How To Hold A Handgun
Holding a Handgun for Control, Accuracy, and Safety
I wrote a similar article for a firearms-related website. It's ghostwritten with the CEO's byline.
Here I reworked it as if writing for a different client.
Misty and her twin sister Kara went to an outdoor gun range they built on their family farm. They both just got their concealed carry licenses and wanted to get in some target practice.
Misty was hitting close to the center with tight shot groups. Kara wasn't doing so hot.
"I qualified at concealed carry class just last week! How come I'm such a terrible shot now?"
"I dunno," Misty said, "Fire off a couple."
Kara shot twice at the target.
"It's your grip. Your supporting hand is too low," Misty Told her. "It makes it hard to control the recoil."
Shaking her head, Kara sighed, "I guess I've gotten lazy."
It's the most basic when it comes to safety, control, and accuracy.
When you hold with a firm, uniform grip, your gun becomes an extension of your hand. Hitting your target will be as easy and natural as pointing with your finger
A two-handed grip is best for recoil control, but it's a good idea to learn how to hold your gun with a single hand.
- It's the foundation for a good two-handed grip.
- You may need to fire when one hand is injured.
- Your supporting hand might be occupied with something else when you need to fire.
- You might participate in a competition with a one-handed firing task.
1. Extend your thumb and forefinger on your firing hand to form a V.
2. If your gun isn’t holstered, hold it by the barrel with your supporting hand. Place the webbing of the V on the back of the gun handle. You want to get your hand as high as you can on the handle.
3. Wrap your lower three fingers (middle, ring, and pinky) around the front of the pistol grip. Point these fingers to the rear. Let your thumb rest on the side of the pistol grip without pressure. Squeeze the pistol grip with equal pressure from the lower three fingers until your hand starts to tremble. Release pressure until the trembling stops. For safety, keep your forefinger extended outside the trigger guard. If holstered, you may draw your gun.
4. When you’re ready to shoot, place your index finger on the trigger so that the trigger is between the tip and the second joint.
1. Hold the gun with your firing hand using the proper one-handed grip. Raise your gun to the middle of your chest. Keep it close to your body while forming the grip.
2. Firmly wrap the fingers of your non-firing hand over the fingers of your firing hand. Place the index finger of your non-firing hand over your firing hand’s middle finger. Grip high so that your index finger touches the bottom of the trigger guard.
3. Let your firing thumb rest on top of the support thumb. Keep both thumbs parallel to the gun’s frame to avoid interference with the slide function.
4. Raise your gun to firing position. Keep your thumbs away from the slide and ejection port. This prevents injury and firing malfunction.
Properly Gripping a Handgun Is An Essential Shooting Skill
You can also place your supporting thumb over your firing thumb. Some shooters prefer this "locked thumbs" grip for shooting a revolver.
Even the most seasoned marksman should practice the basics.
Just like golfers, tennis players, dancers, musicians, or anyone else it's easy to pick up some bad habits.
