Handgun 101: How to Grip a Pistol
and other tips for beginners on shooting a pistol
Before we get into the proper handling of your pistol and why it is important, I think that is vital to touch quickly on another plague I see all too often in the shooting community. Sometimes we come across people who feel the need to be "Gatekeepers". You know the type. The guy who has been shooting for 15 years and knows everything there is to know about firearms. The guy who logs on to his local gun forum page with gun powder and Cheeto dust on is hands to make fun of a beginner shooter he saw at the range.
Call these people out every chance you get. They are looking for an ego stroke but in reality this type of behavior needs to be put down. If you are reading this, you are likely a beginner. Or you are one of those aforementioned people looking for something else to pick apart and get that ego stroke you so desperately need. If you are that person, move on. If you're that beginner, don't worry about people like that and never become that person. That type of behavior keeps newcomers away from shooting. If you see some one who needs encouragement or help, be kind and give it to them.
Like this guy for example... Instead of snapping a picture, go correct him... Nicely.
Safety
First, there are rules to operating any firearm. Important rules. There is 1,000 different ways to do anything but these following are to never be broken. Even if there's a fire!
1. Treat every weapon as if it were loaded.
2. Never point your weapon at anything you don't intend to shoot.
3.Keep weapon on safe until ready to fire.
4.Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until ready to fire.
And lastly, know your target and what lies beyond.
"Treat Never Keep Keep"
On to the point...
There is going to be volumes of opinion in this but there is a point to all of it. I will be the first to tell you that, "if it works, its not wrong". Don't let me, or anybody else tell you how to do something. If you shoot your pistol cocked sideways and still shoot safely and effectively... then stick with it. However, there is always room for improvement, and there is a reason why there is a widely accepted way to grip your handgun to shoot most effectively.
Handguns tend to be a more difficult weapon to shoot accurately. Especially if your grip is wonky. They are obviously smaller and the trigger pull on a factory trigger usually has a heavier pull. The best way to overcome these issues is a proper grip. The best grip will place the webbing between your thumb and index finger (the purlicue) of your dominant hand where the back strap of the pistol curves inward at the top of the grip.
look how snug that is with my purlicue!
The barrel of the gun will be in line with your forearm. This will be the base for your strong side hand and if shooting one handed, will be the correct way to do so. However, proven practice has shown that shooting two handed is a far more efficient way to shoot. One, you're likely to be more accurate, and two, in a combat situation, you're far less likely to get the gun ripped out of your hand.
Makes you look cool though!
Next, you're going to create a space on the grip where the meaty part of your palm on your non-dominant hand will be placed. Wrap those fingers securely around your dominant fingers in the front of the grip. it will look a little something like this.
Little hands
Pistols and their grips will come in all shapes and sizes. There are single stacks like the Glock 43 that will feel skinny and your hand will wrap much further around it. Then there are fat bazooka feeling grips like the Glock 21 for bigger handed guys. Of course, the size of the round plays a part as well but there is a whole different debate wrapped up in there. The M&P Shield .40 S&W has a wee little grip too, so while the size of the round plays a part, there are plenty of options to choose from and hopefully you find one that works well for you. Personally, I'm a little guy and of course have little guy hands, so I generally opt for models with smaller grips like the FN 509 Tactical seen in these pictures. The fact that I prefer 9mm is just coincidental.You're weapon should be pointed down range, making sure you have good sight alignment. Place your finger on the trigger and squeeze. There is a lot of mythical information out there about pulling the trigger but I find much of that to be non-sense. Don't anticipate the recoil and you'll be pleasantly surprised you hit at least very close to your intended point. Some other little helpful tips when holding the pistol are... not squeezing with a death grip. Your non-dominant hand should be doing more of the squeezing. Not only is it more of your guide hand but you're sort of using it to sandwich the handgun between both hands. Keep more of a loose grip with your dominant hand and just focus primarily on squeezing the trigger with it.
Hopefully this little write-up helped correct any issues you may have had and answered some questions you have been looking for. Hopefully you didn't stumble across this article because some wanna-be warrior made fun of your tea-cup grip and didn't bother to help you out. Those types of people aren't anybody who matter and their stories usually start off with something like, "I would have joined the Army... but".
If you just skimmed through and didn't retain any information or just found it confusing, here is a helpful video. I'm a visual learner too, so no shame there. Everybody starts somewhere and we here at Cajun Ammo are thrilled when new comers ask questions and want to learn more. Never be afraid to ask anything. There are no dumb questions, only dumb actions that come from a lack of knowledge and being too prideful to find out. You don't know it all. I don't know it all, and neither does Tim Harmsen from the Military Arms Channel. Although it might seem like he does... check those guys out. Tons of great information.
