Which thumb do you use?

[bellyup039]

Support hand Alway's.

NEVER BREAK YOUR GRIP with your strong/ shooting hand.

You can maintain a firm grip with (ie right hand) and simply turn the gun on it's side. (now the top of the gun is to the left and you still have a shooting grip) Your support hand is relaxed and falls into place for cocking.

It is a technique from Massad Ayoob, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massad_Ayoob
an internationally known firearms and self-defense instructor.

By rotating the revolver, one can take a shot faster and more accurate single action if NEED be.

 

[Matt 357]

Wow

Thanks for all the replies. Surprised that it's almost 50/50.

Quite a few DA only folks. Maybe it's just me, but I'm a little more accurate if I cock the hammer before pulling the trigger (SA) on my GP-100 instead of just pulling the trigger (DA). I practice both at the range. DA is of course needed for SD.

 

[wep45]

none of the above...................i only pratice DAO, one handed grip, left or right hand

 

[Seamore2001]

I'm surprised so many folks are so emphatic about DAO with revolvers that are both SA and DA. You don't have to shoot a revolver only one way. If you're practicing for defense, DA is the way to go. If you're target shooting, SA is generally a bit more accurate.

When I'm paper punching with my six-inch Colt (i.e. my non CCW gun) I often shoot SA, and use my support hand to thumb the hammer. When I'm practicing with my wee little Chief Special, I shoot DA. Sometimes, and I know this sounds a little crazy, but when I'm shooting my four-inch barreled revolvers, I shoot DA, and other times SA.

 

[SwampWolf]

I'm surprised so many folks are so emphatic about DAO with revolvers that are both SA and DA. You don't have to shoot a revolver only one way.

True. The op wasn't asking which mode of trigger pull mode you prefer (sa or da) but wanted to know which hand you use to cock a revolver on repeat shots if you're shooting sa (if you're shooting da, obviously you aren't cocking the revolver with either thumb). To repeat my earlier opinion, when holding a revolver with two hands (again, I don't think the op is asking which hand you use to cock a revolver if you're holding it in one hand-I mean, the answer is so obvious that the question would never be asked), the support hand should be used to cock the revolver so as not to disturb the hold/sight picture you have worked so hard to attain. There's just no down-side to this method once you've trained to use it.

 

[huntsman]

There's just no down-side to this method once you've trained to use it.

Except when you have to use strong side thumb and struggle because you're not used to it, but then some don't train shooting weak side hand either.

 

[Mightee1]

When I shoot, I tend to have my other hand (left in this case while shooting right handed) cupped under the butt of the grip. With that grip style, it takes more hand movement to use my left thumb than my right.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

I don't use my thumb as I only shoot da. That's how I taught both my sons to shoot too.

 

[9mmepiphany]

you really don't have much choice if you're trying to shoot SA using only one have, but if you have two hands to put on the gun, using the support hand just seemed more natural and faster.

i find the SAA style handgun more of a fun gun and would carry it for serious SD...not that it won't work...and most of my revolvers are DA. i shoot all of these DAO, because i've just found that more accurate...when speed matters...out to 50 yards. when shooting at 100 yards, i will occasionally cock the hammer for SA

 

[Matt 357]

Mightee1 described it better than I did. When shooting 2 handed, I have my support hand kind of low and cupped. When the gun recoils, my grip thumb is much closer to the hammer.

Swamp Wolf thanks for clarifying things. I didn't want this to be a SA vs DA. Althought that would be an interesting poll too.

 

[Ryder]

Depends on the gun, the load, and how big of a hurry I am in to put holes in something. I use both methods.


Is there anything more fun than holding the trigger down and thumbing the hammer?

 

[jglcolosprgs]

Support hand, then the grip doesn't change..

A California Highway Patrolman tutored me on that one..