Gripping a pistol

[Jessie]

I have been seeing and hearing about a "proper" grip on a pistol lately that stumps me. The general opinion is to lock your strong thumb down with the support thumb on a revolver but extend both thumbs on a semi auto so they are both pointing downrange.
What they hey? I lock my strong thumb down with my support thumb no matter what I'm shooting. It only makes sense and reduces recoil. Keeping your thumbs pointed straight forward does nothing IMO. When I watch someone do it that way they have to reaquire a solid grip after each shot.
Am I missing something here?

 

[Maze 686]

If they are reaquiring a grip after each shot then they are doing it wrong.

Thumbs forward restricts the pistol from moving during the trigger press. This grip allows 360 degrees of pressure allowing quick follow up shots by controlling recoil.

I use it with both, semis and revolvers.

 

[Rule3]

MICULEK2

 

[snubbyfan]

Nope, I'm the same way. I've been shooting revolvers since my hands were big enough to hold a handgun. I've tried the thumbs forward with a semi, wasn't comfortable but I could shoot a semi better that way.
I've seen shooters having to reaquire their grips shooting different types of guns. They're just not gripping it right.

 

[Jessie]

I use the same grip on whatever pistol I'm using. Don't have to think about whether I'm shooting a revolver or semi- auto. It's worked for me. The only change might be because of size of the gun.

 

[Jessie]

If they are reaquiring a grip after each shot then they are doing it wrong.

Thumbs forward restricts the pistol from moving during the trigger press. This grip allows 360 degrees of pressure allowing quick follow up shots by controlling recoil.

I use it with both, semis and revolvers.

How, if they are not applying any pressure but just riding along the side of the gun?
I've found that using opposing force from each hand gives a very solid and recoil reducing grip.
With thumbs really doing nothing but pointing forward, I find that they don't help either.

 

[Maze 686]

How, if they are not applying any pressure but just riding along the side of the gun?

They should be applying pressure with the support hand. Pulling towards the body and pushing with the strong hand. Both palms push against the pistol.

 

[dcxplant]

I think support thumb over strong thumb technique for revolvers is to allow the shooter to cock the hammer with the off-hand so the shooting hand grip is not compromised from shot to shot.

 

[Comrad]

I'd like to meet the person with mitts big enough to get their finger square on the trigger of a double stack. To say nothing of placing your bugger hook on the trigger before you are ready to shoot.
It's like gripping a golf club or a baseball bat, there are some big hitters who have terrible grips and some with real pretty grips that can't hit the ground if they dropped it.

 

[Jessie]

I guess whatever works is the solution. I just think that 9 digits applying equal and opposite pressure is better than 7.

 

[Jessie]

I think support thumb over strong thumb technique for revolvers is to allow the shooter to cock the hammer with the off-hand so the shooting hand grip is not compromised from shot to shot.

That may be true but I press the strong hand thumb into the (usual) depression in the grips for that thumb and lock it there with the support thumb. Yes, it's there and handy for cocking the hammer, but it locks the grip on a semi auto also.

 

[SgtLumpy]

The bullet should be going through the bullseye. How I hold my gun, how you hold your gun and how the next guy holds their gun can vary all over the map. Everyone's hands, thumbs and ergonomics is different.

There are no matches where the score is determined by "where he puts his thumbs". Find where you feel your thumbs need to be. That may or may not be where I feel my thumbs need to be.


Sgt Lumpy

 

[Jessie]

The bullet should be going through the bullseye. How I hold my gun, how you hold your gun and how the next guy holds their gun can vary all over the map. Everyone's hands, thumbs and ergonomics is different.

There are no matches where the score is determined by "where he puts his thumbs". Find where you feel your thumbs need to be. That may or may not be where I feel my thumbs need to be.


Sgt Lumpy

Very true, that's why I'm asking. Just curious is all. The only reason I bring it up is that some " experts " state this is how it should be done.
That's the reason I agree with you.

 

[therevjay]

Very true, that's why I'm asking. Just curious is all. The only reason I bring it up is that some " experts " state this is how it should be done.
That's the reason I agree with you.

If it works for you, then you are doing it right. Don't worry about what the "experts" and "wannabe experts" say.

 

[derek45auto]

I shoot a pistol the way Brian Enos and Rob Leatham developed many years ago.

Same way that Matt Burkett and Todd Jarret trained me.

same as 99% of the top IPSC shooters

[/URL][/img]

Todd Jarrett IPSC Pistol Grip Lesson.flv - YouTube

This guy seems to know a thing or two about revolver shooting



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEHNZFTfSD8

 

[Cyrano]

Wow!! Look at the forearms on that guy. He could empty the cylinder of a S&W 500 magnum in two seconds and get them all in the 10 ring.

 

[wildenout]

I lock my thumb down, but only because I kinda "thumb" especially with revolvers. If I don't lock it down, I shoot a bit squierrly, if I lock down, I usually do no bigger than an orange in size from most distances. I have seen a lot of strange grips lately, dunno why? but went shooting with some friends who were kind of new to handguns, I saw wrist holds, and the like...woof.

 

[Moonman]

Sgt.Lumpy,

Not all semi-auto shooters shoot thumbs forward, but
all Championship shooter do, check the records.

 

[SgtLumpy]

Sgt.Lumpy,

Not all semi-auto shooters shoot thumbs forward, but
all Championship shooter do, check the records.

I'm quite certain there are no records that list "Where the shooter holds his thumbs".


Sgt Lumpy

 

[brucev]

Re: Grip. Use whatever grips allows you to best put rounds on target. For relatively light recoiling pistols as well as most revolvers, having both thumbs forward may be a good choice for fire and move type shooting. There are very many ranges where such movement simply is not permitted. There are ranges where rapid fire is prohibited.

As far as championship shooters being the standard for what grip to use, the question must be asked, what championship? In the various fire and move competitions, the targets are usually large, winning is a combination of hits and time. There is no reward for firing a small group. In competitions where winning depends on shooting the highest score, being able to repeatedly shoot and hit a small target (10/X ring) is the key to winning. Remarkably, at the very highest levels of competition (Camp Perry, Olympics), shooting is done entirely with one hand. The resulting scores are remarkable.

For shooting hard recoiling revolvers, it is very common to lock the left thumb (for a right handed shooter) over the back of the right hand. This reflects the simple fact that in shooting a hard recoiling revolver the force of recoil will separate the supporting left hand from the shooting right hand. This of course slows down follow-up shots as well as impairing consistent results on target.