right handed shooter...where is your left thumb?

[borodin]

This relates only to autos due to slide action and frame structure.

I am a right handed shooter...right now shooting a G36, and I have been vasilating with different positions for my left thumb and little finger. I have tried the left thumb BEHIND the right thumb, which was to tighten my grip, however, If you go to high with the left hand you will get a nasty slide rake across the thumb knuckle.

The little finger issue is....do many of you place your left little finger on the front of the trigger guard? Glocks have a checkered spot there which would indicate that it was intended for that I guess. Just need some input on what you find works best and is comfortable.

 

[Telperion]

Left thumb is against the frame and lower part of the slide, with the right thumb on top. I've never had a problem with slides biting me, but my experience is limited to Sigs and 1911s.

 

[Black Snowman]

Depends on the gun. Lots of the time it's flying off into never never land, on my Desert Ealge it's firmly wrapped over my right thumb keeping it from squirming up and bumping the slide stop. Normally it's right on top of my right thumb.

 

[ChickenHawk]

Thanks to our friend RGO, here's a pic on his web site.

This is the grip I was taught and (here's a surprise) am most comfortable with.

Note: scroll down on the page to see the two-handed grip.

http://www.firearmsprimer.com/marks/marks_1.htm


Cheers,
ChickenHawk

 

[sm]

I use "high thumbs" on autoloaders and revolvers.

 

[boing]

I assume by "left little finger" you mean the index finger, not the pinky. I've never felt any benefit by putting my index finger on the front of the trigger guard. It doesn't help me control or point the gun. Actually, it makes for a less stable grip than just wrapping all four weak hand fingers around my strong hand. And given the different shapes and sizes of trigger guards, the technique doesn't really lend itself to being seamlessly transferred from gun to gun. That's me, and my guns, anyway.

My left thumb points towards the target, more or less, with about half an inch between it and the gun. I started doing this to keep my thumb out of the way of my trigger finger, which poked through the trigger guard on smaller single stacks. I found it to be more "elegant", and less of a strain on my support hand, so I use it all the time now.

Right thumb rides high on all autos, resting on thumb of my support hand, and on top of the safety on 1911s and such.

 

[duckfoot]

same as pipsqueak

 

[Tracy Hightower]

An Example

 

[borodin]

yeah i meant left index

not little finger....i guess i was thinking weak finger.

Thanks for the info and pics!

 

[Mike Irwin]

In my mouth trying to control the bleeding after I get it too high on the grip and into the path of the slide on my 1911.

 

[Zak Smith]

In the pictures in the link posted by ChickenHawk (RGO) are followed, note how little of the left hand actually can control the gun, compared to what Tracy posted.

Thumbs should be parallel with the LH thumb extending along the frame of the pistol, right next to the dustcover. This allows the heel of the LH to fully contact the LH side of the grip, and the LH fingers will wrap around the RH fingers to provide a strong grip.

-z

 

[ChickenHawk]

Personally, I like the watch in Tray's pic a lot better than the grip!

I've tried that grip and find it to be extremely uncomfortable, especially after shooting 100+ rounds.

Try em all, use whatever works for you best!

Cheers,
ChickenHawk

 

[bountyhunter]

I am a right handed shooter...right now shooting a G36, and I have been vasilating with different positions for my left thumb and little finger. I have tried the left thumb BEHIND the right thumb, which was to tighten my grip, however, If you go to high with the left hand you will get a nasty slide rake across the thumb knuckle.

I point BOTH thumbs away from the frame and upward at about a 30 degree angle from the frame (flying thumbs). It may look odd, but it forces you to grip symmetrically with your hands: front to rear clamp using the right hand, left to right clamp with the left hand.

I got the idea after reading Plaxco's book where he said putting the thumbs on the frame screws up the grip because it applies a force to the laft side of the frame which has to be balanced on the right side, which means the grip is no longer symmetrical.

The first time I tried taking the thumbs off the gun, it felt strange but I shot better right away.

 

[RGO]

Seems there are a lot of answers. While I, of course, prefer the grip shown in my pictures, everybody is different. Hand size is probably a huge factor. Try out what you've read here, borodin, and I'm sure you'll find something that works.

 

[echo3mike]

I tried something Brian Enos mentioned in "Practical Shooting", where he stated he points his support hand thumb "forcefully" toward the target, off the gun completely. Index finger jammed up into the trigger guard, heel of the hands touching both each other and the grip / frame.

On a 1911 Gov, it seemed to control the recoil a little better and the sights tracked more consistantly, using an overall grip similar to the pic Tracy Hightower provided.

Give it a try.
S.

 

[45R]

Left thumb along slide pointing forward toward target.

 

[Edward429451]

I lock that strongside thumb down with the weakside thumb.

 

[OF]

Left thumb is just a hair off the frame and pointed straight at the target.

- Gabe