Posted on 08/11/2009 7:57:47 AM PDT by Notoriously Conservative
I came across this the other day, it isn't my account, but the account of an unfortunate gun owner. You can point to snopes, and say this isn't true, but in an episode of MythBusters, they proved it was plausible:
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. 
More photos on Notoriously Conservative
If I recall this guy is sueing Smith and Wesson for millions of dollars due to his carelessness.
obama’s administration has caused a lot of gun purchases made by ignorant buyers. Get a mentor, some professional training and buy some books.
Leave the hand cannons alone until you did the research.
People are stupid. Pistols are meant to kill people or shoot targets.
Rarely is anything more than a .357 or .45 justified.
Everything else is bragging rights and bravado.
Me, I rely on .38+P, .45, .40, or even .380 depending on location and need for concealment.
I could never understand those massive handguns when a compact carbine of the same caliber would be so much faster & accurately aimed on the target.
Perhaps you're too utilitarian.... I suspect that the real reasons for the purchase of a pistol like that involves a fair amount of penile compensation....
What a doofus. Why not hold the revolver with the left hand in front of the muzzle?
Those look like little girl hands holding that side arm.
My memory may be faulty, but this guy posted his experience on ARFCOM (www.ar15.com) about a year ago.
I carry a 9mm. most days. I used to carry a .45 acp or .357 (with .38+p). But my 4" 9mm with a couple of high caps on hand is a comfortable enough carry. And I am prepared if, heaven forbid, I have to hunker down out in the sticks where it is common to have a 20-30 minute response from our Sheriff's Dept.
If I do decide to own a big toy that has a big boom, I'll buy it. Unlike this fellow, I'll make sure that I know how to use it safely.
I figured that given his "excessive" comment. I can light a firecracker in my open hand and get a little pain, or light a quarter-stick and probably lose my hand. The damage of neither is excessive given what they're designed for.
I have a .22LR NAA Mini - not powerful enough to do that kind of damage, but if you put a finger ahead of the cylinder face you won’t do it a second time.
From personal painful experience, I have no question a .460 could do exactly that damage.
Except in Alaska, where having a “hand cannon” on your hip, in the wilderness, is a good piece of insurance.
Your .357 or .45 wouldn’t do squat compared to a .44, .454 Casull and now the .500/.460 derivatives.
Otherwise, I’d agree.
But, some people like big explosions.
The smart ones are smart enough not to think about these things for carry or defense against two-legged vermin.
“But, some people like big explosions.
The smart ones are smart enough not to think about these things for carry or defense against two-legged vermin.”
Could you imagine how loud that thing would be in the middile of the night standing in the hallway of your bedroom trying todefend your family!?!? Not to mention the over penetration aspect that sucker would be LOUD!!!
I just can't believe the grip this guy used! This is on-par with the morons who get their off-hand thumb nearly cut off by semi-autos when the slide recoils.
Mark
That green gang is pretty lethal. If they get you, you’re gonna die.
Rarely is anything more than a .357 or .45 justified.
There's such a thing called "hunting." .357Mag is marginal for deer. .45LC can be up-loaded in a modern revolver, to near .44Mag loads, but you're better off using "the real thing." But for dangerous game, .44Mag is about the smallest load I'd want to use. Heavier loads are better, .444Marlin, .45/70, .375JDJ, .454 Casul, .460, .500, etc...
Everything else is bragging rights and bravado.
Me, I rely on .38+P, .45, .40, or even .380 depending on location and need for concealment.
Take a look at the revolver. Concealment is NOT an issue.
Mark
I understand that some people hunt with pistols of various kinds. A rifle seems to be more logical and humane.
(For the record, I am not a hunter. It’s difficult for hunted meat to be deemed “kosher” and hunting for sport has been frowned upon for Jews (not others) since the time of Esau.)
I got a chance to fire one of the very first S&W 500 revolvers about four or five years ago.
I was scared shitless, but I’ve fired .44mags, .454 casulls and .50 AE, so I had some experience.
I bent my elbow and let thing WHIP! over my head.
Amazingly, I was 4” low at 6 o’clock at 25 meters.
Some states have hundgun hunting seasons, allowing you to get another crack at bagging a criter.
As a caveat to my previous post, note I am not remotely anti-firearm.
I, however, utilize firearms for defense of home and family.
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