Proper grip on an 1911?

[45auto]

I switched to a thumb on safety about 10-15 yeas ago and it really is a much better way- IMHO. But, it took a little while to become accustomed to it, old habits die hard.

I tried it with a 1911 without a beavertail and a standard safety and it was very uncomfortable, down right painful in fact. It must have a well fitted beavertail and wide extended safety to be "seamless". I did have to file down some of the sharp edges of the safety for my hand. The CMC, Kimber style thumb safety is not good for me,while the Ed Brown is very nice. One style does not fit all if you shoot a lot. Same with beavertails.

An easy way to try it is with a low thumb safety. Your hand is in virtually the same spot as if you kept your thumb under the safety. Very comfortable, but your hand isn't quite as high and that safety makes weak hand shooting difficult-IMO.

It's too bad someone doesn't make thumb safeties at different heights. There is a lot of space inbetween the high(standard) and the low mount that would help people ride the safety properly.

 

[Tamara]

My only problem with shooting "high thumbs" is blast from the B/C gap on a J-frame tattooing the tip of my left thumb.

Seriously, I can think of no single thing that improved my pistol shooting more than switching to "high thumbs" about four years ago.

 

[varoadking]

I used to get blisters all the time...

You must work in a bank...

 

[Walt Sherrill]

Hey! I work in a bank. I don't get blisters. <grin>

 

[boogalou]

I tried it with a 1911 without a beavertail and a standard safety and it was very uncomfortable, down right painful in fact.

45auto - Both my 1911's are plain janes, a Springfield Mil-Spec & an Colt Series 70, so its possible that an aftermarket safety and/or beavertail might feel better. I'll have to shoot first with this hold and see how I do, then make some decisions from there.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

All of my 1911s are sans beavertails and they're comfortable with the high thumbs hold. you might not need one of the beavertail doohickies.

 

[45auto]

Boogalou,

It's worth a try. Hopefully you can try other guns with beavertails, safeties, etc and compare it to yours to see what feels best for you.

Good luck.

 

[10-Ring]

I have been using a high thumbs grip for a few years now. It's the most comfortable & efficient grip I've tried. I use it for all my guns (not just 1911s).

 

[Ryder]

If you low thumb you end up wrapping your weak hand over your strong thumb, leaving your weak thumb flapping in the breeze.

Bzzzzt. Take another guess. Try phrases such as "interlocked thumbs", "greatly increased grip strength", and "hard to disarm" this time.

Quite the education here. I didn't know so many people had so many problems shooting pistols. Glad something works for you guys!

 

[Navy joe]

Ok, you got me. Now show me a picture of any decent shooter using an interlocked thumb "hard to disarm" grip.

 

[Sean Smith]

All of my 1911s are sans beavertails and they're comfortable with the high thumbs hold. you might not need one of the beavertail doohickies.

I've shot modern isocoles-style using a basic Colt 1911 without any problems. But if you are one of those folks that uses their thumb on the thumb safety to really crank the gun down low in your hand (instead of just resting your thumbs on/parallel to it), then I'd agree that the standard GM grip safety may not be the way to go. Some folks crank the gun so low into their hand that they'd need to cut off the entire spur on a spur hammer for that to work without chewing their hand to bits...

Ok, you got me. Now show me a picture of any decent shooter using an interlocked thumb "hard to disarm" grip.

Think he means the Weaver stance. Perfectly serviceable way to shoot, but got overtaken in game-gun competitions by the Modern Isocoles, which looks sorta like what most folks do when they talk about "high thumbs."

 

[Tamara]

Sean Smith,

I may hold the gun with my thumb bearing stylishly down on the safety, but my elbows are bent most unfashionably... Some muscle memories are easier to overcome than others, I guess.

 

[TMC]

Sure, ride the safety if you want to learn how to shoot wrong and have a nice blister on your thumb after 100 rounds

If riding the safety is the wrong way to shoot just think how good Rob Latham, Brian Enos, Burce Piatt, Mike Vought, Todd Jarrett, Matt Burkett, Taran Butler, Jerry Barnhart, etc. would be if they knew this.

 

[Sean Smith]

I catch myself shooting what amounts to Isocoweaver or Weasocoles every once in a while too...

 

[Navy joe]

Oh heck, I'm supposed to lock my elbows? I catch myself doing a reverse Weaver(weak arm locked out, strong bent) if I am doing that whole shoot fast and ignore your sights routine. Other than that elbows locked or not matters little if I am shooting from the iso with a good index and grip. Heck, I shoot Weaver high thumbs if I ever want to look particularly vintage.
Then there was this one little troll of a line coach that insisted I assume a Weaver stance for the military pistol qual since that is what the Navy teaches. So I dutifully went along and put my feet on a 45 angle from the target and racheted my legs right around so I had a nice hips up iso index on the target. Troll obviously mandated Weaver not knowing what it was. Also wanted the safety on between mag changes, guess I was a little fast for that one too.

TMC, that you? Lookin' good. Running a Para right? Doesn't a sign asking to not shoot the props count as asking for it?

As far as interlocking thumbs, yeah I tried it. Shot an IDPA match right handed recently, wasn't so bad. My time only doubled. Kept doing the stupid grip thing because my poor dominant left hand had no clue what it was supposed to be doing.

 

[Parker Dean]

Weasocoles...


LOL!

 

[Tamara]

I catch myself shooting what amounts to Isocoweaver or Weasocoles every once in a while too...

You laugh... it looks even funnier when you're cross-eye dominant and stick out your tongue like Michael Jordan, to boot...

(But, hey, if it puts the bullet holes pretty much where you want them, and in a timely fashion, it can't totally suck... )

 

[TMC]

Navy Joe, thanks for the compliment, as for the props asking for it... only in practice not in a match, unless its totally convenient...

Para P16-40, fiber optic front sight, Schueman bull barrel, Ed Brown safeties, STI hammer & sear, tungsten guide rod, Dawson magwell, and Dawson basepads for 21 in the mag!

 

[Ryder]

This homey don't use no formal stance and there is no right or wrong way unless we are all cut from the same mold. I do what comes natural because it's comfortable. You should do the same.

Ok, you got me. Now show me a picture of any decent shooter using an interlocked thumb "hard to disarm" grip.

After 30 years of experience I'd say I am "a decent shooter" and I use that grip. I guess I am wondering here what you mean by decent shooter. If a decent shooter has to have a following that worship his methods then no, I am not that. Neither do I worship anyone elses method.

No pictures of my grip but I think you know what I am talking about and the results speak for themselves (I think). Here is a picture I posted earlier on the old firingline site. Nothing special here, just testing a new gun with some new loads. Those are 1 inch rings shot rapid fire (it is the only way I shoot anymore). First shot always hits 5" high with that gun at that range, so it's North of the paper but it was fairly well centered as I recall.

These are load development notations on that target. WARNING: I consider that a max load. It is compressed powder and shell ejection is very energetic. You do not want those puppies to hit you in the forehead. Here's another warning if you try this load, don't try holding your pistol like you are making meat patties or saying your prayers for bed or you soon will be sleeping.

Ok, you got me. Now show me a picture of any decent shooter using an interlocked thumb "hard to disarm" grip.

Just curious to know if you feel shown? It's about the best I can do on such short notice and short of riding to Virgina.