Why do people chicken wing by default?

[LBDamned]

Well in his defense, some people discuss guns. Others shoot them.

The first time I heard the term was at a shooting class.

Imagine that.

[Dan_Eastvale]

Most civilian shooters thinking about combat, plinking, or deer hunting?

[SanDiego619]

Until today I had never heard this term in the shooting community. However, it made me wonder why folks who don't understand something or it seems silly to them come up with a demeaning title for it, i.e.: "Chicken wing", "idiot scratch", etc.
But, I've only been shooting for 50+ years so I'm still learning...

It wasn't meant to be demeaning. It was always called "chicken wing" by people I was with, all of them military. They had to remind me not to chicken wing every time I aimed. So I wondered why it felt like the natural way to hold the gun to so many of us.

Not criticising holding it like that, and I've learned from this thread that it is the "best" way to hold the gun in some situations. Tucked is better in others.

I am not criticising chicken wings or demeaning chicken wingers or anything!! I only wondered why my elbow always wants to poke out whenever I hold a rifle.

LBDamned answered my actual question, and I learned from the other answers as well.

My apologies to the chickens, they have beautiful wings.

[k1dude]

Up until about the 60's or 70's, pretty much everyone was taught to shoot a rifle or shotgun with your elbow out between about 45 to 90 degrees when standing.

This method was taught to me by both my grandfather who fought in WWI and my father who fought in WWII through Vietnam. It was also being taught in the military when I enlisted way back when.

It's still taught at Appleseed.

[RayPDA]

[Preston-CLB]

Up until about the 60's or 70's, pretty much everyone was taught to shoot a rifle or shotgun with your elbow out between about 45 to 90 degrees when standing.

That is what I was taught both by my dad, and in the USAF. Same time period as noted in the quote.
-P

[librarian72]

You sure they aren't mad operators super chicken winging to use use their irons yo?

Or possibly just orienting the brakes to annoy the lane next to them.

[003]

Been involved in the shooting sports for over 65 years.

Four years in the Marine Corps, early/middle 60's and 35 years as a cop and today is the first time I have ever heard the term "chicken wing" used in this context.

Must be the same folks that refuse to use the term slide release.

[Librarian]

That is what I was taught both by my dad, and in the USAF. Same time period as noted in the quote.
-P

I was taught the same. Interestingly, my wife naturally uses the square-to-target, elbow-down stance.

[LBDamned]

I was taught the same. Interestingly, my wife naturally uses the square-to-target, elbow-down stance.

Smart lady

[colt11]

The Commander at PSPD would say: imagine you have a weight on a string pulling your elbow down.

[OlderThanDirt]

[Regular guy]

[200Apples]

I think people copy what they see in action movies, kind of like how I almost always see new shooters in a Weaver stance. They saw it in movie or a tv show.

Is this why you still use the "cup-and-saucer" handgun hold?

Wake up! man. It's not 1979 any more.

[hermosabeach]

Chicken wing makes a pocket for the stock to sit for 90% of people.