Well, this is common to most of us but I see in a lot of forums and a lot of shooters in general with poor grip fundamentals. Some people do things certain ways because that is just the way they always have, some just have not been shown anything different. There are different ways to skin a cat and I'm not saying the videos below are the best way BUT it does seem to work for competition and defensive shooting professionals pretty well.
The reason I decided to bring this topic to the table is the myths about 10mm being uncontrollable. When you listen to half of what people say on the forums it would seem that everything is just too difficult to handle besides standard pressure 9mm in a full size platform. Then as n00bs read what most say about recoil with the common service calibers they probably shy away from the idea of a 10mm even though they may have an interest. Some may have even purchased a 10mm because of that interest but are having trouble with it because of poor fundamentals...they just don't know it. I think this subject may be good here since it is a 10mm forum and some of the potential 10mm enthusiasts may be lurking.
I think for the sake of clarity, shooting a pistol should be divided into two categories : Target shooting and Tactical shooting. I see a lot of shooters combine the two and have trouble with one or the other (simplified way of saying it :)). They do tie in to each other, however.
Target shooting - To keep it simple, you want (as much as possible) the bullets to go into the same hole. In doing this your disturbance of the pistol needs to be kept to a minimum as you apply general shooting fundamentals. "Controlling" the pistol for follow-up shots is not a big concern, accuracy is. More could be said here but...
Tactical shooting - Short of the long here is that you are applying good shooting fundamentals fast (with some differences). Your purpose with tactical shooting could be considered recoil mitigation with fast follow up shots to obtain combat accuracy. The speed at which this happens will vary due to platform, caliber, specific load, body size, strength, individual skill, distance from target etc.. Same as target shooting there are various techniques and conditions that affect how you accomplish your goal. When I say "combat accuracy" I mean rounds effectively into the vitals. Some measure this by how fast you can fire into a fist size group and some may say 6-8" area is sufficient. Whatever it is for the individual shooter is up to them but I think as long as it stays in the vital area you are good (IMHO). And specifically, I don't want a bullet going in the same hole as the last (Target shooting) in a SD shooting, I already have a hole there!
To shoot quickly while mitigating recoil and have acceptable hits on target you have to essentially forgo the relaxed grip one may have for target shooting. You will have to put pressure on the grip (i.e. squeeze it), keep tension in your arms and roll you shoulders forward to help prevent what the gun naturally wants to do during recoil. The grip and body postioning should stay as consistent as possible. Thus, allowing you to get a front sight flash on your target quickly when you punch out as everything comes together mechanically through consistency. This will allow fast follow on shots. Even the big 10 is no match for solid technique.
Here is just a simple video showing the basic technique although it is not a 10mm, the same applies.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBMJsYYf0mw
And another that just shows good grip consistency by competition shooters.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JM15bf2p40M&feature=related
Now again, this may not really apply to veteran shooters I just wanted to illistrate some of the things that I believe a new shooter should consider. This is just based on my opinion, I'm not a professional. There is a lot more that can be said with more specifics...just wanted to give a general idea of what I feel is a good way to handle a pistol. Hope it helps someone.
I will have to watch those when I have some time, eg not at work.
I have always like this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQy5yKN-2vw) by Todd Jarrett covering proper grip. I personally shoot Weaver, being a teen of the '80's, but I teach isosceles when starting out a new shooter.
The hardest parts for new shooters is to get them to grip the gun high, and to get them to meaningfully use the weak hand. These skills are best learned NOT at the range, but in practice at home. Obtain a grip, dry-fire, release grip, repeat. Hard to impress on non-gun people the importance of this type of practice outside the range.
Quote from: sqlbullet on November 27 2012 09:33:55 AM MST
I will have to watch those when I have some time, eg not at work.
I have always like this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQy5yKN-2vw) by Todd Jarrett covering proper grip. I personally shoot Weaver, being a teen of the '80's, but I teach isosceles when starting out a new shooter.
The hardest parts for new shooters is to get them to grip the gun high, and to get them to meaningfully use the weak hand. These skills are best learned NOT at the range, but in practice at home. Obtain a grip, dry-fire, release grip, repeat. Hard to impress on non-gun people the importance of this type of practice outside the range.
Yep, Todd's video is always a good one to watch. The vids I posted are not as technical but show some smaller framed people shooting.
What you say is true. Dry fire is free and largely over looked for training. Much consistency can be gained from drawing, presenting and dry firing your weapon. Some people don't like it for a few reasons but it does help.
I qualified for Off Duty carry thru my Agency.The course changed entirely with a new head instructor who is a speed/time shooter and has incorporated that type of training into off duty qualifications.Are previous qualification course was very basic,lots of time,hit the paper at 7 and 15 yards,goodbye for the day.I completed course with 2 firearms as allowed by Agency,a G20, Underwood 165's,some juice non the less.I went into this under the impression of the old course being conducted.Im glad i had the D/A Glock.Times are a changing in terms of Agency's with off duty carry.Document type of ammo useing,grain and maker.The other was a Witness Compact.For me the Glock did it's job for this course better in terms of speed and timing.
Great explanation. This thread could benefit a lot of shooters out there from numerous standpoints in not only understanding proper grip in general, but also the difference between shooting for sport and shooting in defense.
It's like you said; "...this is common to most of us but..."
I was lucky to be able to train with a pro-Second Amendment police department for six years. Their trainer encouraged non-LEO to join in and to get CCW permits. Culminated in being paired with officers in move/shoot maneuvers crawling in dirt and shooting around and through barriers.
I only train and practice for self-defense. Self defense with a handgun involves gross and fine motor movements. One must make large body movements off the "X", aggressive draw movements then do the opposite, small movements while firing the handgun. So my practice routine is to go through the whole sequence targeting a "bad guy" ten yards away.
On occasion, I'll visit an indoor range to sharpen my fine motor methods. My indoor range test is to shoot fifty consecutive rounds without a "flyer" on targets at ten yards. I've attached a representative target. Outdoors, the circle size increases to 4 to 6 inches.
I shoot with a modified Weaver. Used to have an arched mainspring housing on my .45 ACP 1911 that did not like my keeping my thumbs up near the slide. So, I installed a flat mainspring housing in that gun and went with a "bobtail" grip on the 10mm 1911. Those changes had me going to an indoor range a lot more to adjust to the new configuration.
Taking time to just focus on trigger pull is also important. Sometimes, that's all I'll do, just concentrating what I'm doing with the trigger.
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