how you hold a 1911?

correct way to grip a 1911

  • like any other pistol, thumb over thumb towards target

    Votes: 124 58.2%

  • thumb rest over safety for support

    Votes: 89 41.8%
  • Total voters
    213
Gunslinger said:
There's a fine line between an argument and being argumentative. You've done a fine job at picking apart every line but seemed to have missed my only point. Be open to new ideas, experiment and use what works for you.
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What point did I miss. Doing what is comfortable or easiest is not always best. Eg: Buy a gun that fits your hand. If you don't know how to hold it, how do you know if it fits?

You said: "Try them all and use what works for you."

Why not "Try what skilled and experienced people have done, as they have put millions of rounds down range, and millions of dollars of research, and millions of hours of time collectively into what works best" BUT be open minded and willing to try new things.

Then once you have a foundation, you can judge what works.

Letting others "make mistakes for you" and then taking advantage of all the training, science, research, and time they have put into learning what is the best for sport, combat, or target shooting I think is much more efficient and safe manner that will get you much better results in the end.

And a great saying to close it with, as I see some people here bashing education, training, and using "I have been shooting for years" as an arguement or validation.

Practice DOES NOT make perfect. Practice makes permanent...

Perfect practice makes perfect. Therefore you need to know what "optimum" or perfect is before you can judge perfect...
 
yyyyy said:
And a great saying to close it with, as I see some people here bashing education, training, and using "I have been shooting for years" as an arguement or validation.

Practice DOES NOT make perfect. Practice makes permanent...

Perfect practice makes perfect. Therefore you need to know what "optimum" or perfect is before you can judge perfect...
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I have to agree with most of the things in your post. Since I have been involved in formal coaching, it has been a real eye opener of how seemingly MINOR points/changes can make HUGE differences.

Your average person, even if they have fired ### million rounds, and can shoot the nuts off a gnat, will not necessarily be the best instructor. They have learned by trial and error, and in most cases, are not aware of what/how they do what they do.

A good instructor/coach DOESN'T have to be the best shooter. They have to be the best at knowing how to shoot and making adjustments that work best for YOU. The instructor/coach has learned both formally and by experience, making adjustments to many students and seeing what works and doesn't work across a large number of people. It is this type of exposure/experience/training that average shooters don't get.
 
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Haven't read all the posts, but I don't see how one can shoot a 1911 without resting the thumb on the safety.

I've tried it, but my thumb will sometimes engage the safety on recoil... also, holding the pistol that low feels awkward to say the least.
 
I use Massad Ayoob's Stressfire system with ALL my pistols, works just fine.

Even with my 1911 I use a thumbs down grip to better 'crush grip' it and use the Ayoob wedge hold with left hand. Not as comfortable as thumbs forward grip but stronger grip and better trigger control.

Therefore I do not ride the safety.
 
SandRoad said:
I have to agree with most of the things in your post. Since I have been involved in formal coaching, it has been a real eye opener of how seemingly MINOR points/changes can make HUGE differences.

Your average person, even if they have fired ### million rounds, and can shoot the nuts off a gnat, will not necessarily be the best instructor. They have learned by trial and error, and in most cases, are not aware of what/how they do what they do.

A good instructor/coach DOESN'T have to be the best shooter. They have to be the best at knowing how to shoot and making adjustments that work best for YOU. The instructor/coach has learned both formally and by experience, making adjustments to many students and seeing what works and doesn't work across a large number of people. It is this type of exposure/experience/training that average shooters don't get.
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True...

Except, or I should say and the instructor should be able to demonstrate the drills flawlessly. Eg: You rarely learn from playing tennis with people you can beat.

Of course there are specialist situations where coaches like NBA shooting coaches aren't as good as the players, but that is different.
 
BKP99 said:
I use Massad Ayoob's Stressfire system with ALL my pistols, works just fine.

Even with my 1911 I use a thumbs down grip to better 'crush grip' it and use the Ayoob wedge hold with left hand. Not as comfortable as thumbs forward grip but stronger grip and better trigger control.

Therefore I do not ride the safety.
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Have you taken a class with MAS or an LFI instructor, or just read the books?
 
So far only the DVD. With 2 small kids even though I can afford the trip, time away is harder to get.

I did recently meet a fellow (who carries on his job) who's qualified to instructor level through several Gunsite courses who offered to spend some time with me on the range to teach me some stuff so I'm going to take advantage of it.
 
Where are you located? What instructor courses has your friend take at gunsite? CCW carry, or duty carry?
 
Edmonton.

I have to check regarding the courses he's taken.

Any other tips regarding good instruction in my area is appreciated.
 
yyyyy said:
True...

Except, or I should say and the instructor should be able to demonstrate the drills flawlessly. Eg: You rarely learn from playing tennis with people you can beat.
Click to expand...

If your mistakes, or poor form, are not corrected, it doesn't matter how good your tennis opponent is, you will never improve.

You will always learn more from the better instructor, rather than the better shooter, unless of course they are the same person.
 
Yep... Pretty much same point I am making. I guess what I should have said is that the best trainer is going to be the guy who can teach you to have a sub 10 second El Prez, as well as shoot it himself.

I am however skeptical of any instructor who cannot perform the skills consistently at a significantly higher level than a student. Or the combat or preparedness instructor that is overweight and has no fitness level. Do as I say, not as I do, that kinda BS.

Teaching and Instructing are two different skills I will agree. There are just two many experts and teachers out there what would get owned by other intermediate shooters (or in any field), and both their instruction and shooting skills are sub standard due to the position or seniority, or because no one has called them out.

As such, going back to my tennis analogy, it is of paramount importance that the instructor be able to demonstrate proper forum and perform the technique/skills perfectly for you to see it.
 
It sounds like too many out there are still trying to hold the gun down. You'll eventually find that speed comes from consistant tracking in recoil, not force. The widely used "thumbs forward on top of safety" is faster, not because you are muscling the gun down in recoil, but tracking it better as it lifts and returns through a neutral grip.
Besides, a 1911 in .45 really does not flip that much, the recoil is pretty mild with even full house loads...
Watch the Todd Jarrett Video again and watch how little the gun flips and how it returns each time:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4584332856867071363
 
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