One by Massad Ayoob called How To Shoot a Handgun Accurately
One from Gun-Tests.com called Shoot Better: Don’t Let the Big Boys Push You Around
With contradictory advice...
Ayoob says:
"In the debate about shooting techniques in the saloon after all the guns have been locked away, this issue will take up about three rounds of drinks. In the old days, the "quail grip" was taught. "Imagine yourself holding a live quail. Hold it just firmly enough that it can’t fly away, but not firmly enough to hurt it."
This writer strongly recommends the "crush grip." How hard do you hold the handgun? As hard as you can. It was once advised to intensify your grip until tremors set in, and then back off until they stopped. In the real world, under stress, there’s going to be some tremor anyway. Get used to it now. Hold the gun as tightly as you can and let it tremor."
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While GunTests says:
"Don’t Choke The Chicken - Another technique problem many shooters have is trying to control a gun’s recoil by squeezing it like they are choking a chicken. They hold their arms out rigidly in front of them and clamp down on the grip as tightly as possible. This is wrong. A rigid posture makes the body act like a tuning fork, transmitting vibration throughout the skeletal frame. This makes your entire body resonate with each shot. Also, it lowers the position’s pivot point all the way to the feet, making the stance unbalanced."
So, quails chickes and birdies. Hold the pistol tight, don't hold the pistol tight. I guess I gotta go with what works for me.
I tried the super-squeeze and wasn't happy with it. The Breda Squeeze is the best grip I've tried to date. (A liiiiitle firmer with the support hand.)
Plus Ayoob says don't rest your thumb on the 1911's safety, while the Gun-Tests article says to. Ayoob likes the mechanics and better pointing you get if you keep the thumb in line with the target, and better trigger pull.
Good advice from Ayoob: Despite my aversion to a death grip, he has some points. You don't 'milk' the trigger squeeze with a firmer grip, in other words, you get sympathetic pinching with the thumb toward the trigger finger, or the other fingers squeeze along with the trigger finger. The Breda Squeeze addresses this too
Good advice from the second one: Double up on hearing protection to stay more relaxed. It recommends not locking the elbows, and I may be coming around on this tip. I don't think my arm is making a very good simulated 'attached' rifle stock, and it is fatiguing to hold the pistol in that unnatural manner.
And I need to get to the range. Maybe Thursday. The lawn is mowed and the laundry is done, so...
2 comments:
NJT, your two selections don't necessarily conflict.
The first talks about the grip, and cautions about tremors when you squeeze too hard. To find the sweet spot of tension just shy of tremors. I expect practice will 'lock in' this sweet spot, as well as strengthen your hand, arm, grip, and coordination.
The second is about the stance, not the grip. It *might* be talking about squeezing the grip into tremors, and keeping that tension. Both authors advise against squeezing to tremors, I think.
The second goes on to talk about the rest of the stance. You want the arms, back, hips, and legs to absorb the shock of firing, not bounce off of it. The first author doesn't mention the wrist, elbow, shoulder, back, hips, or legs tension. Or breath control, etc.
My ex-wife's brother in law (I did meet the guy once - his shooting hand was in a cast at the time) shot his .45 caliber pistol for fun. Plinking. One handed. He told me the doctor explained that if he shattered his wrist once more (this cast was the third time) they would have to fuse the wrist.
So I have to agree with the second author - you have to make allowance in your stance for the recoil, and also for maintaining stability so one shot doesn't foul your stance for the following shot.
If you get a chance (this might sound dorky) take an intro Yoga class. Intro Yoga teaches strength, flexibility, and managing pain (the reason doctors use most often when recommending/prescribing Yoga). Yoga also gets into body muscle awareness and balance. And you learn all kinds of interesting ways to stand on one foot. Sound like there might be something there that would show up in a stable, dynamic stance?
I believe that you should stay away from both ends of the bell curve.
Too light a grip and you get limp wrist stove pipes. Too firm and you shake.
I also believe that you should practice one handed, off handed and in various postures, positions and foot stances.
All require the same sight view.
Practice, practice, practice...
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