How do you grip your pistol?
Hi all,I have a question for all you expert pistoleros.When you take a firing grip on a handgun, how do you place your thumbs?What I mean to say is ,do you lay your weak hand thumb over the top of your strong hand thumb forming a X?Or do you lay your strong hand thumb on top of your weak hand thumb so they both more or less run parallel?
I know this may be a stupid question ,and the reason I ask is that I always formed a X with my thumbs. Lately though I have been trying to retrain myself to lay them parellel because I thought it looked to be better form.What are your thoughts?And thanks for giving me your attention.:wave:
I decided to add a poll,Thanks for voteing!
I know this may be a stupid question ,and the reason I ask is that I always formed a X with my thumbs. Lately though I have been trying to retrain myself to lay them parellel because I thought it looked to be better form.What are your thoughts?And thanks for giving me your attention.:wave:
I decided to add a poll,Thanks for voteing!
1 - 20 of 48 Posts
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380 Posts
I still use the old revolver grip, on both semi's and wheel guns thumbs locked down
For a long time I was crossed thumbs on everything, but on the XDs I've gotten to the point I can comfortably let my thumbs lay parallel. Since that's what I shoot most of the time any more in a handgun, the grip has managed to start appearing on pretty much everything. I find I have to cross thumbs on revolvers firing anything with significant recoil however (like the .44 Mag). So in short I don't really cross thumbs very often any more.
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25,596 Posts
Yep - ''old school'' here!!
I teethed on revos way back and used crossed thumbs and still do - which includes my semi's. I do notice tho that automatically my right thumb points a bit down and the end joint is slightly bent - that then means the left thumb sits very well over it and gives good lock-up.
This method keeps both thumbs well below the slide line. I'll try and take a pic with self timer later.
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Ok - quick pic's - focus not ideal but shows what I was describing - first is SIG then SP - not much difference it seems. Can do fine with parallel thumbs but this old habit is well entrenched!
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I teethed on revos way back and used crossed thumbs and still do - which includes my semi's. I do notice tho that automatically my right thumb points a bit down and the end joint is slightly bent - that then means the left thumb sits very well over it and gives good lock-up.
This method keeps both thumbs well below the slide line. I'll try and take a pic with self timer later.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ok - quick pic's - focus not ideal but shows what I was describing - first is SIG then SP - not much difference it seems. Can do fine with parallel thumbs but this old habit is well entrenched!
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5,133 Posts
thumbs are paralell , bottom thumb is close to on top of a 1911 safety oO( hey its muscle memory lol )
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357 Posts
P95Carry,Thanks for taking the time to post those pics!Your thumbs are positioned exactly the way I am used to holding mine also.I also shoot large bore revolvers, and I have not tried shooting my 4" 629 since I changed my grip.Maybe I am createing unanticipated problems by changing my grip.
srfl,what exactly is the ISPC hold that was drummed into you at the FLETC?Is it parallel thumbs or crossed?
srfl,what exactly is the ISPC hold that was drummed into you at the FLETC?Is it parallel thumbs or crossed?
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19,578 Posts
Its a fact that in many gunfights GUNS taks alot of hits along with hands.
Crossing your thumbs will insure that you get BOTH of your thumbs shot off in the event of a lucky shot...:gah:
Parrallell thumbs mean only ONE thumb hits the ground.
Think about it...:blink:
Crossing your thumbs will insure that you get BOTH of your thumbs shot off in the event of a lucky shot...:gah:
Parrallell thumbs mean only ONE thumb hits the ground.
Think about it...:blink:
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522 Posts
parallel for me as well.
guess its from shooting so many autos i just got out of x-ing them to keep'em away from the slide.
only takes one wack from a slide and ya forever know where that thumb is when shooting.and eliminating the "x" format solved that issue for me.
guess its from shooting so many autos i just got out of x-ing them to keep'em away from the slide.
only takes one wack from a slide and ya forever know where that thumb is when shooting.and eliminating the "x" format solved that issue for me.
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521 Posts
The guy I learned to shoot from was old school, crossed thumbs. I have tried parallel, and I don't see any change in my shooting.
Also if you are using one hand your thumb will be down, and I see no reason to move the thumb position when you go to a two hand grip.
Also if you are using one hand your thumb will be down, and I see no reason to move the thumb position when you go to a two hand grip.
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