Shooting the Blackhawk: Hand placement

[Quoheleth]

I've been shooting DA revolvers and various auto pistols for a few years. Generally, for hand placement, I use a Weaver/semi-Weaver stance and grip my pistols like the Todd Jarrett and Jerry Miculec (sic) videos show, high hand grip and "wrapping" my hands around the grips.

Does this same technique apply to single action revolvers? I've shot my Blackhawk before, but I've gotta say that while dry firing the Jarrett/Miculec grip technique feels odd. My hands are wanting to naturally grip the gun with my left (trigger) hand in about a low/medium position with my pinky actually curling under the base of the grip area. My right support hand wants do do a semi-teacup, with the outer edge of my hand under the grip and left pinky and the rest of my palm curling up the lower portion of the right grip panel.

To me, this feels natural - even if somewhat awkward to describe. Trying to get both hands up high - to the point where the cocked hammer is almost contacting my left hand - just doesn't feel right or good.

I have the 2008 Ruger catalog, still, and in it Sherriff Jim Wilson is shown gripping a Vaquero with one hand, and his pinky is curled under the grip. There's another pic of him shooting it 2-handed, but I can't tell what his hands are doing very well.

Am I doing OK, or is there something I should be doing instead?

Q

 

[oldfool]

admiring experts does not require you to imitate them
hold your handgun in the manner which best and most naturally suits you, and yields best results for you, not them
if not happy with results, try some different style grip panels on the gun (not deliberately different "hand position", different "handles" you know)

 

[texagun]

How you grip a single action is dependent on the gripframe of the particular gun you are shooting, the grips themselves, the material and shape, the size of your hands, the caliber and resultant recoil of the gun, and whether you are shooting one-handed or two-handed. I agree with oldfool. Rather than trying to imitate a particular expert, use what feels natural to you. Changing your grip will change where your gun groups. For myself, curling the pinkie under the grip feels natural and works for me. For others with smaller hands, gripping the gun with all the fingers wrapping around the grip works the best. Use what feels the most natural for you and what gives you the best groups. Experimenting is half the fun.

"My hands are wanting to naturally grip the gun with my left (trigger) hand in about a low/medium position with my pinky actually curling under the base of the grip area."

It sounds like you are on the right track.

 

[forindooruseonly]

What I suggest is get into a shooting position, grip your unloaded gun how it feels natural, close your eyes and bring the gun up as if you are about to shoot. Open your eyes. If the sights are fairly lined up without looking, then your grip is probably good. However, if the gun is twisted in your hand and it takes some readjustment to get the sights in line, you definitely need to adjust your grip. Make your adjustment to give you a correct sight picture. Getting the gun to point properly when you bring it up is far more important than whatever style you use to grip the gun.

Once you figure out how you need to hold it to bring it up with a correct sight picture, remember that grip. Some guns will be natural for you, others not so much. Don't worry about what experts do unless they are there, in person, coaching you directly. People have different shaped and sized bodies and hands. What works for them may be the worst for you.

 

[Fourbits]

I found that putting my right hand pinkie under the grip eliminated pain!. With three fingers on the grip the trigger guard would hit my finger. This was true even with mild 44 Special loads. My left hand naturally assumes a thumb forward grip.

 

[James T Thomas]

which way?

I'm going to try placing that small finger under the frame; as you describe.

When I shoot my BH, the recoil raises my arm at the elbow, but it pivots in my palm, and unless I'm gripping forcefully, it dives downward, sliding, so that I have to regrip for the next shot.

I'm currently placing my left hand upon the right so that the left thumb overlaps the right, just below the right thumb. Left index finger wraped around the trigger guard, and remaining left fingers closed upon the corresponding right ones.

I don't know if there is a formal "right" way.

 

[alienbogey]

I find that if I don't wrap my strong hand pinky under the grip then under rapid fire of non-reduced 45Colt loads my strong hand will tend to ride up so high that I can't cock the hammer due to interference from the 'meat' of my hand.

I also like wrapping my weak hand pinky around the front of the trigger guard.

YMMV

 

[John Wayne]

I'm the same way. I've always felt the SAA style grip was one of the most uncomfortable things I've ever held. I tend to hold them about the same as you do, with the pinky underneath, which is the only way it feels remotely comfortable to me. Unfortunately, it also means the gun is not as well supported and that the corner of the grip frame digs into my palm under recoil. Birdshead and Bisley style grips on SA revolvers are much more comfortable, practical, and better looking IMO.

 

[Daizee]

I find the recoil stresses my pinkie when I hold it that way.

If you do NOT wrap your pinkie, expect the gun to roll in your hand.
It's a natural consequence of the grip shape and the high bore axis. Unless it's spinning backward so fast that the hammer is digging into your hand, it's a fine way to absorb recoil and there will be less stress on your elbow.

The SA has a very long lock time and a somewhat non-deterministic grip, which makes shooting it well a challenge, BUT with practice it should shoot very nicely for you, and the big boomers (usually with a slightly bisley-ish grip modification) won't jar your wrist as badly as a DA revolver with that hump at the back. However, that hump at the back is critical to modern high-speed combat-style shooting, so pick your tool for your purpose.

-Daizee