How important is 'textbook' technique when shooting pistols? Namely Glocks...

CanuckShooter

CanuckShooter

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I have had 2 Glock 17's in the past, and sold both of them before ever even firing them. The last time it was because I discovered what the "proper" technique was for shooting a pistol (I posted about it at the time and received very helpful answers). I have size 7 hand (7" from beginning of palm to tip of middle finger, 4" of that length is palm, and the remaining 3" is middle finger) and found that I could BARELY reach the trigger with the tip of my finger when grabbing the gun with "proper" form. Proper form from what I have read is holding the pistol so that the bore, and the "V" between my thumb and pointer finger are centred in the axis of my arm all the way back to my shoulder. I also can't reach the mag release with my thumb, usually just depressing it with my middle finger on the same hand.

I LOVE Glocks which is why I keep coming back to them wanting to buy another. They point naturally for me, I am a minimalist by nature so I love their simplicity, the availability and price of parts and mags, bomb proof reliability and their awesome track record (not to mention excellent customer service I have received during the brief time I had them). The fact that they are the AK-47 of pistols is just too cool.

Does anyone here with similar size hands just adapt/deal with the grip size and find they can shoot really well, that it's really not a hindrance? How many believe that strict form is a do or die situation... ie. if you can't use exact proper form, look for another design? I almost always shoot 2 handed if that makes any difference.

I have shot 2 Glocks before. A G22 and a G17 and found them both comfortable EVEN though both had a Hogue Hand-All slipped over the grip making it that much thicker!! The G22 I shot at about 8-10 yards, but I knocked down every bowling pin one shot each at quite a brisk pace.

Here's how I end up gripping it:





So... whaddaya think? lol Opinions? :redface:
 
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Lots of people with small hands shoot Glocks well, see the video of the 11 year old girl. Notice the way she is holding the pistol, her hand has "migrated" around the right side of the grip (called h gripping). The issue with h gripping is that the recoil from the pistol is now directed at the base joint of the shooting hand thumb. In the 'proper' technique the recoil comes back into the web of the hand which provides more shock absorption than the base joint of the thumb. The practical effect of this is that, all other things being equal, a shooter using the h grip should have more difficulty placing repeated shots quickly and accurately. Note that the issue isn't just hand size, it's almost more an issue of hand proportion.
 
I posted some pics, same ones from my old post to show the form I can use comfortably. Would that be considered H gripping or is it a little better?
 
I have had 2 Glock 17's in the past, and sold both of them before ever even firing them
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stop reading bull#### and goto the ####ing range.... get out of the library and into the dirt.... go shoot some IDPA/CDPA and have fun with other like minded people.

Glocks are the best there is, there is nothing finer then the polymer wonder :) :)
 
Your photo were taken from the back and therefore it couldn't really show how you grip the gun, but anyhow I have a XS hand and a G17 as well as a CZ 75B. The G17 doesn't feel comfort in hand but I got way more control than the CZ given the same load. I guess the grip angle and the short trigger reach help a lot. Very nice shooter.

Trigun
 
As Stevo said sight alignment and trigger control are paramount. Find a grip that works for you and then practice natural body alignment to the target sight alignment and trigger control. You will eventually get the feel of when you are set up to the target correctly and you will be able to effectively manipulate the trigger.
 
skeetgunner said:
Until you limp-wrist it and it jambs......

Grip
Stance
Sights
Breathing
Trigger
Follow thru and
Tempo

It starts with the grip.
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Sounds like a good drill for bullseye shooting.

I can shoot one-handed with just the trigger finger and one other finger gripping the pistol , I'm not concerned with "limp wristing". We had 13 women brand-new to shooting at the range this week for a Ladies Night. Not a limp wrist malfunction out of the whole lot.

As long as you don't drop the pistol, your grip is fine.
 
this is my take ......


have you ever taken martial arts?

there are two schools classical and real world or what ever you want to call it
the classical school basically teaches you the muscle memory , and things to be conscious of , good habbits. this imo prepares you for the 2nd school or real world ........here you find your own style how much of the classical you want to keep and how much is not as important.

There are certain things your body is predisposed to and it does well by genetics or whatever.
all advice is good but imo there is no special secret to find out other than what is particularly good for you .

Just my opinion I am not a world class shot but i have been told i am a pretty good coach

hope that helps
 
Thanks very much for all the input guys! So it seems like the general consensus is basically, if I can shoot the gun well using my adapted grip then it shouldn't be much of an issue, even though it may not be 'textbook technique'. Especially seeing as I don't ever plan on competing or anything like that, just recreational shooting. Maybe some fun club shoots at the most.

If anyone else has anything to add feel free, as this has all been great advice... especially Westicle's lol
 
Stevo said:
Sounds like a good drill for bullseye shooting.
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Is there any other kind? Whether its formalized target shooting (and given the size of the rulebooks, I think that includes the action pistol sports) or life-and-death "fighting back to the rifle you shouldn't have dropped," this ain't horseshoes. "Close" (and grip related stoppages) doesn't count.
 
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CanuckShooter said:
Thanks very much for all the input guys! So it seems like the general consensus is basically, if I can shoot the gun well using my adapted grip then it shouldn't be much of an issue, even though it may not be 'textbook technique'. Especially seeing as I don't ever plan on competing or anything like that, just recreational shooting. Maybe some fun club shoots at the most.

If anyone else has anything to add feel free, as this has all been great advice... especially Westicle's lol
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Consistency is the key. Textbook techniques are just that, formalised methods to illustrate a point....I have yet to solve a math equation exactly how the example in a textbook demostrated. Your take the principles and ideas and adapt them to the situation, or in this case, your physical form.

If you can hold the gun steady, not jiggle the muzzle with every trigger squeeze and get proper groupings, you are good to go.
 
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