How important are ergonomics to accuracy?

[JohnKSa]

If you have all the time in the world, then ergonomics is just a "nice to have" feature. As time becomes more and more critical, gun fit becomes more and more important.

Anyone with good technique should be able to shoot good slowfire groups, even with a handgun that doesn't fit. Put them on the clock and things will change.

By the way, a good fit isn't necessarily the same thing as a comfortable grip. It's possible for a gun to feel good in the hand but still not work well for a particular shooter. It's also possible for a gun that isn't especially comfortable to come up on target and be very shootable, even under stringent time constraints.

 

[Pudge]

I shoot noticeably better groups with a square butt K-frame than with a round-butt. I asked here on this site if there was a technique to improve my round-butt shooting, but the consensus seemed to be: round-butts for carrying, square butts for shooting. That's grip ergonomics playing a significant role in accuracy.

 

[taliv]

Like the OP I also shoot a Glock slightly better than the mp9 even though the Glock is uncomfortable. It just points better. If I were shooting slow fire bullseye they’d be about the same. I suppose I should really say I shoot a Glock FASTER.

Nevertheless I own 4 mp9 and 0 glocks because the glocks aren’t lefty friendly while the mp9 has ambi controls.

 

[Armored farmer]

Ergonomics are important for shootability. You can put your gun in a vise for accuracy, but we dont shoot like that. We hold them in our hands.
I prefer my hammer with the angled cushion grip to the one with the wooden handle. They will both drive a nail with the same amount of whacks....but at the end of the day, the difference between the two becomes significant.
The grip on my Python fits my hand perfectly. The relationship between the grip and the trigger puts my finger exactly where i want. And on, and on......
And at the end if the day, i shoot the Python best.
Coincidence? I think not.

 

[CraigC]

Within reason it is a non factor, but some people get it in their heads that it matters.

That's because it matters. The grip is the interface between man and machine. How well that interface works (and fits!) determines how well man is able to operate said machine. If you don't think so, that the human hand can adapt to anything, try shooting anything .44Mag and above with grips that don't fit your hand properly and then with those that do. It makes all the difference in the world. Same concept applies to anything else, to one extent or another. This is why FIFTEEN YEARS of shooting Glocks cannot get some folks accustomed to the grip shape and/or angle but other guns are like an old glove. It matters, whether you agree or not.

 

[buck460XVR]

One does not have to be into 1911s for long before they realize the reason the platform is so popular and why so many folks shoot them well, is because of their ergonomics. Similar to how some folks prefer DA revolver profiles over specific SA revolver profiles and vice versa. Is it just in their head? Maybe, or it could actually be the fit. Even if it is just in their head.........it's still a very important factor. The problem so many young shooters have when they first enter the hunting woods is they are given a gun that is designed for an adult. It is awkward and heavy, and probably has too long of length of pull. While many young hunters are successful, most of us that have hunted for long know, they are more prone to making poor hits on game animals. While inexperience and excitement play a big role too, trying to hold grandpa's big ol' Sporterized Mauser freehand up and ready for a few minutes waiting for a deer to step out in the open, doesn't help, especially when the stock fit makes so sight picture or shoulder placement ain't right. While the gun itself is still highly accurate, the shooter themselves are hampered, and thus undeniably, accuracy will suffer.

 

[Sniper66]

i don't have much pistol experience, but will offer this....i have a Remington R51 9mm and compared it side by side with a glock 19 gen 3 owned by my nephew. the R51 fits me like a glove; the glock is clunky and awkward. guess which one shoots best for me.........the glock shot precisely where i aimed , the R51, not so much.....but, as a good carry pistol, the R51 is better. we all love a gun that fits and feels well balanced, but it's not the only factor in determining accuracy and maybe not the most important.

 

[ATLDave]

OP, ergonomics are very important. Ergonomics are not primarily about how something feels in your hand when you are not shooting it. Ergonomics are about how the object and your body interact when you are using the object.

This comes up sometimes in golf. Most serious golfers have grips on their clubs that are fairly firm, and a relatively high proportion of top golfers even have strands of rough cord embedded in their grips. That's because those grips work well under the dynamic load of a swing, even when hands get wet. There are other grips that have a lot of cushioning, and are luxurious-feeling when you're just holding the club or lightly swishing it back and forth. Those grips are mostly used by old guys with arthritis and women scared of getting calluses. They are super comfy - but perform poorly under dynamic loads/in use for most people who generate serious speed.

 

[CraigC]

The human body is highly adaptable and sure, you can learn to use just about anything. However, you will always perform your best with tools that are adapted to you, rather than the other way around.

 

[murf]

section 11 of ed mcgivern's book, "ed mcgivern's book of fast and fancy revolver shooting", is titled, "trigger control, "hold 'em and squeeze 'em" .... mr. mcgivern defines "trigger control" as: "these three essentials of revolver and pistol shooting, holding, squeezing, and trigger control, are so closely related and so very important that we will discuss them together under the condensed term of 'trigger control' when referring to any and all shooting herein described, whether for single-action, double-action, slow fire, timed fire, rapid fire, superspeed, on stationary targets, or for moving targets and the various forms of aerial targets as well.".

this "trigger control" section is a must read for anyone wanting to accurately shoot a handgun. actually, the whole book is a must for anyone wanting to shoot a handgun accurately at any speed.

note that "holding" comes first and is just as important as "squeezing" and "trigger control".

murf

 

[Legionnaire]

Ever ride a bicycle that's too small for you for any length of time? Oh, it will "get you there," but not as comfortably or efficiently as one that fits your build.