I am putting this here because I have seen a lot of threads here about FTF. I was always taught to grip a semi or a rev with my left thumb over-lapping my right thumb. Since I grew up on mostly rev and shot a few semi's I was told this is the way to grip to keep your thumb from possibility grazing the slide and impleading the function. So this is how I have always shot. But I see so many videos with the right thumb up. I was wondering how many tuck the thumb and how many do not. I have seen a lot of threads about jams and FTF and most of the comments are.....your thumb is hitting the slide. If that's the case, why not tuck it?
How Do You Grip
- Thread starter CTCarry
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For semis the modern thumbs forward grip is the most effective at managing recoil. You want your hands as high on the gun as possible (or the gun as low in your hand as possible, same thing). For revolvers obviously it would be unwise to have your left thumb so far forward.
Many people that use the thumbs forward grip aren't really doing it correctly or as effectively as possible. Impeding the slide with your thumb would be a grip error. While that is less likely to happen with the thumb-over-thumb technique, that technique is old and less efficient than the thumbs forward grip so you will be limiting how well you can shoot. Depending on how and what you shoot that may be a non-issue, but for anyone looking to significantly improve their skills they would be well served using the thumbs forward grip, and actually learning how to do it correctly.
Many people that use the thumbs forward grip aren't really doing it correctly or as effectively as possible. Impeding the slide with your thumb would be a grip error. While that is less likely to happen with the thumb-over-thumb technique, that technique is old and less efficient than the thumbs forward grip so you will be limiting how well you can shoot. Depending on how and what you shoot that may be a non-issue, but for anyone looking to significantly improve their skills they would be well served using the thumbs forward grip, and actually learning how to do it correctly.
lhump1961
US Veteran
Tucked...but that's just an old revolver guy talking.
Unless you really want to maximize your control of muzzle flip, even a one-handed grip will work fine as long as your grip is firm and your wrist is locked.
The more you demand from your shooting, the more critical things like grip and technique will come into play.
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The more you demand from your shooting, the more critical things like grip and technique will come into play.
Sent via phone
medic15al
Member
Tucked and locked in by opposite thumb. My hands are small so a thumbs forward is weaker in my hand and allows more twisting under recoil. I have had instructors try to position my hands but they all agreed that it would torque around too much and the tucked and locked was best for my hand.
I've been doing tucked for some decades. I shoot a lot of revolver as well. So, I didn't change my ways. One thing less to think about when switching firearms. Besides, there is nothing wrong with tucked. If it's comfortable for you, stick with it.
I made immediate and large strides in the firing of my Shield once I changed my grip to thumbs forward. (Thanks to all of you on this forum for pointing it out to me.) In my experience, riding the slide hasn't been an issue with this grip -- I don't think I've ever done that. I'll leave this to the experts (I'm far from one), but I would guess that the smaller the pistol, the more substantial the advantages of the thumbs forward grip. The way I naturally grip, the right thumb always ends up staggered away from the slide as it rests on the left thumb (right handed).
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BigDog48
US Veteran
Although this is from another sight, it is the thumbs forward grip for pistols that NRA teaches in there introductory Handgun course. They recommend wrapping the thumbs for revolvers.
//http://www.lawenforcementtactics.com/training/instructional-articles/proper-handgun-grip
//http://www.lawenforcementtactics.com/training/instructional-articles/proper-handgun-grip
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Thumb over thumb when firing two handed, but I actually train as much(if not more) firing one handed as I feel it's necessary preparation for likely defense scenarios. In either case, I always use a relatively high degree of grasp pressure and thumbs are tucked for maximum grip strength capability-as if making a fist.
The reasoning behind my grip choices is that since civilian defense encounters so often occur at very close-quarters, I want a strong secure grip for retention and stability purposes rather than one geared toward sport and target shooting. Dexterity and finesse tend to go out the window during a life and death conflict when the fight or flight response kicks in, so I want my chosen technique to be compatible with, if not simulate, natural physiological responses in those conditions as closely as possible. My priority being on prepared to effectively fight(defend) with a gun in probable self-defense situations rather than on pure shooting or precision marksmanship. Also, commonality is a consideration as I train, use and carry both revolvers and autoloaders and want a grip that is equally suitable to both and to which I can essentially reflexively default to. I find the thumbs forward grips less applicable and effective in this context. Just my perspective, YMMV
The reasoning behind my grip choices is that since civilian defense encounters so often occur at very close-quarters, I want a strong secure grip for retention and stability purposes rather than one geared toward sport and target shooting. Dexterity and finesse tend to go out the window during a life and death conflict when the fight or flight response kicks in, so I want my chosen technique to be compatible with, if not simulate, natural physiological responses in those conditions as closely as possible. My priority being on prepared to effectively fight(defend) with a gun in probable self-defense situations rather than on pure shooting or precision marksmanship. Also, commonality is a consideration as I train, use and carry both revolvers and autoloaders and want a grip that is equally suitable to both and to which I can essentially reflexively default to. I find the thumbs forward grips less applicable and effective in this context. Just my perspective, YMMV
