Re: Compacts and Subcompacts, Training With

[dovedescending]

When working with compact and subcompact semiautos, what accomodations or changes do you find yourself making? Most of the training videos and drills I have found are geared towards large autos (Hi-Power, P220, 1911, G17...) I have found that I need to fudge my technique a little bit with my vz82.

For instance, the mag release requires me to turn the gun slightly in order for my thumb to make contact with it. I also have to be careful not to raise my thumb too high on my support hand, otherwise the slide will take a neat little chunk out of it.

I imagine LCP's and the like require some serious rethinking of grip, reloads, and whatnot. What say you gents? What changes do you have to make, for which pistol, and why?

 

[dovedescending]

Nobody? Not a single opinion or thought on this?

 

[Nushif]

I find most videos only take me so far. Really doesn't matter what gun or person it is.

Since our hands are all differently sized and proportioned ... trying to stick TO THE LETTER to how some guy holds his gun is impractical and uncomfy for me.

While firing I use a relatively light grip on my gun and use my bone structure to absorb most of the recoil and the like (probably a holdover from martial arts) so the proponents of NEVER, EVER CHANGE YOUR FIRING GRIP ON YOUR GUN EVER would probably have coniptions trying to teach me.
I can't even begin to imagine what a white-knuckler would have to say.

Ultimately I find most videos give a couple of really good hints and then I go and try to figure out what works for me. I use a lot of meta analysis when I practice shooting and the only firearms instructor I've ever dealt with has no problems accomodating different shooters either.

So ... specifics ... I pretty much only shoot compacts, because I am "compact sized" it seems so my only really consistent grip on a gun is to put thr web of my hand as high and tight against the gun as possible.
Then I grip with my middle finger mainly, using less and less force the lower the finger and trying not to use my pinkie as a tool for gripping at all, because it drops my muzzle.
Also, I'm pretty finicky about straight alignment between my gun and forearm for obvious reasons.

Yup ... stuff.

As for releasing the mag and the like I always bring my gun into my "Workspace" anyways, even for mag changes, meaning I bring in my arms anyways, so my grip changes a lot when I shoot. Same goes for clearing malfs and the like.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I don't change my grip at all when shooting compact or sub-compact guns, unless my thumb extend pass the muzzle. My thumbs aren't short, but here is my grip on a Kahr CW9 and a PM9's slide/barrel isn't much shorter. Getting your thumb too close to the muzzel is self correcting

I also have to be careful not to raise my thumb too high on my support hand, otherwise the slide will take a neat little chunk out of it.

Which grip are you using which would place your support thumb in harm's way?

 

[dovedescending]

Nice watch.

The grip I'm using looks just about exactly like yours. My left thumb (support hand) sits right underneath the slide release notch on the slide, on a very thin little strip of gun frame. There's not a whole lot of room to rest your thumb on the 82. So far it hasnt been an issue, but I'm just waiting for the day...