Finger groove grips vs. accuracy

[Gun Geezer]

My .45 ACP Colt Government has Hogue finger groove grips and fixed sights.

Shooting off a rest I group well. However, in competition I have always tended to shoot low. If I don't concentrate to the point of a headache I will shoot as much as 6 inches low at 15-yards. Miss a lot of plates that way.

Yesterday a shooter the range offered his opinion and experience that finger groove grips feel great but tend to cause a shooter "pull the gun" resulting in the barrell tipping down in front and yielding a low shot.

Of course, installing adjustable sights would fix the problem at a fixed range as long as my mistakes were consistent. Not a good answer. I know the correct answer is for me to improve my skill.

But, before I invest in new grips, do you guys have any opinion or experience with this issue?

Will dumping the finger groove grips improve this "low group" problem all by itself?

 

[warth0g]

Steve,

I will guess that you "meet" the recoil, and thus pushes the guns slightly just before the shoot goes. I dont think finger grooves has anything to do with it. Dry shoot a lot, that way you will learn proper trigger pull and learn not to be "afraid" of the recoil. Have someone put a snap-cap in your magazine, so when you pull the trigger at the dummy, you will see if you meet the recoil, as the gun will tip forward, you will notice it, if that is what you are doing, with this method. You should not know where in the mag the dummy is placed.

warth0g

 

[Island Beretta]

yup, you're bracing for that recoil just a tad too soon..put your mind one place.. suggest either the front sight or the trigger as you pull..be surprised by the shot..

later on though when you have mastered this, to really learn to time the gun and shoot quickly and accurately you will have a little push (not conscious though and dont try to make it happen) but this will match with the gun lifting in recoil with the push being to get it back down quickly.. for the most part your grip will do that.. and your subconscious too if you allow it.

 

[Harlie]

Low and/or low left is usually milking the gun, squeezing your whole hand instead of just trigger finger isolated. Consistant grip is very important as well, more so than grip type usually. You may be jerking in anticapating recoil, we all do to some extant, but with practice this becomes very small and consistant, allowing for good hits. Dry fire can help or shooting a .22 to develope/master trigger control. Focus on front sight, squeeze and be surprised when it fires is correct, but can require much practice to achieve. After I cured one, now I heel gun on occassion for a high one. Which means more practice, darn it, he, he.