Which thumb do you use?

[Matt 357]

I was at the range today and noticed that when shooting with a two handed grip, I cock the hammer with my right thumb. Grip with right hand, support with left hand.

Which thumb do you use with a two handed grip, support hand or grip hand?

 

[SwampWolf]

I assume you're talking about a revolver, in which case, be it sa or da, if I'm cocking it with my thumb it will definitely be with my support hand (left) so that I can minimize if not eliminate readjusting my hold with the firing hand (right) during the re-cocking procedure.

 

[KJS]

I use my support hand. It was never something anyone trained me to do or that I ever thought about. It just comes naturally.

 

[MCgunner]

I naturally cock on the draw with my grip hand, strong hand. I often will fire repeat shots with my support hand doing the cocking. It's faster.

 

[B36]

If SA, either, if DA neither.

 

[pezo]

Wow. I use my grip hand never would have guessed I'm in the minority. I primarily shoot DA for defensive shooting.

 

[MCgunner]

I shoot DA for defense, but often plink with my DA revolvers in SA mode, particularly with my .22 which doesn't have a great DA trigger. I've tried to shoot my blackhawks DA, but I broke my finger and the gun never went off.

 

[BCRider]

If you're trying to get off quickly paced SA shots then using the support hand thumb is the only way to do it quickly. You sure won't see a fast two handed cowboy action shooter using his strong hand thumb. Strictly support hand.

As mentioned it upsets the strong hand grip to use the strong hand thumb. And that takes time to re-establish.

Mind you if you're cocking the hammer with a deliberate intenst like Clint getting ready to take a long shot at the guy riding away to supposed freedom then do the whole gun up in the air and cocking the hammer as the gun is lowered into position.

 

[Guy de Loimbard]

With SA revolvers, I use the support hand thumb to cock the hammer. DA revolvers I fire DA.

 

[Sport45]

I use my grip hand thumb, just like I was shooting one-handed.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Actually, I do both. When shooting slow fire targets I use my right hand (strong side) but with a SA revolver fast fire (like for Cowboy Action) I use my left hand. (weak side)

 

[340PD]

I never shoot a DA revolver SA. Just my habit.

 

[huntsman]

For those who use support hand what if you had to shoot one handed? And if maintaining a grip while cocking one handed is a problem maybe the gun is too large for your hands?

 

[Nushif]

I wouldn't say it's not the right size grip, I have to wonder why you're gripping it in the rock solid smash steel grip even while you're not firing.

To me at least it's not hard to re-aquire a solid grip after cocking the hammer with my gripping hand and I wouldn't call myself the most dexterous man on the face of the planet.
I guess I relax my hand when I'm not actively prepared to shoot, does nobody else do that? I know my hand would get tired if I gripped my gun in a vicelike grip even when I'm not on target and in the act of pulling the trigger back.

 

[orionengnr]

I never shoot a DA revolver SA.

Cha Ching. We have a winner.
P.S. I do not own, nor do I have any interest in owning, a SA revolver.

 

[The Bushmaster]

I grew up on Colt SAA's. My first firarm was a thirty-thirty and the second was a Colt SAA (I still have both). The design of the grip is so that when fired the handgun rotates in your hand so that the hammer is in close proximity of the thumb for recocking. It's not called a "plow handle" grip for nothing. Never had a problem for the second or third shot. Besides it's no different then recovering from recoil on other revolvers except you add thumbing the hammer.

orionengnr...If you have never fired a Single Action revolver (especially Colts), you have never lived...

 

[Ala Dan]

I voted for "the grip hand"; which would be my right hand or my left hand;
depending on whether or not I was shooting from a barricaded position, or
not~!

 

[ArmedBear]

Depends.

A DA revolver with a low hammer cocks naturally with the shooting hand. A large-frame SA magnum can be easier to cock with the support hand, if I don't want to change my grip.

 

[SaberOne]

I use my grip hand on my 686 just like I did 35+ years ago with my Model-28, 19 & 27. Now, I may buzz off the hammer spur as I could CC with it at some point. Still, there’s nothing quite like pulling back on a finely tuned hammer for a single action shot.

 

[Mr. T]

On my Ruger GP 100 when I shoot targets or for hunting I use my support hand to cock the hammer; if I had to use it for a quick defensive shot I would go to DA.

 

[Hondo 60]

When using both hands to control the gun, I cock with the support hand.

If I'm just plinking, sometimes I'll shoot one-handed, then I use my grip hand.

 

[Stainz]

I cock the hammer with my trigger finger - as I squeeze. Seriously, I guess I got too set in my ways - or just outgrew - shooting SA. I sold the last of my SA revolvers nearly two years ago. My meager stable contains only S&W's - which I shoot DA. Everyone is different, I suppose.

Stainz

 

[earlthegoat2]

Support hand, works great since I saw the SASS guys doing it.

Of course I never cock any gun that is double action.

 

[Guy de Loimbard]

What if I had to shoot one handed? I'd use the thumb on the grip hand.

 

[dagger dog]

Grip hand, I have been relearning myself to shoot one handed, most likley the way everyone 60 or older leaarned to shoot a handgun.