A question for 1911 shooters

[Mexican Kerry]

My thumb rests on the safety, weak thumb positioned under it extending toward the trigger guard about midway between the mag release and the slide stop. When I am shooting two-handed this way I can operate the safety without changing my grip (strong hand to dis-engage, weak to engage), although its just as easy to slightly alter my strong thumb position to re-engage it too. Not sure if that means anything, I've never had any formal instruction in shooting. Its just the method I found works for me.

I have stupid-long fingers, as much as I love the 1911, I honestly think my hands are too big for them. I've spent a lot of time trying to figure out the grip and finger/thumb position that works best for me.

 

[ContinentalOp]

I didn't vote since I'm not currently a 1911 shooter, but I have put a few thousand rounds through them several years ago.

Right hand thumb pointed slightly down, under the safety, crush gripping the gun. Left hand thumb over right thumb, locking it down. Creates a very stable grip that fights recoil, and on 1911s, keeps that right thumb away from the slide release-- don't want to cause premature slide lock! This grip is not popular with the "in" crowd, but it works.

This was how I gripped my 1911s at the time, in combination with a Weaver stance. My 1911s had the standard Colt factory thumb safety, so even if I wanted to put my thumb on top of the lever there wasn't enough surface area for it. It worked quite well for me.

However, earlier this millenium I switched to the thumbs-forward (well, strong thumb is laid across the base of the support hand thumb, to be more accurate)/Isoceles method when shooting semi-autos. I've found that my front sight seems to track more consistently when shooting.

I'm not sure how that would affect my thumb placement if I were to shoot a 1911 now. Maybe someone should send me a 1911 so we can find out.

 

[ContinentalOp]

I use the front 1/2 of the pad of the trigger finger but might just try modifying it to the tip to see how it goes. Theoretically I can see that it should result in more straight back trigger pull and no pushing off to the left.

FWIW, I learned a little trick a few years ago that has helped me with trigger finger placement. Basically, put your finger on the trigger such that the proximal phalanx (the part of the trigger finger that connects to your knuckle) is pointing at the target, and the next joint after the knuckle is the "hinge". This method has helped me be more consistent with regards to pulling the trigger straight back, whether I'm using the pad or the distal joint of my finger on the trigger, or shooting DA or SA. YMMV.

 

[BigBill]

My thumb is under the safety ready to hit the slide catch down when the empty mag is replaced.