Call for first-hand "LIMP-WRISTING" experiences

[Grump]

Now, I sure don't worship at the Altar of Glock, but I have had the devil of a time trying to make a G22 fail in any way by holding it lightly.

My last attempt was with 5.2 231 and a Laser-Cast 155-gr SWC (spare me the dire warnings about lead in Glocks, I've read it all and take my own chances, just like you do whenever you go more than 20 mph in a car and are slow to put on your seatbelt.).

Okay, back to the topic. I *could* induce a jam (FTFd) by holding the fully-loaded pistol very lightly with just my thumb on the backstrap and only my trigger finger completing the grip. The pistol was almost 90 degrees off from the line of my forearm (minimal mass to resist frame recoil), and my Birdie finger was under the trigger guard providing only vertical support, no pressure to the grip. I suspect that a more RN bullet might have still slipped into the chamber.

When I switched to the G22 being only 45 degrees off from the line, the durned pistol just kept on firing and extracting and ejecting and feeding and firing again.

Thus, I believe that one of my cardinal beliefs is vindicated: If "limp-wristing" your pistol when held in a normal configuration results in a jam, you gotta problem with either your gun, your ammo, maybe your mag, and perhaps all three.

Any decently designed gun will have some level of power "reserve", so to speak, to feed even weak ammo, or any normal ammo when the pistol is held hard enough to keep it from falling to the ground.

So, what's all your PERSONAL experiences with this?

 

[Bix]

I've gotten an FTE in my G19 when firing a rapid string weak-hand-only during a drill. The gun has 5400 otherwise problem-free rounds through it (the bulk of which are the same loading as the problem round).

I suspect my grip on the weapon weakened/shifted druing the string and induced the malfunction.

 

[JDGray]

My 9yr old shooting my P345, first round stovepipe, second round, brass hit him on top of the head, the other 6, I finished off

 

[Abner]

Grump,

I have plenty of experience with this and polymer framed pistols and hollowpoints only. I had issues with two G19s and 1 G34 before I finally figured I couldn't fix it myself and sold them. Now I have a Kahr PM9 that's pretty sensitive. In all cases, the jams were with various brands of hollowpoints. As the slide pushes a bullet into the ramp the bullet nose points a little downwards and jams against the ramp. With the Glocks, I had to often pull out the mag and reseat the bullet, with the Kahr I just tap the back of the slide and it goes home.

Not the fault of the gun, it was my fault.
Adam

 

[Hypnogator]

Now, I sure don't worship at the Altar of Glock, but I have had the devil of a time trying to make a G22 fail in any way by holding it lightly.

I do the same thing with all service semi-autos when I buy them.

The myth of "limp wristing" is one of my pet bugaboos. If a gun jams when lightly held it is defective or it is a defective design. An autoloader should be able to be grabbed by either hand by an injured person and used reliably to defend him- or herself.

 

[jaysouth]

I have heard of it. However none of the commandos that speak of it can replicate it on one of my guns or provide links or documentation other than internet sources.

If you own a gun that will not function perfectly if shot from an awkward position with less than a picture perfect range instructior grip, you had better rethink your choice in self defense firearms.

I now shoot only glocks and 1911s. I cannot induce a malfuction by limpwristing. Even shooting with only thumb and forefinger.

However, a number of internet posters swear that it is a real problem in the real world. I will keep an open mind, send us a video or instructions on how to 'limpwrist'.

 

[Overman]

I was having problems with my G36 failing to eject (about four out of a hundred rounds) , so I took a lesson with Roger Miller in Denver (former FBI Quantico instructor and NRA instructor who taught me what I needed for my Colorado CHL). I was a wheelgunner, so I had wheelgun habits, and needet to learn how to properly grip semis.

He was able to make it jam at will. It was really something to see. He was doing more than just limp-wristing it, though, he was actually following the shot, moving the gun up as it recoiled, and caused failures to eject with ease.

 

[thales]

*


I have tried this only with my Glock 20 and have been unable to make it malfunction. I held my shooting hand up as if taking an oath, and put the pistol in hand, holding it only with the thumb, trigger finger and middle finger as loosely as possible without losing control of the pistol. I then bent the wrist forward as far as was reasonably comfortable and then rotated the forearm downward about thirty degrees from vertical until the pistol's barrel was horizontal. I kept it off to the side so I wouldn't get whacked in the head. The pistol recoiled very freely in this position, but I shot three full magazines with no malfunctions. After that, I figured that further repetition of the experiment would be a waste of time and ammo and that "limpwristing" as a cause of malfunctions was pretty well refuted.

I have not yet tried this with other auto pistols, but I will since my curiosity is aroused. I would readily agree that if you can cause a pistol to malfunction by limpwristing, rather than intentionally "following" the recoil, then you have pistol problems.


*

 

[BevrFevr]

well... once when in college but I was really drunk...



I could not resist. Sorry!

not that there is anything wrong with that...

I don't believe in it but some one who speaks with great authority will come on here and say I am wrong.

 

[medmo]

Sorry, limp wristing is no "myth" nor is it a "defect". It is real and I have first hand experienced it plenty. I experienced it when new shooters anticipate recoil in such an exagerated manner that they are almost running away from the pistol. Usually, simple instruction eliminates the problem. Sometimes long, lengthy instruction is required.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Saw this for the first time with a woman (who was a really good shot) trying various 9mm pistols.

Glock, Beretta, Browning, Sig etc.

For some reason, every time she fired the Browning it jammed, her husband and I fired magazine after magazine from the Browning with no problems. In fact I liked the Browning so much I decided to get one. She had no problems with the other handguns.

It's a real phenomena, though I'd agree mostly from novice shooters or handling a weapon new to you and likely resolved with training and practice.

Rather than go through all that to get the Browning, she spent more and got the Sig.

 

[FJC]

I managed to force a failure in my Glock 30 via limpwristing. To get it to happen, I fired it using my left hand, at an odd angle, holding the pistol pretty lightly, and using a fairly light reload. It actually fed the next round, but didn't quite go into battery. LIght push on the rear of the slide fixed it.

At the time I was actively trying to force a limp-wristing failure, to see what would happen.

 

[Surplussoldier]

I have a Norinco Tokarev copy. When I fire it, it sometimes hiccups, failing to eject a round. When I give it to a more experienced shooter, he can shoot entire magazines without experiencing any jams. I do not have this problem with my 1911A1 or Sig 228 or Ruger 22/45. My Tokarev has more recoil than any of my other semi-automatic pistols and I find it jumps in my hand a lot, putting strain on my wrists. I suspect that I am not holding it steady enough for the violent recoil process to complete itself.

 

[MidnightRambler]

I've not had many jams from limpwristing, but I have experienced brass back into the forehead from several weapons. One lodged it back between my goggles and temple, burning me pretty badly.

I've seen it the most of the years from .40, which caused me to shy away from the .40 for a long time. So far though, my Sig 229 in .40 has not been pelting me in the head.

 

[DMSHEPARD]

I nicknamed a friend of mine the limp wrister, he can get everyone of my pistols to have failures to eject, whereas it never happens to me. Call it what you will, not ALL of my guns are going to be broken! All but one of then I have purchased new, without modifying them, and with factory ammo.