Shifting grip

[gunmetal]

I've been wondering -- my understanding is that in order for an autoloader to "fit" your hand properly, you should be able to operate all the controls (mag release, slide release, safety if present, and obviously trigger) with one hand and without shifting your grip.

As a slightly-smaller-than-average male (5'6" 140 lbs.), I don't know if that is too extreme a view and unrealistic for me to try to achieve, or if I am just missing something.

I'm in the process of searching out a good sub-compact auto for myself, and no matter which ones I handle in the stores, NONE of them perfectly fits the criteria above. In fact, I normally pocket-carry a diminutive Kel-Tec P-3AT, and even with its tiny size, my thumb has to fully extend to hit the mag release (although I don't have to shift my grip in this case).

Now, I do have small hands, but not THAT small, so I'm thinking that the standard quoted above is either wrong or unrealistic. I think my hands are about average size for someone of my stature. So, would I be going down the wrong path by buying/accepting a pistol that I need to shift slightly to hit the mag release, or am I just not looking hard enough?

Here are a couple images showing my firing grip on a Glock 22 and P-3AT. Note that my thumb doesn't reach the mag release on the G22, and is just about able to reach the release on the P-3AT. I find it hard to believe that the tiny P-3AT size is the only size on the market that properly fits my hand.

Thanks.

 

[lycanthrope]

Not realistic. Many competitive shooters have to flip the gun a bit to reach the mag release...myself included. You can get extended one's but then you just end up bumping them into things and dumping your mag.

A measure a guns ergonomics by how well I can pull the trigger without disturbing the sights.

 

[ShelbyV8]

It is unrealistic. You do have small hands, when I grip my P3AT the tip of my thumb is even with the trigger and the trigger finger extends almost an inch infront of the trigger guard. It appears that you can't grip the Glock properly. Your hand is shifted to the right so the grip is not setting straight in the hand and your finger is just barely reaching the trigger.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

I've got a bunch of guns. Only one or two allow working all controls without adjusting the grip. (In fact, I simply use my off hand for some of the controls, like the slide release.)

For this "ideal" to work, you've also got to have an "IDEAL" hand. Those are rare.

 

[sacp81170a]

Hah! This is one area where being a lefty is an advantage! I've found that on most handguns built for righthanded use, I can use my middle finger to operate the magazine catch much more easily with my left hand than I can when shooting right handed and am forced to use my thumb. No shifting of grip required. I can operate the slide release with my index finger. Ya gotta have strong fingers, and an extended slide release helps on some models, but I never have to shift my grip.

 

[M2 Carbine]

I'm not sure I ever had a pistol that I didn't have to shift it around to hit something, mag release, safety, etc.

 

[gudel]

There is one gun that allows you to operate all the controls without shifting your grip. It's called the HK USP
I never had to shift around, or tweak around for that matter.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

I have, among other guns, a Sphinx Compact with extended controls, a customized AT-84s, and a Glock 34 -- and all three allow ME to work all controls without shifting my grip.

Just because that USP works for you doesn't mean it will work for everyone else -- not everyone has your hand dimensions.

I doubt that there is a single gun that would do that for every shooter.