How do You Grip Your Wheel Gun?

An interesting topic for sure. One that was brought up in another thread that I started. Rather than have that thread hi-jacked, I figured why not use a bit more bandwidth and start another...

I am a die-hard fan of the thumbs forward grip on all guns. For me, it's fastest and most accurate. However, given the proximity of hot gasses from the cylinder/forcing cone gap several folks warn against it. With good reason, I might add. The only time I have had a problem with getting burned by the gasses escaping was when I had a Rhino in hand. The bottom firing cylinder caught me. Thankfully it was just specials being used at the time. That's why I'm not a Rhino fan. Great guns otherwise. I just do not want to have to change a grip that I have trained in for one gun.

So, what say you? How do you grip your wheel-y when shooting/training?

C

 

Thumbs forward, but then locked down a bit harder. It keeps your thumb from dragging on the cylinder or getting slammed by the recoil shield behind it.

 

Thumbs-forward (and off the gun).

The great majority of my shooting is done with standard-powered ammo and a full-sized revolver. When shooting hotter stuff, or little J-frames, I adjust to a more traditional "revolver grip".

 

I do thumbs crossed, support hand thumb curled over my dominant hand. I've felt some pretty powerful shock waves coming from my GP-100 with full house 357 loads before moving to this technique.

If I'm firing SA, I cross my support thumb over the web of my shooting hand and thumb the hammer with my support hand. I don't really shoot SA unless I'm verifying accuracy of a gun/load

 

I have usually gripped my revolvers with my thumb pointed up.

 

Depends on several things. What you're shooting, how you're shooting and and why you're shooting. I'm primarily a single action shooter who prefers big bores and my grip reflects that.

 

I cross my thumbs. But then I shoot my wheelguns single action most of the time and it is quicker to cock that way. It also helps to control the recoil of some of the heavy kickers cause you get a firmer hold.

 

Cup & saucer, pushing with the trigger hand, pulling with the support hand.

 

Thumbs forward ... sort of. My "support" hand is more wrapped around front, using a push/pull grip.

 

My thumbs stay well back and intertwined. I use a Chapman style stance with the little DA revolvers and a modified Weaver for the heavy ones. With the heaviest ones I bend my elbows quite a bit and use the weight of the revolver to create the tension, keeping it closer to my eyes than usual. Really works great. For single actions I just use bullseye. No way am I sticking my thumbs out there.

I'm a fan of tweaking stances to find what works best. There is no one-size-fits-all for people or handguns.

 

Kinda depends on the revolver I'm shooting and the grips on it. I recently adopted a Smith M36 J frame with the original wood grips. I like the original grips since I can hold higher up with thumb kinda wrapped over. If I support with off hand its kind of a half tea cup/thumb forward hybrid. With my 3" m65 .357 its more of a thumbs forward overlapping finger technique.

 

Like this:

 

Stophel, I hope that camera was on a timer...

Interesting that in 12 posts there are essentially 12 different answers.

C

 

What, no-one holding it sideways????

 

^
No. Because then, the windage screw would adjust elevation and the elevation screw would adjust windage. Way too much for me to remember just to look "gangsta".

Seriously though, no. Sideways is an inferior hold.

 

Ummmm..............

I usually hold my revolvers with one hand, pinky curled under the grip.

Like this:



and this:



and this:



None of that two handed stuff for me.

By the way, just for fun a few years ago I did try shooting a stage holding the gun sideways. Holding a 45 with my right hand palm down, recoil pushed the barrel to the left, and I missed my targets to the left until I held way off to the right.

 

Driftwood Johnson, Are those roses in pic 2 and what are they for?

 

Me too... crossed and single action....

 

Hehe.... I saw that... a positive outlook I be thinking...

 

I think the OP was insinuating "practical" or "combat" type shooting using two hands and double-action in his question.

If he meant to open up the question to formalized target stances and reenactment/SASS perhaps he should clarify that.

 

I don't remember. That photo was probably taken 5 or 6 years ago. Sometimes the stage writer will have us hold onto something while we shoot, sometimes money bags, or a cup of coffee, or a glass of whiskey. Roses probably had something to do with the scenario, but I don't remember now.

 

I am more interested in the practical/combat style holds. However to see different takes on the topic doesn't bother me in the least.

C

 

Ok, good then. Thanks!

 

Two hands, thumbs crossed. For me, crossed thumbs makes a big difference dealing with recoil when shooting 357's.

 

My H&R999 is ONLY accurate with a one handed grip like Driftwood is using in his first photo.