Posted: 9/15/2026 2:43:05 PM EDT
| It's been a while since I practiced handgun regularly, so I figure this is a good time to start over and try to do things right. Just looking at how to properly grip a semi auto it seems there are a number of different views on this from different top shooters. So maybe I'm going about this all wrong. The goal is to learn how to do things as close to perfect as possible, then get on with repetitions and muscle memory. But I can't even find a consensus on the best way to grip the gun with 2 hands. |
Most anything can be fixed with sticks and rocks and string.
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The first and most important thing to do is to execute safe gun handling 100%. This starts with basics of picking up and setting down, but goes on to drawing, aiming, shooting. This sounds stupid, but most experienced shooters I see struggle to not point their gun, loaded or not, at themselves and others. Then there are the bullets into the ground or over the backstop incidents. Not to mention the speed reholstering, finger on trigger when not shooting, pointing at self holstering. These guys are the bane of my existence. I’m not even an RSO.  After that, get a timer. I love the 3 sec bill drill guys who don’t own a timer….ugh how do you know that? 1-Mississippi ….2-….c’mon |
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Originally Posted By Mach: the fundamentals are pretty well covered in those magpull videos from years ago, I don't remember the name Thanks. I will see if I can find them. Fundamentals is what I am looking at. All the way back to basics. |
Most anything can be fixed with sticks and rocks and string.
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Originally Posted By MarkHatfield: What is your purpose? IPSC? IDPA? Hunting? Defense? Hostage Rescue? Bullseye? Just fun? Makes a difference on where you would be referred to go. The purpose is daily carry and livestock protection. Back in the day I made multiple headshots on foxes at 35 yards. Actually surprised me that I could do it. So I know I am capable of that., but certainly not right now. I also had three pit bulls charge me once because I was between them and the chickens. So that is a baseline. |
Most anything can be fixed with sticks and rocks and string.
Here's a good short video. Apply the Proper Grip Pressure on a Pistol |
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Originally Posted By stone-age: The purpose is daily carry and livestock protection. Back in the day I made multiple headshots on foxes at 35 yards. Actually surprised me that I could do it. So I know I am capable of that., but certainly not right now. I also had three pit bulls charge me once because I was between them and the chickens. So that is a baseline. Grip on the handgun as I was taught in beginners handgun classes: hand high on the tang of the handgun forward pressure from your firing hand reward pressure from your support hand (assuming 2 handed firing) DO NOT use a beer can crushing force on the stock of the handgun stack your thumbs (1911 thumbs on top of the safety, as you can engage the safety in recoil if you are under) A 4.5" to 5.75" target (K9 average for a medium size K9) at 35 yards are better is your goal. After deciding on a grip start (do not do thumbs forward if you are shooting a 1911 left handed; I have broken one frame, and found 3 other that had too. In recoil your forward facing thumb will push the take down pin out) with the following: When you figure out your grip used a 5" diameter target and dry practice/dry fire for 10 minutes a day. Concentrate on the sight alignment, sight picture, trigger control; you will see your front sight going all over the place when you start. Remember to dry practice in a place that will catch a round if you violate the NO AMMO IN DRY PRACTICE rule. As you do this you will see your sight dip less and less. Check your dry practice at the range with live fire. When you are confident there move to... Adding in your presentation from your holster, concentrate on smooth not fast. Dry Practice this until you are confident. Most ranges I have been to will not let you present from the holster. Move to... Adding in a timer into practice. It will start beep, beep then your will be presenting. Slowly that will turn to beep, you are on target, beep, and press. Then to beep on target, press, beep. Your choice how smooth and how fast you desire becoming. Adding a video camera and watching it will tell you where you are making unnecessary movements. Let us know what you decide, and how you progress. |
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Which handgun are you working with? Lots of guys have strong preferences regarding grip angle. There is a lot of difference between a 1911 and a Glock. H&K seems to feel better in the hand than a Glock but that doesn’t always translate into which one you shoot better. Repetition is the key to consistency and accuracy. |
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Originally Posted By Urimaginaryfrnd: Which handgun are you working with? Lots of guys have strong preferences regarding grip angle. There is a lot of difference between a 1911 and a Glock. H&K seems to feel better in the hand than a Glock but that doesn’t always translate into which one you shoot better. Repetition is the key to consistency and accuracy. I'd still be shooting my Tanfoglio if they could get there quality control crap straightened out. I have a Springfield xd. I actually have a few of them. I also have a few Glocks that I tried really really hard to get along with. But they don't like me very much. |
Most anything can be fixed with sticks and rocks and string.
| I'd take a basic pistol class with a reputable local trainer. Take the class to learn what to practice, and then establish a training schedule to get those down. Later, either take the same glass again or maybe bump up to an intermediate class. Learning gun handling from videos and forum posts is like learning Karate from a book. The money spent on a good instructor who can watch you and correct you in real time will save you a lot of trouble and "training scars." |
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Originally Posted By gearsmithy: I'd take a basic pistol class with a reputable local trainer. Take the class to learn what to practice, and then establish a training schedule to get those down. Later, either take the same glass again or maybe bump up to an intermediate class. Learning gun handling from videos and forum posts is like learning Karate from a book. The money spent on a good instructor who can watch you and correct you in real time will save you a lot of trouble and "training scars." I kind of wondered if that was the case. |
Most anything can be fixed with sticks and rocks and string.
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Originally Posted By voyager3: Unfortunately, finding someone who can really diagnose the micromotorics of your hands and help dial in your fundamentals is nearly impossible. I tried. You'll have to dry fire and learn to self-diagnose. One of the champion shooters said something like that. He says he goes to the range and takes a shot. The sights should return to the target. If they don't he changes his grip and tries again until the sights are right back on target every time. |
Most anything can be fixed with sticks and rocks and string.
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Another thing to consider is who you are learning from. If you're learning from competitive shooters you're going to shoot like competitive shooters. Learn from ex-delta then you'll shoot like an operator. Learn from a cop, shoot like a cop (which I would argue is a good place to start if ccw is your goal, cops train to work within domestic laws, soldiers train for the theater of war. Tactics that may work well on the battlefield could get you in trouble on us soil. Granted these are fringe cases and probably only apply when you get into advanced stuff. Fundamentals are fundamentals so i would argue at a basic level it doesn't really matter. Eventually you'll get to a poibt where you can self diagnose, the only question is how much time and money do you want to spend getting there. Teaching yourself sounds appealing until you've got 3000 reps on a bad move that someone doesn't point out to you until its already ingrained muscle memory. In the long run it's better to seek professional guidance early so you don't waste time and ammo learning an inferior technique. Also, there's more than one way to skin a cat. E.g. powerstroke vs slidelock. They both have their places, it all depends and what kind of shooting you plan on training for (defensive vs competitive). I'd recommend the GD special - "get both" and decide which one works better for you and just rep that ubtil its second nature. That's just one example of many, but you get the idea. |
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Personally I think you should improve the skills you have. Starting from zero is probably hard to actually do. Plenty of resources out there. I enjoyed this one: Charlie Perez “Path of Focused Effort” |
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Originally Posted By gearsmithy: Another thing to consider is who you are learning from. If you're learning from competitive shooters you're going to shoot like competitive shooters. Learn from ex-delta then you'll shoot like an operator. Learn from a cop, shoot like a cop (which I would argue is a good place to start if ccw is your goal, cops train to work within domestic laws, soldiers train for the theater of war. Tactics that may work well on the battlefield could get you in trouble on us soil. Granted these are fringe cases and probably only apply when you get into advanced stuff. Fundamentals are fundamentals so i would argue at a basic level it doesn't really matter. Eventually you'll get to a poibt where you can self diagnose, the only question is how much time and money do you want to spend getting there. Teaching yourself sounds appealing until you've got 3000 reps on a bad move that someone doesn't point out to you until its already ingrained muscle memory. In the long run it's better to seek professional guidance early so you don't waste time and ammo learning an inferior technique. Also, there's more than one way to skin a cat. E.g. powerstroke vs slidelock. They both have their places, it all depends and what kind of shooting you plan on training for (defensive vs competitive). I'd recommend the GD special - "get both" and decide which one works better for you and just rep that ubtil its second nature. That's just one example of many, but you get the idea. Yeah, that right there is what I'm trying to avoid. I'm sure I have bad form or bad habits that I would like to become a thing of the past. Stuff I don't even know I'm doing wrong. |
Most anything can be fixed with sticks and rocks and string.
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Originally Posted By dogtired: Personally I think you should improve the skills you have. Starting from zero is probably hard to actually do. Plenty of resources out there. I enjoyed this one: Charlie Perez “Path of Focused Effort” Thank you. I will check that out. |
Most anything can be fixed with sticks and rocks and string.
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Originally Posted By stone-age: I'd still be shooting my Tanfoglio if they could get there quality control crap straightened out. I have a Springfield xd. I actually have a few of them. I also have a few Glocks that I tried really really hard to get along with. But they don't like me very much. People bash on XDs, but I’ve had 2 full size .45s. Mine were excellent, they ate everything as long as it wasn’t a 200 gr LSWC. And if you have a .22 pistol those are a hoot to practice with. |
If life was easy nobody would quit.
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Psst. There is no “right way”. It’s what works for you. A lot of people get caught up in minutiae about do exactly this and that. My standard is natural and repeatable. So not hand here, thumbs there, push/pull, athletic stance, weight on balls of feet, death gripping with wrists and elbows locked, trigger located on first distal pad…etc etc etc. That’s all fine and good. But what really matters is that you can draw and get on target the same way repeatedly, which means it needs to be natural. What’s most important is the ability to pull the trigger without disturbing the sights. You can employ all these tips and tricks to accomplish that, but if they go right out the window under stress, what good are they? I think I saw something from Jerry Miculek (sp?) back in the day that said something along those lines. That’s not to say you can’t train up and adopt new things, just be reasonable. Be like the Turkish Olympic guy. ETA: if any instructor tells you “this is the only right way”, run away. There are certainly wrong ways, but there are a lot of right ways. |
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Originally Posted By stone-age: Thanks. I will see if I can find them. Fundamentals is what I am looking at. All the way back to basics. Originally Posted By stone-age: Originally Posted By Mach: the fundamentals are pretty well covered in those magpull videos from years ago, I don't remember the name Thanks. I will see if I can find them. Fundamentals is what I am looking at. All the way back to basics. https://www.amazon.com/clp/B00373PEVW I sent you a PM |
Mach
Nobody is coming to save us.
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Nobody is coming to save us.
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