Hey me and my freinds just got are RPals back and we are both looking to get are first handguns. Im looking at a few guns, glock 17, Cz 85 , Springfield XD , and a sig 220. Iv never shot a handgun but im very interested in starting IPSC. Most people say to get a handgun that feels right, but what are they looking for when they say that ? Iv handled the glock 17 , Cz 85 and XD but its hard to tell when you have no idea what your looking for.
How do you select a handgun that feels right in your hand
- Thread starter GDavies
- Start date
This will turn in to one of those thred's that will give you a lot of different opinions so here's my 2 cents
when held in your hand the gun should feel comfortable like an extention of your hand not like a dog fornicating a football, bring it up sight it, it will all just feel natural.
my next bit of advice is go to a gun shop and fondel lots of gun's this will give you an idea what does't feel right from there you will better know what does feel right. Next is the best of all, go to a range talk to the people there and see if they will let you pop off a few rounds with different guns, once you fire a few guns you will have a way better understanding of what you like and dislike.
when held in your hand the gun should feel comfortable like an extention of your hand not like a dog fornicating a football, bring it up sight it, it will all just feel natural.
my next bit of advice is go to a gun shop and fondel lots of gun's this will give you an idea what does't feel right from there you will better know what does feel right. Next is the best of all, go to a range talk to the people there and see if they will let you pop off a few rounds with different guns, once you fire a few guns you will have a way better understanding of what you like and dislike.
The actual test is to buy the one you shoot best with...
Some tests that help to narrow list down.
1. grip should allow you to center gun along the length of forearm while allowing trigger finger to contact trigger with crease or pad...I prefer crease
2. Close eyes raise gun open eyes, sights should be fairly well aligned.
3.Dry fire, a well fitting gun will not 'twitch' in the sights when dry firing. A not so well fitting gun will...see #2.
Some tests that help to narrow list down.
1. grip should allow you to center gun along the length of forearm while allowing trigger finger to contact trigger with crease or pad...I prefer crease
2. Close eyes raise gun open eyes, sights should be fairly well aligned.
3.Dry fire, a well fitting gun will not 'twitch' in the sights when dry firing. A not so well fitting gun will...see #2.
i think that's all bull####.
go and buy a gun that is proven to work, and then learn to shoot it. why buy a gun that "feels good" at the store, only to find out it's a piece of #### when it's time to use it.
training will make you make the gun work, there is no magic gun out there that will shoot better for you.
Grip size, shape and ergonomics are not magic;
If the gun doesn't fit your hand will only be wasting time and will never become as good as you could’ve if you picked the right gun! There are many dependable guns out there so there's no need to settle. If a company is spending a ton of money on ads doesn’t mean it’s better then others, don’t buy into marketing hype!
If the gun doesn't fit your hand will only be wasting time and will never become as good as you could’ve if you picked the right gun! There are many dependable guns out there so there's no need to settle. If a company is spending a ton of money on ads doesn’t mean it’s better then others, don’t buy into marketing hype!
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kokanee king
Regular
- Location
- Didsbury, Alberta
Depends on your hand size and how deep your pockets are? First, I'd pick up a .22 to get a feel for handgunning. Some newer striker fire type pistol come with interchangable palm swells that will accomodate any hand size. Stay away from the giant magnums. You'd use them once, laugh and down load the ammo anyway. Thats all i got to say bout that.
I recommend everyone try as many guns as they can before making this decision, but I'm a hypocrite because what I did is buy a gun that I know shoots well and just learned to shoot it.
I understand people wanting a gun that "fits them" so I don't argue against it, but there are very few guns where the ergonomics of the gun is a limiting factor in a shooters ability.
Probably the best reason to buy a gun that "fits" is that you will be more emotionally invested in it. You will handle it more, shoot it more, whisper sweet nothings to it.... which will make you a better shooter.
Don't get too hung up on making the perfect decision the first time. You may start off with a tacticool plastic gun and then decide you want a manly steel gun, or start with a minor caliber and decide you want bigger holes, or just decide you need more guns. It happens to everyone.
I understand people wanting a gun that "fits them" so I don't argue against it, but there are very few guns where the ergonomics of the gun is a limiting factor in a shooters ability.
Probably the best reason to buy a gun that "fits" is that you will be more emotionally invested in it. You will handle it more, shoot it more, whisper sweet nothings to it.... which will make you a better shooter.
Don't get too hung up on making the perfect decision the first time. You may start off with a tacticool plastic gun and then decide you want a manly steel gun, or start with a minor caliber and decide you want bigger holes, or just decide you need more guns. It happens to everyone.
Watch the Tod Jarret video on you tube - the one on how to hold a pistol, not the 1,000 round torture test one. Any gun that you can hold properly and you think is cool is good to go. Despite what lots of Glock owners will tell you the world does not begin and end with the Austrian plastic 2x4. You should not have to "just get used to" a pistol that you are spending your own money on, if you're military or LEO then you get to "just get used to it", as a civillian you get to have what YOU like.
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Funny as I chose the "Austrian 2x4" as my first. THat was over P226\XD\M&P\Kimber. You Glock haters aren't hard to spot
One of the things that affects how you shoot is how large your hands are. Mine are small, my fingers are short, and most "normal" size handguns make me have to hold the gun sideways. I can do it, but it takes a lot of work to be able to shoot accurately and quickly. The best pistol I've found for my hand (and my interest) is the H&K P7 series. I've owned three of them over the years and have found nothing that "shoots" better. On the other hand, friends with large hands have found other guns they like better and shoot well. I've never used one of the newer pistols that come with backstrap inserts, but they sound like a good idea. I'm in agreement with the folks who wrote that this is one of those threads where everyone's opinion will differ, and at least at first, stay away from the large magnums. For what it's worth, the Dan Wesson revolvers (maybe some others, too; I don't know) are made with a stub instead of a grip frame, and so any size of "handle" can be made for it.
If you are looking for a gun you can use for IPSC, here are some things to consider for fit, assuming you are holding the gun aligned correctly (axis of bore in line with axis of wrist):
Place the gun in hand with the beaver tail pushed down into the web of the
hand. See where your finger falls on the trigger. Ideally it should be close to a 90 degree angle between the surface of the trigger and the surface if the trigger finger(last digit of the finger). This means perpendicular to the axis of the gun, so you can most easily pull straight back a long that axis without disturbing the sight alignment.
Also, check to see if the finger will rub against the frame above the trigger guard when you are firing. If there is any contact there at all, look for another gun. You will never be able to fire an accurate shot at speed if you are rubbing against the frame.
The modern IPSC grip technique is for the most part, a high thumb set-up to maximize the leverage advantage, and this means that both thumbs are pointed at the target, one atop the other. If the gun has a frame safety the shooting thumb will ride on it. If not, it will ride on the weak hand thumb. Place your thumb there and note if there are any sharp edges on the safety or the beaver tail or anywhere in the loop between your trigger finger and thumb. Sharp edges or pressure points will cut or bruise in recoil.
With the thumb still on the safety or in the correct grip position, note how the grip feels in the hand. If there are any air spaces between the surface of the shooting hand palm and the grip surface, the gun will try and twist in that direction in recoil. Ideally, you want a maximum skin-contact fit...a skin/gun weld if you will, so look for a gun the offers this.
If there are any spots on the grip or beaver tail where you feel pressure points, these will likely become uncomfortable in recoil, so look for a gun the fits the hand in the same way a good shoe fits the foot; no pressure points to rub you raw or bruise. Note that in IPSC you will likely have to grip tape the gun so that you can reduce slippage, and this adds a small amount of thickness. You don't want to start out with a gun that feels like you are trying to curl your fingers around a fence post to start with; it will just get worse once you enhance the grip surface (Yes, I know that not everyone tapes their grips. But if you want to be competitive, check and see how many people will shoot a polymer framed gun in July without grip tape. It's like trying to hold on to an eel).
Once you have a short list of guns you think you like, ask around and see who owns one and if they will let you try them out for a few rounds. Trying a gun for fit in a gun store and actually firing it are two different things. I've held guns in my hand that felt great but were horrible to shoot, so try before you buy to avoid having to sell your investment at a loss.
Good luck with your choice. I hope this helps.
R
Place the gun in hand with the beaver tail pushed down into the web of the
hand. See where your finger falls on the trigger. Ideally it should be close to a 90 degree angle between the surface of the trigger and the surface if the trigger finger(last digit of the finger). This means perpendicular to the axis of the gun, so you can most easily pull straight back a long that axis without disturbing the sight alignment.
Also, check to see if the finger will rub against the frame above the trigger guard when you are firing. If there is any contact there at all, look for another gun. You will never be able to fire an accurate shot at speed if you are rubbing against the frame.
The modern IPSC grip technique is for the most part, a high thumb set-up to maximize the leverage advantage, and this means that both thumbs are pointed at the target, one atop the other. If the gun has a frame safety the shooting thumb will ride on it. If not, it will ride on the weak hand thumb. Place your thumb there and note if there are any sharp edges on the safety or the beaver tail or anywhere in the loop between your trigger finger and thumb. Sharp edges or pressure points will cut or bruise in recoil.
With the thumb still on the safety or in the correct grip position, note how the grip feels in the hand. If there are any air spaces between the surface of the shooting hand palm and the grip surface, the gun will try and twist in that direction in recoil. Ideally, you want a maximum skin-contact fit...a skin/gun weld if you will, so look for a gun the offers this.
If there are any spots on the grip or beaver tail where you feel pressure points, these will likely become uncomfortable in recoil, so look for a gun the fits the hand in the same way a good shoe fits the foot; no pressure points to rub you raw or bruise. Note that in IPSC you will likely have to grip tape the gun so that you can reduce slippage, and this adds a small amount of thickness. You don't want to start out with a gun that feels like you are trying to curl your fingers around a fence post to start with; it will just get worse once you enhance the grip surface (Yes, I know that not everyone tapes their grips. But if you want to be competitive, check and see how many people will shoot a polymer framed gun in July without grip tape. It's like trying to hold on to an eel).
Once you have a short list of guns you think you like, ask around and see who owns one and if they will let you try them out for a few rounds. Trying a gun for fit in a gun store and actually firing it are two different things. I've held guns in my hand that felt great but were horrible to shoot, so try before you buy to avoid having to sell your investment at a loss.
Good luck with your choice. I hope this helps.
R
Funny as I chose the "Austrian 2x4" as my first. THat was over P226\XD\M&P\Kimber. You Glock haters aren't hard to spot
Actually I've owned several Glocks over the years - I had bought and sold a Glock 17 before there was any other kind of Glock, I handled the first Glock 23 in Canada while I owned a 19 (with a factory barrel). I've shot most of the line-up, I've shot pimped up comp guns, Major 9 competition guns and just about everything else the company has produced. I've handled Glocks with huge round counts, and I've handled Glocks that went boom. In fact I must have put more than 10,000 rounds through various Glock pistols. So I hardly qualify as a Glock hater. They are reliable and when not goofed with work pretty much as advertised. They are not a comfortable fit for everyone however, and they are not necessarily the best firearms for everyone, if you can hold the pistol properly by all means go for it. If you can't hold the pistol properly and you have little to no experience, it WILL cause you frustration as you try to add speed to accuracy.
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My pistol is for IPSC as well. I did a lot of research and asked many owners questions, for me I first narrowed my choices down to 2 pistols, M&P9 and the G17. I went to the store that had them both in stock and talked to the sale person, he was very helpful. I still could not decide on which one as I was opting for the G17 (the hype) but still hesitant. In the end the sale person told me to close my eyes and he had both pistol, one at a time, in my hand and asked which one feels the most natural/comfortable in my hands with my eyes closed.... without hesitating the M&P9 with medium grip was the most comfortable of the two. The G17 felt like the M&P9 with the large grips and blocky.
So I bought the M&P9 instead and I can draw from my Blade-Tech holster and sight on target faster than when I had my G21 that I used for IPSC.
So I bought the M&P9 instead and I can draw from my Blade-Tech holster and sight on target faster than when I had my G21 that I used for IPSC.
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I don't buy in the terms of comfortable grip, a shooter should learn to deal with the gun. A target pistol has a f#&king strange grip but it does help you to control the gun, that said they all have very large grip angle that average people won't like them because of not comfortable to shoot. MY CZ 75B has a very comfortable grip but it doesn't shooter better than my G17 which has a very uncomfortable 2x4 blocky grip. I think trigger reach is what you need to consider as for better control.
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