Seven Deadly Sins of Handgun Shooting: Crossed-thumb Grip

[dorminWS]

http://www.outdoorhub.com/how-to/the-se ... m_content=

[ShotgunBlast]

Wow, that just doesn't look comfortable.

[OakRidgeStars]

That grip will put an end to your hitch hiking days

[Swampman]

It just makes sense to keep body parts out of the way of rapidly moving pistol parts. Doesn't it?

[Chasbo00]

Slide bite:



A much better two-handed, semi-auto grip (support hand is properly positioned):

[Snakester]

Usually after that happens , you remember to keep your Thumb out of the way !

[MarcSpaz]

A much better two-handed, semi-auto grip (support hand is properly positioned):

I hope that's a joke. Granted, I am looking at a 2D image, but it looks like both thumbs are about to get some slide abrations from the side and bottom of the slide...

[Chasbo00]

A much better two-handed, semi-auto grip (support hand is properly positioned):

I hope that's a joke. Granted, I am looking at a 2D image, but it looks like both thumbs are about to get some slide abrations from the side and bottom of the slide...

If you had top view you would see that the right thumb is not touching the handgun at all. The left thumb is only touching the frame. The left hand is where you want it, as high on gun as possible with the wrist rotated down so that if the fingers were extended they would form about a 45 degree angle with the barrel. This positioning of the support hand (the left hand in this case) is key to managing recoil and shooting fast well. If you are not interested in managing recoil well and shooting fast, then how you position your support hand is not that important so long as you keep it out of the way of the reciprocating slide.

Here is a video that goes into this grip in some depth:

[MarcSpaz]

That's pretty cool. I'll have to give it a try the next few times I am at the range. I think I am a decent shot with a pistol... but there is always room for improvement.

What's ironic is, with all of the training I have had, proper hand position was never covered specifically; only how to react and manage mag or weapon transitions.

We focused on how to draw, pre-staging mags in specific positions, holding the pistol pointing up and in front of your face to keep targets in sight, using your index finger to find the receiver… bla, bla, bla. Just never touched on where the support hand should be after the transition or on draw. We even covered using the tip of the finger for triger pulls for less effort and better control. I guess if it was close enough or you did well, the folks I worked with just didn’t address it.

[Chasbo00]

That's pretty cool. I'll have to give it a try the next few times I am at the range. I think I am a decent shot with a pistol... but there is always room for improvement.

If you take a look at any videos of good action pistol competition shooters, you will see that they ALL are using this grip. They are using it because it's the best grip to manage pistol recoil and shoot fast and accurately as verified by results. But, you don't have to be a competition shooter to benefit. Anyone can use this grip. And if you are using a handgun for defensive purposes, then I think that being able to shoot both fast and accurately is important. The fast part is sometimes overlooked even though most realize that a handgun is a pretty under-powered weapon that can't normally be counted to stop a threat quickly with just one or two shots. Odds are it's going to take several shots to quickly stop a threat with a handgun. The faster you can deliver those shots accurately, the better off you are. There are no timers in gunfights, but chances are the other person trying to kill you is in a hurry to do so.

[Chasbo00]

What's ironic is, with all of the training I have had, proper hand position was never covered specifically; only how to react and manage mag or weapon transitions.

We focused on how to draw, pre-staging mags in specific positions, holding the pistol pointing up and in front of your face to keep targets in sight, using your index finger to find the receiver… bla, bla, bla. Just never touched on where the support hand should be after the transition or on draw. We even covered using the tip of the finger for triger pulls for less effort and better control. I guess if it was close enough or you did well, the folks I worked with just didn’t address it.

More than a few folks have said this or something very similar to me. I'm considering putting a course together that targets intermediate level handgun shooters who want to improve their ability to shoot both fast and accurately. I just don't know if there is enough interest out there though. Also, finding a suitable range is a challenge too, especially here in NOVA.

Without such a course, a way to improve is to jump into IDPA. But, lots of folks don't want to do that and just shooting IDPA matches is a lengthy and time consuming improvement process. Lots of good free instruction though if you seek it out at the matches from the experienced shooters.

[MarcSpaz]

That sounds interesting. I would be interested for sure. If you do try to organize, please let me know.

Like you said, turnout could be an issue at first. I can't tell you how many car races I have organized where 80-90 people swore to God that, short of their own demise, they would be there. I would rent the track and get everything together and only 25 drivers would show. And none of those 25 would be the folks who swore they would be there. LOL

[MarcSpaz]

Hey Charlie,
I just tried a dry fire exercise to see how it feels. It is not a very natural position or action for me. I know I will have to work on it a bit to undo decades of bad habits. I will tell you this though... I tried it a few trigger pulls with the proper method and a few with the way I have been using it. The difference was night and day. With my hands positioned as instructed in the video, my pistol is extremely stable on a 10 lbs DA dry fire on my P226. I was wobbling all over with my usual method.

I'm excited to get to the range and try this out. I know this is going to improve my skill set.

I learned something new today... so I'm going back to bed. Mission accomplished. LOL

Seriously. Thanks for posting that up.

[Reverenddel]

All these "new grips" make no sense to me.

Hold the gun in one hand, cup the bottom for support. Less chance of TWO Hands messing it up.

And that "put your left hand to the end of the forend of the rifle" position? Dear gawd that's just gawky, and uncomfortable.

if you're a "tight lil' ball" with your rifle sticking out? You know that presents LESS CRAP FOR SOMEONE TO SHOOT!

People develop these things in competition, but if use them ONE TIME playing paintball.

You learn alotta that crap goes right out the window. You also learn how frickin' easy it is to be SHOT!

[Chasbo00]

All these "new grips" make no sense to me.

Hold the gun in one hand, cup the bottom for support. Less chance of TWO Hands messing it up.

And that "put your left hand to the end of the forend of the rifle" position? Dear gawd that's just gawky, and uncomfortable.

if you're a "tight lil' ball" with your rifle sticking out? You know that presents LESS CRAP FOR SOMEONE TO SHOOT!

People develop these things in competition, but if use them ONE TIME playing paintball.

You learn alotta that crap goes right out the window. You also learn how frickin' easy it is to be SHOT!

This grip got its start in the early eighties nearly 30 years ago. It took a while, but now just about everyone teaches it, including the tactical trainers.
It's simply the best grip to use to shoot fast and accurately. Not long after the end of WW II when some competition shooters began using two hands to shoot a pistol, they got teased about it. They would be told it's a handgun, not a hands gun. As they began to leave their competition in the dust with their 'hands' gun technique, the others began to adopt it. It's the same with this grip. Competition results have shown to be superior for shooting both fast and accurately.

[Reverenddel]

(shrugs) Different strokes.

There isn't a true "one-size-fits-all" shooting stance. People need to follow the thought process of Bruce Lee who invented his own style of fighting. He stripped the unnecessary, and created his own.

[SHMIV]

@Rev: good point.

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[SpazSoldier]

Bye bye, thumb. It was nice knowing you!