When you’re outdoors in the coming cold weather, you have the choice of gloves or cold, numb hands, neither of which is a great combination with firearms. Here, with John Farnam’s permission, I share a discussion string that John began recently. Pay particular attention to the advice from Doc Gunn, a tactically savvy MD who is known to me and whom I’ve never known to give bad advice:
Dear Friends:
Many people develop “sensory neuropathy” wherein they lose “fine touch” sensation but retain motor function (and pain/temperature sensation.) This impairs their “fine motor manipulation” in the same way that a might a tight, close-fitting glove.
The difference is that sensory neuropathy occurs gradually over time while the effect of putting on gloves is instantaneous. One thin layer of latex/nitrile allows for light touch sensation with little diminution but thicker fabric or leather material does not. As thickness increases sensation decreases.
I use the “Count your pocket change test.” Have various coins, keys, etc in your pants pocket and manipulate and identify them with your gloved hand. You’ll quickly see that there must be no free space at the fingertips. I can pass this test using Hatch Operator’s and non-insulated Mechanix gloves that close with a velcro strap at the top. Neither of these is waterproof, so a tight nitrile glove can be worn first against the skin for protection against fluid-born biologic pathogens.
Nitrile itself, as John pointed-out in his original post, can catch on weapon safeties/selectors, etc and is also prone to tearing easily. It must be covered with a more durable layer such as mentioned above.
These thin gloves provide just enough protection against bitter cold during very short exposures. They also protect against minor scrapes and abrasions. I carry a pair rolled-up in my Training Vest (usually for helping with setting-up target stands, steel plates, etc.) They will impair fine touch sensation. Trigger discipline is an absolute must! The slightest trigger contact will release the sear.
As the Game Warden pointed-out in his comment, the investigated ND Injuries were caused by the simultaneous violation of at least two of the Universal Safety Rules. Gloves were (only) a secondary contributor.
Stay Safe? We are only “Safe” when WE make it so!
Best!
Doc
/30
Semper Vigilans, Paratus, Fidelis.
On Sep 12, 2024, at 11:58 AM, Doc Gunn via groups.io wrote:
Commentt from a Conservation Policeman.(Game Warden.)
Absolute adherence to safe weapon handling is a must. I’ve worked a few hunting accidents where the primary error was admittedly pointing the muzzle at the wrong thing but secondary was lack of trigger finger discipline while wearing thick winter gloves. A .308 Win through the forearm or .54 conical through the cuneiform/metatarsal area is enough to ruin anybody’s day.
Semper Vigilans, Paratus, Fidelis.
On Sep 12, 2024, at 8:36 AM, Mike Postava via groups.io wrote:
All the years I worked no matter how cold or wait I never wore gloves on my hands. Even now while hunting my dominant hand is glove free. Small game hunting with a shotgun once in a while a may wear a glove since there is a little more room for error shooting pheasant with the scatter gun
On Sep 11, 2024, at 4:36 PM, Doc Gunn wrote
JSFarnam wrote:
11 Sept 24
Have no fear of perfection.
You’ll never reach it!
Salvador Dali
Gloves negatively affect our dexterity with guns.
No doubt!
However, in “modern times,” gloves are mandatory in many circumstances.
In the 1970s, latex gloves were rarely included in an LEO’s training curriculum.
It was accepted that we would get blood on our hands while treating GSWs and other traumatic injuries in the field. Washing one’s hands afterward was considered sufficient.
Now, due to a bewildering host of today’s blood-borne pathogens, donning nitrile gloves (never-mind latex) is SOP prior to any kind of unknown contact(s).
Thus, the immediate necessity of effectively operating pistols while wearing gloves, is not only possible, but likely!
Thin nitrile gloves can prevent pistol magazines from being seated properly. They can also thwart reliable depression of the slide-release lever.
Try depressing the slide-release lever on a Glock while wearing gloves, versus simply pulling the slide back and then releasing it with your support-side hand. Which is more reliable under high stress, or when wearing gloves?
In cold weather, winter gloves can change how well we grip the handgun.
The perfect pistol for carry in July may be unusable in January when we are forced to wear gloves due to the cold. Short grips like those on a G26, G42 or G43, while fine in bare hands, often don’t do well in gloved hands. Conversely, “normal-sized” grips (G48) work either way!
Thin, non-insulated “driving gloves,” made from deerskin, can be a good choice for cold weather. I know through long experience that leather is heat resistant. Some synthetics will melt to your skin when sufficient heat reaches them.
Musashi spoke about “indoor technique” versus “outdoor technique” with regard to sword training.
I recall his dire warning with regard to skills, tactics, and techniques that were oh-so glamorous within the comfort of the dojo, but failed on the battlefield.
Techniques and equipment that may be fine while you’re comfortably standing upright at an indoor range or even at an outdoor range during warm/mild weather with no wind, may fail when called-upon as you find yourself in a cold, muddy ditch, at night, in the rain, with bullets whizzing by your ears!
I have never seen an indoor range floor (nor a dojo floor) that was slick with mud, blood, and ice, covered with snow, large rocks, downed power lines, and glass fragments, with sharp curbs, fallen tree-branches, and cracked/uneven pavement!
Thus, having “summer tactics” and “winter tactics” isn’t wise. What is wise is to embrace sound tactics, equipment, and techniques that can be depended-upon to work, regardless of exterior conditions.
“Universal techniques” are thus always superior (in my opinion) to “situation-specific,” or “gun-specific” techniques, which make far too great a demand upon fortune!
/John
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Doc Comment:
This is a great post/topic!
A non-insulated, thin, tight, contour-conforming glove can provide just enough protection against short exposures to the biting cold but still allow the dexterity* needed to successfully manipulate our firearms. Initially I used “Hatch Operator” gloves but now go with more readily-available “Mechanixs.” Make certain they fit very snugly…too small is better than “just right!”
If further protection against pathogens suspended in liquids is required, put on a pair of tight latex (nitrile) gloves and cover them with a thin glove as mentioned above.
*You’ll lose tactile sensory feedback but dexterity remains!
Always a Student….
Doc
/30
Doc Gunn
This post is oriented entirely toward LEO’s, but the information is applicable to us Fudd’s, too. Hunting season where I used to live (MN) can be durned cold (-20°F) with nasty winds. Not wearing something on your hands simply isn’t possible in a deer stand under those conditions. My solution were “glo-mitts”, which were fingerless gloves that had a mitten that could fold over the fingers. To free your fingers for a shot you simply folded the mitt portion back over the top of your hand where there were Velcro patches to hold it out of the way…less than a second to do it. You just had to be sure your fingers weren’t sweaty or you could freeze the tip of your finger to the trigger when you touched it.
For emergencies in our vehicles we always keep a couple of pairs of food-preparation type gloves just in case. They’re liquid-proof but not very puncture resistant, but it would be better than nothing to try to block any blood-borne pathogens. They take up almost zero space in the first-aid kit.
Excellent information. We get cold even in FL periodically. It sounds like a little dryfire practice in gloves might be a very useful thing to do.