Pistol grip size

[smittty]

This is mostly an observation about my own belief that I needed to fit the gun to my hand but after many experiences I have a different opinion.

It all came to light after getting a gen 4 glock 19 and shooting it along side my gen 3 glock 19. With the gen 3 I always wished it had a longer reach to the trigger then finally when I got the gen 4 I thought I had the perfect gun because my wish for a larger grip finally came true.

After much shooting and trials I have come to the conclusion that I shoot the gen 3, gen 4 S, gen 4 M and gen 4 L all equally. Then I considered my other guns including my smallest gun the Ruger LCP and I shoot that just as well.

I read about other shooters; some claim they love the little Glock 42 and don't complain about its tiny grip yet when they discuss a full size gun they seem to need one that fits them better. Are we crazy because a Ruger LCP cannot possibly fit a size large hand as well as a HK USP 45.

About my gen 4 glock 19; I removed the grip panel and shoot it as-is in it's smallest grip size. It feels and shoots great, just like my gen 3 with grip tape.

This brings me to a few questions:
- is shooting well more about the shooter's form and trigger control than the gun?
- are interchangeable grip panels mostly just clever marketing?

[9mm1911]

I think it's mostly in our head.

Some grips feel better in the hand in the gun shop or at home, but when actually shooting the nuances make little difference in accuracy for me personally.

Accuracy is more about the trigger control.

However, I will say I've noticed that slimmer grips make a big difference when it comes to magazine changes. A shaving off an few mm on the grips makes it a lot easier to get my thumb over to the mag release.

[Snoopy47]

Read the below through and through.

http://www.bullseyepistol.com/amucover.htm

http://www.saveourguns.com/Ar_Marks_Un_Pistol_Train_Guide.pdf

[bwhited]

It is interesting.
How the firearm feels in your hand is important but:
I day I was training. I was using a full custom 9mm 1911 with all the extras. I ran out of ammo so I switched to a fairly stock 45 1911 and shot the same score with it. This was without the aggressive grips, checkering of the front strap, and a trigger that was about twice as heavy. Odd that with all these disadvantages I still shot the same score.

[Snoopy47]

- is shooting well more about the shooter's form and trigger control than the gun?
- are interchangeable grip panels mostly just clever marketing?

To your question specifically:
1) Yes, I think I answered that in my previous post. I think you will always shoot best the gun you shoot the most no matter what it is.

2) I think for the average polymer pistol at the distances they are usually used at, that grip panels are not going to make a measurable difference to a competent shooter. To really know if the grips make a difference the shooter would first have to be able to shoot well enough that they are always consistent with their group sizes and location. So anything inside 15 yards for a polymer gun that just wont matter to a good shooter no matter what grip size they use.

I would maybe think grip size would be important for DRAWING the weapon quickly from the holster and getting a solid grip on it so you can bring it to bare with a proper sight picture, and finger placement for the trigger pull.

[Snoopy47]

Odd that with all these disadvantages I still shot the same score.

Yep, the guns were the same action of arms, the angle of the grip relative to the sights are the same. A solid grip is a solid grip, and as a good shooter it really didn't matter at closer ranges.

Now, I noticed I can shoot a 1911 with a beaver tail MUCH more than I can go on a GI model with no beaver tail before fatigue sets in.

[JTROKS]

Shooting accurately is all about consistency. If the grip of the gun gives you a comfortable grip enabling better control of trigger and consistent gripping then it's conducive to better marksmanship.

[SILENT GUNMAN]

Shooting is 5% gun (basically having one that works) and 95% shooter.

About 10 years ago I went to a skeet shooting competition with my boss at the time and a couple of my coworkers. There were over 100 people at this match. Many of them had shotguns that cost well over $3000, some as much as $6000. These guys would launch a set of clays at each stage and spend the next 10 min choosing their choke tubes. My shotgun only had an 18 1/2 inch barrel so I was using my coworkers Mossberg 500 28" with a fixed choke. At the end of the match we checked the score board and were totally shocked at the results. With that cheap little $300 shotgun he took second place and I took 7th. That's the point that I realized the gun really doesn't matter. Money won't make you a good shooter. Only practice will.

[9mmepiphany]

If you are shooting slowly, the fit of the grip to your hand doesn't make a lot of difference as to accuracy. If you have a basic understanding and ability to execute aligning the sights, it all comes down, within reason, to trigger management.

The fit of the gun in your hand and your grip really only comes into play as you want to make faster repeat/followup shots,

The comfort of a gun in a person's hand is often over valued in importance, as many folks don't really understand the dynamics of gripping a gun for rapid followup shots