle shooters is to help isolate pulse from the back of the hand (where the sling crosses tightly). Even with a glove you can usually see the front sight bounce with your pulse once you’re cinched up tight, but it would be worse without the padding.
March 28th, 2006 at 10:50 pm
Go down to your local auto parts store and pick up a pair of Mechanics Gloves. Designed for working on hot engines.