Just bought my first handgun yesterday, a Beretta 92 FS. Shot both that and a SIG P226 and liked the Beretta more. I basically just take it in both hands and try to steady it on target, and squeeze the trigger when it seemed aligned. Are there any stances I should know, foot placement, grip, etc? Thanks for any input.

Basically, just do the opposite of the thugs in rap videos and movies...instead of holding a gun sideways or almost upside down, hold it upright.  Sorry, couldnt resist it.

Anyhow, there is the "Weaver Stance" and the "Isosceles Stance".  Weaver is basically the "FBI" stance and is taught at about every law enforcement and military training centers.  I have shot pretty decent with Weaver, but couldnt seem to reach the "perfect" score on qualifications.

4 years ago, I switched to the Isosceles stance and can shoot perfect qualifications just about every time now.  Try them both out.  Some links included below.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BTT/is_144_24/ai_57886945

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BTT/is_149_24/ai_65910635

http://www.realfighting.com/issue7/yelena.html

http://gijoedaisy.tripod.com/neomel/id5.html

http://www.wingchunkuen.com/why/columns/parriski/xtraining01_firearms.html

http://groups.msn.com/THEGUNROOM/weaverstance.msnw

Sorry. Don't know how to make the links "hot".

John

  To make links hot. Click on the URL button below. In the Insert Tags: section. It's on the right side of line one. Between IMAGE and EMAIL

  Like this

 Althought that link is dead.

 Lets see if this one Works  Thats better.

There are a few basic stances and variations - Weaver, Isocoles, Chapman, and a few others.  One variation I like is the Reverse Weaver that my friend D.R. Middlebrooks developed as part of his "Fistfire" method:

www.tacticalshooting.com

A few basics for almost any 2-handed stance (but I'm no expert):
 -  Grip handgun securely in strong hand ("C" clamp like grip - strong front-back).
 -  Grip week hand around fingers of strong hand (knucke-to-back of knuckle).  Squeeze index
     finger tightly to underside of trigger guard.
 -  Strong thumbs on top of weak thumb along side of frame.

Common problems to avoid:
 -  NEVER place either thumb (or any part of your hand) in line behind slide.  (Otherwise you will need at least some bandaids and possibly medical help).
 -  Do not cup weak hand under base of pistol (it doesn't help at all for recoil control).
 
Foot placement varies slightly depending on the stance, but basically keep feet about shoulder width appart and lean slightly up on the balls of your feet.  Keeping head up, bring pistol up to your eye level.

Hope this helps.


PS  In D.R's "Reverse Weaver" the weak arm is locked out and the strong arm is slightly bent.  The main reason I like this stance is due to the extra support on the front left of the pistol providing a more stable base.  IMO this helps to minimize "pushing" your shots low and to the left.

I suggest this book.  I learned a lot from it.  Some of it doesn't work for me, but 90% of it does.  This guy really knows his stuff.  I've gotten fast enough at action shooting that my G21 and Berett Elite are cycling too slow for me.

Thanks for the info so far. Does anyone know of a site that shows the isosceles position in photos?

Bunch of good pictures here.

Quoted: Bunch of good pictures here.

The guy shooting the revolver seems to have his feet much too far apart. (could be distortion from the pic)

For Isosceles
I put my feet no more than shoulder width apart left foot about 4" further forward both feet facing the target.  I lean slightly forward so that the majority of my weight is on the balls of my feet and not the heels.  I bend slightly at the knees.  Your whole body should manage the recoil.  

Weaver doesn't work for me.  I'm right handed and left eye dominant.  My taught me Weaver and I used it almost 20yrs and switched to Isosceles.  My accuracy got a little better, but my speed got 2-3 times better.  When executed properly Weaver is very good.

IMO there is too much thinking involved to get it right.  to me Isoceles comes more naturally and it much easier to shoot and move with and pieing corners especially on your weak side (right handed pieing around a barricade on the left side).