Correct Grip Pressure on a Handgun

[9mmepiphany]

I"ve seen a bunch of threads of folks complaining about their new gun shooting to the left and almost without fail, someone will post up that diagnostic wheel to show that they were jerking the trigger...forgetting that that wheel was designed for one-handed shooting.

This hasn't always been my experience and this video clip is a good visual demonstration of an alternative cause...Grip Pressure. It also touches on the effect of how much trigger finger you should use.



I should disclose that Jerry and I come from the same training tree and we have taught together. He finds me very CA and I think of him as very KY...he's sort of a homey character from Justified (TV show), but he is a very good shooter and a very good instructor

[vmwerks]

Cool post thank you - some of my guns shoot left some are dead on. Funny my 1911's are all dead on and my other auto's aren't. My groups are all uber small - if nothing else I am consistent. I don't death grip my 1911's, maybe I am with the other auto's. I'll have to be more aware next time I go out.

[gorenut]

Cool post, I'll watch it when I get home from work.

PS: Love that show, Justified.. knew the exact reference you were making right when you said he's KY, hahaha.

[InGrAM]

thats pretty tight. good info

[Blackhawk556]

Todd Jarrett's video says to apply the pad of the finger, the nail area :-).

[IPSICK]

I have tried switching to a different dominant hand (left to right hand) and may be over-gripping. Shots are grouping left as opposed to dead-on with left hand. I'll have to try relaxing my grip. Thank you for this.

All your instructional posts have been an epiphany

[elSquid]

Funny my 1911's are all dead on and my other auto's aren't.

I hadn't been shooting handgun in a couple months (!!!), so I dragged my butt out to the range this weekend. I took two 9mms: a Glock and a CZ75. In the last year I've been making an effort to shoot Glocks more - I've probably shot 3000 versus *maybe* 200 with the CZ.

At 15 yards, my groups with the Glock were mediocre. Ok I guess, sightly to the left, with the odd, obvious really-pulled-to-the-left shot. Groups with the CZ were POA, small, with no flyers.

Single action triggers let you get away with a lot. (sigh)

My DA shots with the CZ were pretty bad though.

-- Michael

[RoundEye]

Great video, thanks for the post. Now, it's time to hit the range.

[9mmepiphany]

Todd Jarrett's video says to apply the pad of the finger, the nail area :-).

That is what I teach too, it makes it easier to press the trigger straight back...Jerry is just demonstrating that the cause of grouping shots left of the POA is grip pressure. You'll notice that using more finger on the trigger did cause the POI to move left

[l8apex]

Great post, dispelling some of the myths in an eloquent fashion.

[NorCal Einstein]

Great video! Looking forward to trying this next time I'm on the range because I do believe I'm guilty of over-gripping.

[Lumpia is sarap!®]

Will it also work with thumb over thumb grip? I'm sensing a trip to the range to try out!

[ThortheDog]

Good stuff. I've been trying to be aware of this since I read some comments about it by Jerry on the Sig forum. I've found that if I readjust my grip (loosen) when my shots start to drift that it brings me back on target.

Thanks for posting the video.

[9mmepiphany]

Will it also work with thumb over thumb grip? I'm sensing a trip to the range to try out!

We've found shooting thumb over thumb counter productive to accurate shooting as it does not allow the 360 degree envelopment of the frame with your grip....the pressure you apply isn't even, it will either push your shots off or cause the gun not to naturally return to POA for followup shots

[ZombieTactics]

Excellent instructional video and thoughtful diagnosis of a problem.