Two-Handed Grip for Snubby Revolver

[MeanStreaker]

Hello, up until last night my handgun collection only consisted of semi-autos. I'm happy to say that's all changed with the addition of my new S&W 642!

I've fired several larger revolvers, but this is my first experience with a snubby. Can you help out a revolver newbie and explain a proper two-handed grip? One handed feels very natural as my thumb curves down around the grips, but both thumbs seem awkward when using two hands. Thanks for your insight.

 

[BigG]

It's basically a specialized tool for one-handed double action work. Try learning double action shooting and you may be pleasantly surprised at how fitting it is.

 

[sm]

I use on both Semi and Revolver what is referred to as "High Thumbs."

I am right handed.

On revolvers, especially J frames I want my strong hand high onto the frame. My left hand (weak hand) base of palm if you will "kisses" the stock, meaning it fits alongside.

Pressure is 65-70% weak hand, the rest is strong hand. For me, and I do not describe this well..
- Strong hand is high to allow my trigger finger a more smooth pulling of double action. Also the recoil is more straight back and allows me quicker follow up shots.

-Weak hand "kissing" the side of stock and fitting into a niche of strong hand keeps me from canting the gun. With more pressure excerted onto gun by weak hand - the control is there.

-Less pressure by strong hand does NOT allow my trigger finger to be affected by tense muscles.

Take your shooting hand and extend trigger finger. Now pretend you are "pulling" the trigger, you will note other fingers want to move. With more pressure being applied - this movement is increased.

Using 4 rules of Safety and Safe Practice Rules.

Put a dime onto bbl/ front sight. Focus on smooth. Dry fire a cylinder without the dime falling off.

 

[Whole Hog]

Although I practice shooting my snubbies with one hand, I mostly use a two-handed grip just like I would on any other handgun, there's just less of the gun in my grip. Like Steve said, take a high grip with your strong hand, wrap the fingers of your off hand over the fingers of your strong hand, and lay your thumbs along side each other, against the grip. You might have to experiment a little if the tip of your trigger finger hits the thumb of your off hand.

Scott

 

[MeanStreaker]

Thanks for the replies so far guys. With my semi-autos, I use a high-thumb grip as well. My concern was that last night when I was trying various grips (in my living room, haven't been to the range yet), my thumbs would come into contact with the rotating cylinder. Not that this bothered me too much... but I have been told to watch out for gases escaping from the cylinder and burning the hand. Whenever I positioned my thumbs lower to avoid the cylinder gaps, they'd get in the way of my trigger finger.

I always try to keep a consistent grip for all my handguns, so I'm looking forward to seeing how it goes at the range.

 

[MCgunner]

I just grip it with the strong hand, lay the gun and my strong hand into my left hand such that the bottom of the trigger guard is resting on my off hand index finger. I grip and my thumb is over the strong hand thumb.

I think I described that right. Pressure is as if wringing out a wet towel, as explained by instructors. After you practice it a while, you don't really pay attention to the details because it's all autonomic.

 

[MrTuffPaws]

It is good habit to bend the first knuckle of your strong hand tumb when using a revolver.

 

[Rockrivr1]

When shooting my 642 two handed I usually hold the grip on the wheelgun strong hand with my pinky underneith the grip. I keep the pinky slightly forward of the center of the bottom of the grips. I then place my strong hand (right handed) into my cupped left hand. My left hand thumb ends up being below and almost forward of my strong hand thumb. They are almost touching at the tips. I have large hands so it works for me.

Congrats on your new 642. It's my primary carry piece. Two words for you though. Crimson Trace!!! Once you put them on your 642, they won't come off.

 

[Jkwas]

Anyone make grips with a pinky for this gun?

maybe these?

http://www.grips4guns.com/revolver/smithwesson/item_1711016.html

 

[fiVe]

Meanstreaker: Make sure you find and join the 642 Club

 

[P. Plainsman]

I can't quite fit my normal 2-handed revolver grip around a S&W 642. Instead, for sighted fire, I grip the gun with the strong hand, then "rest" the strong hand wrist on top of the upturned palm of my weak hand. This keeps that darn weak hand thumb out of the way of the trigger stroke. I can assume this grip naturally and quickly when presenting the gun from a front pocket. Accuracy is good -- i.e., given my skill level and the fact that we're talking about shooting a lightweight snubby. It definitely beats one-handed shooting.

 

[Bart Noir]

Meanstreaker, that escaping gas will be at the front of the cylinder. I've never felt any at the back.

Bart Noir

 

[gazpacho]

It is good habit to bend the first knuckle of your strong hand tumb when using a revolver.

That was part of my standard grip with revolvers until I bought my 340PD. The first time I fired it at the range, the cylinder release tore a BIG chunk out of the top knuckle, and it bled pretty badly. After slapping on a bandaid, I unloaded the revolver and went about figuring out how to hold onto the thing. This is what I came up with.

First off, I have slightly smaller than medium sized hands. If it matters, I'm one of those people who have always had trouble holding onto Glocks, but found the XD-9 to be a pretty good fit. Anyway, I hold the revolver high on the grip. The webbing of my strong hand comes about even with the top of hte rubber grip. Your 642 has the same grip as my 340PD. I let my trigger finger fall where it wants to on the trigger (when I'm ready to shoot!), and learn to pull from that position. (I know people will say to pull with the pad of the finger. Well, I can do that with a SA semi-auto, but not a DA revolver with a heavy pull.) I press down on the rubber grip with the inside of my thumb joint. The tip of my thumb is actually hanging out in the air. It may feel weird at first, but you can actually get a good grip on the revolver that way, and it guarantees that the thumb knuckle is out of the way of the cylinder release, and it also allows the trigger finger to pull through without hitting the thumb. The weak hand is cupped with all five fingers together, then placed over the strong hand so that the notch between the tip of the thumb and the side of the index finger meets with the base of the trigger guard. The weak hand thumb presses down onto the topside of the strong hand middle finger. Pressure is exerted forward toward the target with the strong hand and backward towards the shooter with the weak hand. The grip on the revolver with the strong hand medium.

Which ever method you do adopt, I recommend you stick with it, and don't use other grips with similar revolvers you may purchase in the future. I also own a Taurus 85, a Taurus 850 and a Ruger SP101 357 3". All of them are steel, and I used to shoot all of them with a thumb curled down position. I now fire all of them in the same method as my 340PD, in order to maintain the muscle memory for the 340PD which is my primary carry piece.

 

[pfgrone]

Anyone make grips with a pinky for this gun?
maybe these?
http://www.grips4guns.com/revolver/smithwesson/item_1711016.html

Look on the S&W web site at the S&W 317 kit gun with an Uncle Mikes rounded butt grip. They fit on my S&W 642 square butt frame so I got a pair from S&W. Problem is they add a bit of height which might make it a bit less concealable in the front pocket.