Grip angle Glock or 1911

[JCHavasu]

A person can learn to operate either grip angle. But, all else being equal, it's easier to learn to shoot well, especially shooting well under stress, if a person uses a pistol with a grip angle most natural to their unique anatomy. So, a person is likely to benefit from first determining which grip angle is more natural for herself or himself, and then shopping among pistols offering that grip angle.

Absolutely. I posted somewhere not long ago that natural point of aim is a myth as people generally use the term, and was soundly attacked for it. The point was Is there a more naturally aiming pistol for an individual? Of course. But people saying "The Glock grip angle is wrong" takes out the most important variable which is the person holding it. What points "naturally" for me may not for you, etc. And the training is far more important than "natural point of aim". After many years with both Glocks and 1911's I can pick up either and point it "naturally" with my eyes closed. Why? Long use and training.

[TomReloaded]

You can confirm this with new shooters too. Especially with new shooters.

Get them the most naturally fitting pistol and have them low ready, aim and fire accurately. Par time is under 2 seconds. New shooters can't do it because it's not actually natural. It's a training thing.

Any decent shooter with experience can nail this low bar though.

[morthrane]

Enough time has passed that we can and should fully dismiss any notion of "natural" in terms of handguns. Especially natural aim.

Care to share why you believe this? Admittedly anecdotal, but it seems to be a real factor based on my observation.

It's very important to learn a proper grip, and then train. Train bringing the grip up at the correct angle and lining up the sights. It's a trained skill and muscle memory. The grip angle really, *really* doesnt matter.

I don't believe anyone has said that it matters a huge amount, its a matter of comfort and one less thing to compensate/monitor as training progresses.

Dismissing the fact that people have a spectrum of physiology and preference is brazen. The sporting world is rife with physiological differences, like motorcycle helmets that come in different profiles (round, oval, hybrid, etc.) because skulls are not all shaped the same. Get the wrong cross, like a oval head in a round helmet, it won't be comfortable, induce headaches, or be tolerable as long as a proper fitted helmet. Sure it works. Just not quite as ideally or easily.

Yes, training can overcome natural inclination, but adding another variable is rough when I bet virtually all gun owners don't practice anywhere near enough. I know I don't.

[Nvberinger]

I am fairly certain there are many new gun owners, new Glock owners because that's what LGS were selling like hot cakes during Covid, but now are struggling to shoot accurately.

[JTROKS]

I shot 1911s, Para Ord, and Caspian Wide Body since the mid 90s, naturally or by adaptation the grip angle I prefer is 1911. That doesn’t mean I can’t shoot my Glocks, but it takes me a couple of sight pictures to reorient my grip. That said my home defense guns are Glock 23, Glock 27, and Glock 43X, the thought of the “bump in the night” scenario have played several times and so far I have remembered to use the sights, light and (laser if equipped) in the event the need to use the firearms.

[Vinnie Boombatz]

Both. Why limit yourself? You can learn to shoot both equally well.

[jl7422]

Luger

[TomReloaded]

Care to share why you believe this? Admittedly anecdotal, but it seems to be a real factor based on my observation.


I don't believe anyone has said that it matters a huge amount, its a matter of comfort and one less thing to compensate/monitor as training progresses.

Dismissing the fact that people have a spectrum of physiology and preference is brazen. The sporting world is rife with physiological differences, like motorcycle helmets that come in different profiles (round, oval, hybrid, etc.) because skulls are not all shaped the same. Get the wrong cross, like a oval head in a round helmet, it won't be comfortable, induce headaches, or be tolerable as long as a proper fitted helmet. Sure it works. Just not quite as ideally or easily.

Yes, training can overcome natural inclination, but adding another variable is rough when I bet virtually all gun owners don't practice anywhere near enough. I know I don't.

Shooting is a skill, so someone unskilled holding a pistol can't apply skills they don't yet possess.

I'm claiming there is no natural inclination at all and everyone is very poor at gun handling until they train properly. It's not a knock on anyone, it's just stating a truth. Having the natural point be off is actually ok.

I have a shorter arm from a break and multiple wrist injuries. Glocks point up for me and i have to drive them down. 1911 angle grips feel a hell of a lot more comfortable to me. That said, my competition gun is a Glock because it's easy to shoot and mags are cheap. I just drive my wrists down.

It's unlike the helmet example since there's no skill in wearing a helmet. That's close to exclusively about fit and comfort.

Consider how Glocks naturally point up, and humans throw Glock shots down and left without practice. If natural aim mattered, we'd throw shots high and walk them up with recoil.

I think size and reaching controls is far more important than angle. I like the 1911 grip. It's too big for me to reload fast. Makes my worse Glock actually run circles around it despite really being a worse gun.

[12pewpew]

My buddy, who's a 1911 guy says the reason he's a poor shot with a Glock is because of the grip angle difference. I tell him it's operator error.

[Subotai]

Hold out your arm, point your finger, measure angle.

[Vinnie Boombatz]

Hold our your arm, pull my finger…

[teflondog]

I shoot both well. If I spend a lot of time shooting only one of them, I get accustomed to it. Then I have to adjust a little when I shoot the other one.

[SG29736]

There might be more to it if the only guns out there were 1911s and Glocks. Single action and double action revolvers come to mind.

[ojisan]

Hmm...I'm mostly a 1911 grip angle guy.
A Glock does not fit my hand, it points high.
But, a Ruger Mk I II III or a Luger with the "Glock" grip angle does fit my hand and point naturally.
It's not just the angle, it's the shape too.

Yes you can train around a problem but if the problem can be avoided in the first place, that's much better.

[k1dude]

My natural point of aim falls between the 1911 and the Glock. That's why I'd love to try Shadow System's 920 with it's adjustable grip angle feature. Unfortunately we have the stupid roster.