How a gun fits is vastly over-rated. With some obvious exceptions your hand will adapt to almost anything you put into it. Some people with smaller hands will have problems with guns with larger grips. I have average sized hands and how a gun "fits" me is of little concern to me. I'll adapt and learn how to shoot whatever you put into my hands.
How to Tell if a Gun Fits You
- Thread starter 9mmepiphany
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shootingthebreeze
Member
I think you have to try out many before choosing-that's what happened with me decisison with the Kahr P380-I tried many other .380s and they did not fit well in my hand. The Kahr did. Did not like how others fired-liked how smooth the Kahr fired so my decision with getting the Kahr P380 was after intensive try outs.
Some handguns are a no brainer like my Sprinfield Champion .45-fits perfectly fires perfectly.
Some handguns are a no brainer like my Sprinfield Champion .45-fits perfectly fires perfectly.
Yup, that's the litmus test for me. I'll also get my natural point of aim all lined up on that invisible spot, draw to the spot, open my eyes, close my eyes and move the pistol side to side, up and down, then open my eyes to see if I am back on the spot. The whole plan is to come up with the gun that is an ergonomic match with my index so I don't have to rely as much on my vision and body working together to make all of those little fine tune manipulations during the presentation.
I do Bill Drills at 10 yards rather than 7 yards. With an ergonomic pistol I can use a very imprecise sight focus and still keep all of the hits in the A box just in case tunnel vision takes over and I end up looking right at the target and slapping the heck out of the trigger. Then again, the human eye is very fast and there is no reason not to use the sights with a pretty hard focus...unless your head gets in the way.
JohnBT
Member
"How a gun fits is vastly over-rated."
Do you feel the same way about shoes? If they aren't too short you'll get used to them, right?
Do you feel the same way about shoes? If they aren't too short you'll get used to them, right?
OP
OP
As a matter of fact, coming from a immigrant family, I did.
However, back OT, the point of this thread is to shed some light on how to determine what correct fit is. And if comfort should be an overriding, or pertinent, factor at all
LiveLife
Member
+1. Although how a pistol "fit" in your hands is subjective, there are objective tests that quantify both accuracy/shot group size and shot times.9mmepiphany said:
Ultimately, holes on target speak volumes. I don't mind sacrificing a bit of accuracy if I can make those holes a lot faster.
I think we should direct this thread towards discussing these objective and quantifiable tests as subjective "fit" feel is more personal and will vary person to person.
Think about it, anyone that qualified at the range was never scored on how a firearm "fit" their hands, only by their holes on the target and time it took to produce them.
LiveLife
Member
What I was trying to say is that objective, quantifiable measurements should be the secondary outcome from good "fit" that is subjective and hard to quantify for different shooters.
If the fit is poor, it will be reflected in the resulting accuracy/shot groups. If the fit is good, greater accuracy of shot groups should result from shooter being able to operate the firearm more consistently, which is objective and measurable.
If the fit is poor, it will be reflected in the resulting accuracy/shot groups. If the fit is good, greater accuracy of shot groups should result from shooter being able to operate the firearm more consistently, which is objective and measurable.
JohnBT
Member
"And if comfort should be an overriding, or pertinent, factor at all"
I'm not talking comfort. I'm talking things such as; can you reach the trigger, can you reach the slide release, the mag release, do the sights line up when you draw the gun (without adjusting your grip), etc. Or maybe the safety lever jabs your thumb in the store and you know it'll only be worse when you shoot it.
It's about practical usage of the tool. Would you attempt to hike the AT with ill-fitting boots or pack and say, "Oh, I'll get used to it."?
You tell if it fits through experience. Without handling and shooting a lot of guns I think it's going to be guesswork about what is important to you and your build. With experience, you can tell rather quickly just out of habit.
I'm not talking comfort. I'm talking things such as; can you reach the trigger, can you reach the slide release, the mag release, do the sights line up when you draw the gun (without adjusting your grip), etc. Or maybe the safety lever jabs your thumb in the store and you know it'll only be worse when you shoot it.
It's about practical usage of the tool. Would you attempt to hike the AT with ill-fitting boots or pack and say, "Oh, I'll get used to it."?
You tell if it fits through experience. Without handling and shooting a lot of guns I think it's going to be guesswork about what is important to you and your build. With experience, you can tell rather quickly just out of habit.
OP
OP
I agree, that is why I believe it is less than helpful when folks advise a new gun owner to go with what feels best in their hand.
I don't think most new shooters know how a gun should feel in their hand when being held optimally...and this changes with the type of gun and competition. When I meet a new student, almost without fail, one of the first things I have to do is to change their grip
sm
member
How raised and mentored if you will.
Later Mr H would share along the same lines.
-Get a piece of typing paper and fold in half, then fold again.
-Five yards and only five rounds.
-At the start/buzzer shoot as quickly and effectively as you can with whatever gun or loads.
The paper will not lie.
It will reveal what YOU shoot best and with what caliber and loadings- at that time.
Meaning, as one ages, or goes through injury, sickness, injury, whatever one can and will change what they shoot best.
This is how I was raised and mentored, and in assisting shooters me and mine had a variety of guns, revolvers and semi auto's in various platforms, actions, calibers, and loadings.
This is how WE and the student learned what gun and loads was best for them, especially for CCW.
At the time, we had a slew of holsters for folks to "try before they buy" as well.
Remember, your buddies, and nowadays your Internet buddies are not likely to be at YOUR gunfight.
Only you, and one is advised to be one with the gun they choose and know it like a body part.
Steve
Later Mr H would share along the same lines.
-Get a piece of typing paper and fold in half, then fold again.
-Five yards and only five rounds.
-At the start/buzzer shoot as quickly and effectively as you can with whatever gun or loads.
The paper will not lie.
It will reveal what YOU shoot best and with what caliber and loadings- at that time.
Meaning, as one ages, or goes through injury, sickness, injury, whatever one can and will change what they shoot best.
This is how I was raised and mentored, and in assisting shooters me and mine had a variety of guns, revolvers and semi auto's in various platforms, actions, calibers, and loadings.
This is how WE and the student learned what gun and loads was best for them, especially for CCW.
At the time, we had a slew of holsters for folks to "try before they buy" as well.
Remember, your buddies, and nowadays your Internet buddies are not likely to be at YOUR gunfight.
Only you, and one is advised to be one with the gun they choose and know it like a body part.
Steve
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