Thumb over or forward

From the bench, I rest my right thumb on the tang (on top of the wrist of the stock) instead of wrapping it around and gripping the wrist. I think it helps me be more deliberate about what forces I'm applying to the stock with my right hand.

Maybe I'm just doing it to impress everyone watching. . .

I took a long range shooting class. The instructor moved my thumb from over the stock to the top. He explained that the thumb over the stock could result in unwanted pressure / leverage that could affect accuracy when I squeezed the trigger. Simulating firing the rifle I could see his point. Since that time I’ve positioned my thumb above the trigger. It’s become automatic now and I don’t even think about it.

I think the idea in bench marksmanship is that there will be no squeezing action of the hand to possibly toque the rifle.

With the thumb forward, trigger pull can be more straight backward and I have heard with significant training, the trigger pull can actually be engaged by the back muscles through the arm much like rowing a dumbbell with little to no pressure on any part of the grip area of the rifle. I suppose that is why benchrest rifles don’t have much of a grip area.

This makes sense as releasing the string in archery, whether mechanical or fingers, should be engaged predominantly by the back muscles. They even make mechanical releases to better take advantage of this principle. I’ll admit, in relation to these archery releases, that a part of it is psychological as target panic is very prominent in archery.

earlthegoat2 said:

I think the idea in bench marksmanship is that there will be no squeezing action of the hand to possibly toque the rifle.

With the thumb forward, trigger pull can be more straight backward and I have heard with significant training, the trigger pull can actually be engaged by the back muscles through the arm much like rowing a dumbbell with little to no pressure on any part of the grip area of the rifle. I suppose that is why benchrest rifles don’t have much of a grip area.

This makes sense as releasing the string in archery, whether mechanical or fingers, should be engaged predominantly by the back muscles. They even make mechanical releases to better take advantage of this principle. I’ll admit, in relation to these archery releases, that a part of it is psychological as target panic is very prominent in archery.

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This is correct. The only time my thumb goes over the wrist of the stock (or around the grip, as in an AR or similar rifle) is when the rifle is being fored from some offhand position, without any type of support and generally at shorter distances and/or in a rapid fire engagement.

If you're shooting a traditionally stocked rifle with moderate to heavy recoil, your upper lip might want to weigh in on your thumb placement. That can have a definite effect on accuracy.

PWC said:

I was reading an article in a woodworking magazine that said to easier control a skillsaw cutting a straight line to place your thumb alongside or on top of the hand grip rather than folding it over.

That got me thinking...I have always shot a rifle (non-pistol grip) with my thumb over the stock, rather than along the top or side. I have seen pictures of both ways, and indeed, Hollywood has played it up in "Sergeant York" in the scene at the qualification range.

My Army field manuals, show thumb over stock. Many pictures on you tube and several gun forums show the thumb on top or alongside; or both ways.

I'm curious, what do you do, and why do you hold it that way?

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Do whatever is comfortable and puts rounds on the bullseye, in BR we don’t want to influence the rifle or upset the rifle while in position to return to the X each time we cycle the bolt plus I use 1 oz trigger pull with free recoil and the pinch method of touching it off.

Over the top.

PWC said:

I'm curious, what do you do, and why do you hold it that way?

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I am not consistent, I do as little as I can and maintain control of the firearm.

If the firearms is OK on its own, I can shoot just as good a group with something else pulling the trigger and have zero opportunity to mess things up touching anything.



Most of the time that’s simply not an acceptable practice and I have to impart more control over the firearm, in order to maintain control. I then add contact points and elevate force to a level where I can maintain the control. This helps accuracy despite being contrary to my first method but we are talking about two different situations.



That’s just two, there are many others that fall between them and I adjust accordingly, generally based of my memory of what works.

Like spring powered air rifles, seem to prefer a “loose hold” that’s impractical for firearms with lots of recoil, so I must employ more than one method to get the most from more than one firearm.

Like Jim said, on a bench gun, you might not touch any part of it from the time the tip of your finger touches the oz trigger and the rifle slides back in the rest to contact your shoulder; however, that method obviously won’t work at all if you have to actually be holding the rifle.

Depends.

Bench shooting target rifles I've learned to place the thumb alongside the stock. Many newer chassis and other stocks have a shelf just for this. With my AR carbines and pistols and handguns I wrap the thumb around to get better control.

Since I`ve always subscribed to the " 95% Indian, 5% bow " philosophy, I try to influence the rifle as little as possible. On the bench, pull the butt of the stock into my shoulder securely, then gentle pressure with the bottom three fingers of my shooting hand. Thumb is down the side. How I hold the gun seems to be REAL important with my .17HMR at 100 yards. Much more challenging to shoot sub-MOA groups than with my .223.

It depends on what sort of shooting you're doing. If you're shooting from a rest with a rear bag for accuracy, I'd say either have your thumb straight up the tang or resting on the strong side. It's simple biomechanics. When you squeeze with your thumb, your gonna twist your wrist too.

Getting a good control grip on the rifle is more for the next shot than the one you're trying to make now.

Some guns like to be held and some prefer as little interaction as possible. I have friends that don't touch the rifle with anything but their shoulder and trigger finger for the strong side and use their weak side hand for holding the bad and supporting the rear of the stock.

When shooting prone with a bipod, my thumb is on the tang.

Turkeytider said:

How I hold the gun seems to be REAL important with my .17HMR at 100 yards.

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I have found spring powered air rifles to be the most sensitive to holds, for me.

Thumb along side, supported on the thumb shelf for me…



Or when the position is less stable and the rifle more apt to move under any unwanted pressures, I don’t even want to touch the rifle with my firing hand at all…

I have tried both ways and for me when shooting silhouette matches I have found I score better with my thumb on the top instead of over the top of the stock.

trackskippy said:

If you're shooting a traditionally stocked rifle with moderate to heavy recoil, your upper lip might want to weigh in on your thumb placement. That can have a definite effect on accuracy.

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I shot "thumb over" until I started playing with dangerous game rifles. I very quickly got into a different habit!

.38 Special said:

I shot "thumb over" until I started playing with dangerous game rifles. I very quickly got into a different habit!

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How true. Heavy recoil makes you thumb knuckle and nose try to occupy the same real estate.
My 35 Whelen handy rifle weighs 6 pounds and broke me of that.
I don't notice an accuracy difference using either method.

Depends on the rifle and application.

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I love how so many times the best answer is the most concise.

I wrap my thumb over the stock. I'm a hunter who likes to shoot at the range. Shooting off-hand I have more control that way. I can see why it might be better to use the thumb on top from other supported positions. But I also like to practice the way I'm going to actually use the rifle.