Handgun Grip

XD45Sooner · February 2, 2008, 01:10 PM

How tight should you grip the gun while firing? I have heard that you should hold it fairly loose, like how you would hold a bird, firm enough to control but not so strong as to crush it. I find that if I have a very firm grip on the gun that I shoot alot better. What do you think?

SOCOMII · February 2, 2008, 01:18 PM

Tight grip. i think the bird-in-the-hand grip is ol' skool these days. especially since with the bird grip it's more easly to get the gun taken from you.

Peter M. Eick · February 2, 2008, 01:22 PM

In my opinion (famous last words like "here hold my beer and watch this"), it does not matter THAT much how tightly you hold it for best accuracy, it matters how consistent you are at doing it every darn time. Do things the same way, every time and you will start shooting better.

Tip #2 is don't fake yourself out and think you are better then you really are. Put 50 shots in one target and you will really start testing your consistency. I see a lot of folks show a one mag group and I have to laugh. Its easy to shoot 5 or 10 shots in a row consistently, but try and put 50 one the same paper with out screwing up and then you will see your real accuracy come out. Remember consistency!

Here is 50 shots at 15 yards offhand:

Not the best, but a reasonable target for just blasting away!

357WheelGun · February 2, 2008, 01:23 PM

In my own experience, the gun should be held firmly enough that it will not "jump" in your hands when fired, but not with a "kung-fu death grip" to borrow from old GI-Joe ads. When you grip too tightly, your hand will shake a little and that plays hell with accuracy. I would say that I grip my gun roughly as firmly as a good handshake. Solid, but not crushing.

XD45Sooner · February 2, 2008, 02:44 PM

Peter you are just showing off now LOL. That is damn fine shooting, I hope I can get that good someday.

Anyways, I will keep my firm grip, I always seem to shoot much more accurate that way. Thanks for the help guys

Richard · February 2, 2008, 03:00 PM

How firmly you hold a weapon isn't everything. I shoot from a Modified Weaver Stance; hold the handgun firmly, both arms are slightly bent, push out with firing hand, and pull back with supporting hand. Regards, Richard

Magyar · February 2, 2008, 04:37 PM

Let me be the 1st to name-drop...Massad Ayoob teaches a "white-knuckler" grip....Personally, I prefer just a shade below that....

DMK · February 2, 2008, 05:02 PM

I've heard it said that one should try gripping the gun tightly enough that you just start to shake, then back off a little. That's where you want to be.

I certainly shoot better with a tight grip. Try it yourself.

choochboost · February 4, 2008, 02:48 AM

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...ett%22&pl=true
http://www.brianenos.com/forums/inde...showtopic=5008
http://www.shootingusa.com/PRO_TIPS/.../jarrett2.html
http://www.handgunsmag.com/tactics_t...ombatg_100306/
http://www.oregonshooting.com/vids/spgrip1.wmv
http://www.oregonshooting.com/vids/grip2.wmv

chris in va · February 4, 2008, 12:49 PM

Not fair Peter, gotta rub it in. Been wanting a P7 for a while now. This is one reason why.

Lunker · February 4, 2008, 01:51 PM

The P7M8 is the only gun of mine I can shoot that well. It's almost like cheating. I'm working on my West German Sig P220. That is a not too distant second. I like pistols that make me look better than I am.

Erik · February 4, 2008, 02:15 PM

"I've heard it said that one should try gripping the gun tightly enough that you just start to shake, then back off a little. That's where you want to be."

This is a good place for most folks to start. Tweak as necessary.

curmudgeon1 · February 4, 2008, 09:40 PM

"Gripping it like a bird" is for putters when you're close to the hole on the green.
A tight grip is for shooting accurately with handguns.

falnovice · February 4, 2008, 10:42 PM

+1 DMK
That is how I was taught to grip. Back off until the trembling stops and you are good to go!
I have wondered if the white knuckle grip one might assume while under stress is what contributes the most to poor accuracy under fire.

TargetTerror · February 5, 2008, 12:16 AM

I would opine that it is FAR more important that your grip is CONSISTENT than firm or loose. A consistent grip will put the bullet in the same place over and over again, while an inconsistent grip, even if firmer, will not. I've put shots one on top of each other with my 44 magnum superblackhawk holding the gun both as loose and as tight as you can imagine. POI changed depending on the firmness of my grip, but the consistency/accuracy depended solely on the consistency of my grip.

February 2, 2008, 01:10 PM	#1
XD45Sooner Senior Member Join Date: November 29, 2007 Posts: 248	Handgun Grip How tight should you grip the gun while firing? I have heard that you should hold it fairly loose, like how you would hold a bird, firm enough to control but not so strong as to crush it. I find that if I have a very firm grip on the gun that I shoot alot better. What do you think?

February 2, 2008, 01:22 PM	#3
Peter M. Eick Senior Member Join Date: August 3, 1999 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 2,991	In my opinion (famous last words like "here hold my beer and watch this"), it does not matter THAT much how tightly you hold it for best accuracy, it matters how consistent you are at doing it every darn time. Do things the same way, every time and you will start shooting better. Tip #2 is don't fake yourself out and think you are better then you really are. Put 50 shots in one target and you will really start testing your consistency. I see a lot of folks show a one mag group and I have to laugh. Its easy to shoot 5 or 10 shots in a row consistently, but try and put 50 one the same paper with out screwing up and then you will see your real accuracy come out. Remember consistency! Here is 50 shots at 15 yards offhand: Not the best, but a reasonable target for just blasting away! __________________ 10mm and 357sig, the best things to come along since the 38 super!

February 2, 2008, 01:23 PM	#4
357WheelGun Member Join Date: January 27, 2008 Location: The People's Republic of Seattle Posts: 57	In my own experience, the gun should be held firmly enough that it will not "jump" in your hands when fired, but not with a "kung-fu death grip" to borrow from old GI-Joe ads. When you grip too tightly, your hand will shake a little and that plays hell with accuracy. I would say that I grip my gun roughly as firmly as a good handshake. Solid, but not crushing. __________________ Amateurs talk strategy, dilettantes talk tactics, professionals talk logistics. When the zombies come, I'll be ready.

February 2, 2008, 04:37 PM	#7
Magyar Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,581	Let me be the 1st to name-drop...Massad Ayoob teaches a "white-knuckler" grip....Personally, I prefer just a shade below that.... __________________ *"Gun companies and gun magazines have long had relationships beyond cozy" C.J. Chivers, author "THE GUN"*

February 2, 2008, 05:02 PM	#8
DMK Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2001 Location: Over the hills and far, far away Posts: 3,206	I've heard it said that one should try gripping the gun tightly enough that you just start to shake, then back off a little. That's where you want to be. I certainly shoot better with a tight grip. Try it yourself. __________________ - Homeland Security begins at home: Support your Second Amendment - www.gunowners.org - www.saf.org - act.nraila.org - www.grnc.org

February 2, 2008, 01:18 PM	#2
SOCOMII Member Join Date: July 14, 2007 Posts: 39	Tight grip. i think the bird-in-the-hand grip is ol' skool these days. especially since with the bird grip it's more easly to get the gun taken from you.

February 2, 2008, 02:44 PM	#5
XD45Sooner Senior Member Join Date: November 29, 2007 Posts: 248	Peter you are just showing off now LOL. That is damn fine shooting, I hope I can get that good someday. Anyways, I will keep my firm grip, I always seem to shoot much more accurate that way. Thanks for the help guys

February 2, 2008, 03:00 PM	#6
Richard Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 1998 Location: Southeastern Michigan Posts: 1,305	How firmly you hold a weapon isn't everything. I shoot from a Modified Weaver Stance; hold the handgun firmly, both arms are slightly bent, push out with firing hand, and pull back with supporting hand. Regards, Richard

February 4, 2008, 02:48 AM	#9
choochboost Senior Member Join Date: October 15, 2005 Location: orange county, ca Posts: 610	http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...ett%22&pl=true http://www.brianenos.com/forums/inde...showtopic=5008 http://www.shootingusa.com/PRO_TIPS/.../jarrett2.html http://www.handgunsmag.com/tactics_t...ombatg_100306/ http://www.oregonshooting.com/vids/spgrip1.wmv http://www.oregonshooting.com/vids/grip2.wmv

February 4, 2008, 12:49 PM	#10
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	Not fair Peter, gotta rub it in. Been wanting a P7 for a while now. This is one reason why.

February 4, 2008, 01:51 PM	#11
Lunker Senior Member Join Date: April 30, 2007 Location: Jersey Shore Posts: 240	The P7M8 is the only gun of mine I can shoot that well. It's almost like cheating. I'm working on my West German Sig P220. That is a not too distant second. I like pistols that make me look better than I am.

February 4, 2008, 02:15 PM	#12
Erik Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 1999 Location: America Posts: 3,479	"I've heard it said that one should try gripping the gun tightly enough that you just start to shake, then back off a little. That's where you want to be." This is a good place for most folks to start. Tweak as necessary. __________________ Meriam Webster's: Main Entry: ci·vil·ian Pronunciation: \sə-ˈvil-yən also -ˈvi-yən\, Function: noun, Date: 14th century, 1: a specialist in Roman or modern civil law, 2 a: one not on active duty in the armed services or not on a police or firefighting force b: outsider 1, — civilian adjective

February 4, 2008, 09:40 PM	#13
curmudgeon1 Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 2007 Location: n.e. ohio Posts: 544	"Gripping it like a bird" is for putters when you're close to the hole on the green. A tight grip is for shooting accurately with handguns.

February 4, 2008, 10:42 PM	#14
falnovice Member Join Date: December 22, 2007 Posts: 49	+1 DMK That is how I was taught to grip. Back off until the trembling stops and you are good to go! I have wondered if the white knuckle grip one might assume while under stress is what contributes the most to poor accuracy under fire.

February 5, 2008, 12:16 AM	#15
TargetTerror Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 2006 Posts: 424	I would opine that it is FAR more important that your grip is CONSISTENT than firm or loose. A consistent grip will put the bullet in the same place over and over again, while an inconsistent grip, even if firmer, will not. I've put shots one on top of each other with my 44 magnum superblackhawk holding the gun both as loose and as tight as you can imagine. POI changed depending on the firmness of my grip, but the consistency/accuracy depended solely on the consistency of my grip. __________________ Head shots are hard, but nut shots are twice as hard.