How do you hold your gun?

[ExactlyMyPoint]

When you grip your pistol, how do you place your thumbs?



Thumbs crossed over


Thumbs lined up

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[retsupt99]

Thumbs alligned...

[SpencerB]

thumbs lined up

[Bill MO]

If I'm shooting 2 handed it is thumbs lined up

[ExactlyMyPoint]

Here are the write ups for the grips:

Thumbs crossed:

The first and best type of handgun grip for a new gun owner and shooter is to grip the gun with the strong hand thumb wrapped around and touching the middle finger on the grip. The support hand is wrapped around the strong hand with the thumb lapped over the strong hand thumb. When firing the gun the strong arm should be stiff, with the support hand pulling back slightly against the shooting hand. This push-pull action steadies the hands and wrists and gives a strong aiming platform for firing the handgun. This is an extremely strong style of grip and for non-competitive shooters it is a grip that will serve you well for life.

Thumbs aligned

The next type of handgun grip is typical of serious competitive shooters and starts with the support hand thumb resting parallel with and just under the pistol slide (first picture at top of page). The support hand is wrapped around the strong hand with the thumb lined up in front of the shooting hand thumb and pointing forward. This affords maximum control of the gun when moving from one target to another and enhances accuracy. The forward point of both thumbs seems to assist in quickly lining up the sights on multiple targets. This handgun grip is harder to master than the first, but if you intend to compete or do any type of serious tactical shooting, it is worth the time it takes to work it out. Also, among top shooters this grip varies considerably, with the real consistency being the wrap of the strong hand and pointing of the thumbs forward. If you decide to master this grip, you will want work to make sure the placement of your hand and thumbs provides maximum enhancement for quick target acquisition.

[Blue Thunder]

Thumbs in line with each other, bottom picture.

[Guantes]

Neither. Thumbs curled, but not crossed. As I shoot thumb curled shooting one handed, similar to Ayoob's suggested method, one thing this does is that my strong hand grip never changes whether shooting one handed or two handed, auto or revolver. I don't like the pressure put on the strong thumb with thumbs crossed.

How to shoot a handgun accurately by Massad Ayoob Issue #85

[Hiram25]

Neither. Thumbs curled, but not crossed. As I shoot thumb curled shooting one handed, similar to Ayoob's suggested method, one thing this does is that my strong hand grip never changes whether shooting one handed or two handed, auto or revolver. I don't like the pressure put on the strong thumb with thumbs crossed.

How to shoot a handgun accurately by Massad Ayoob Issue #85

This one! Guantes was your original duty gun a revolver?

[Guantes]

Indeed.

[AlwaysSweet]

Thumbs aligned, but higher than what is pictured.

[paching]

Thumbs crossed, just feels like a better grip to me.. but I think that it all depends upon hand and finger size

[Tzadik]

I've recently changed a lot of things about the way I shoot and have been trying to switch to a "thumbs aligned" grip.
I've noticed that since doing so, several times when I finish a magazine, the slide does not lock back.
Evidently my thumb has enough pressure on the slide release for it to not lock back.
Is this a common problem?

[Skeeter64]

I have been doing some research and decided to try the thumbs lined method at the range last night. It seemed to work pretty well for me.

[Harryball]

Thumbs forward....auto loader

Thumbs crossed with my revolvers.....

[afojc]

Most times one handed but thumbs crossed when using two