how do you grip your 1911?

[masakari]

I use the high crossed thumbs technique with my thumbs atop the manual safety, as I have for years.
Like this:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3123/3169549768_e41efd48c3.jpg
I never had an issue until I started shooting aluminum 1911s and the extra recoil made my left (non dominant) thumb slip forwards and bump the slide release slightly, occasionally causing failures to lock back on the last round. I remedied this by loosening my left thumb's grip and relaxing it. It seems to be fine now, but in moments of stress sometimes my grip returns to its old state. I also sometimes feel like my thumb is uselessly dangling there.
I dont want to completely change my grip and use thumbs forwards as it doesnt really work with every type of pistol, and I absolutely must maintain my dominant thumb on the manual safety.
so the question is, how do yall hold your 1911? pictures?

[Lane]

I'm a fan of Todd Jarrett - and use his thumbs forward grip. I've found it works well for me with 1911's and my few tupperware guns.

Lane

[DaFadda]

Crossed thumbs here.... Until a few years ago. Was taking the NRA instructor's class, and the "new thought" was to go thumbs forward in teaching. I tried it, it was comfortable, so its what I teach.

Similar note: I still use a modified Weaver stance. Again, its what I learned, and since I'm not wearing a vest, I'm not providing full chest body mass to an assailant. Those of you who know me, know that is just TOO big a target! Anyway.... I had a shooter "correct me" at the range a couple months back (he just got a permit) saying... "you can't stand that way sir, its dangerous for you."

Uhhhh.... and what do you say to that?

(hint: I was very polite.)

Dafadda

[sdmc530]

I'm a fan of Todd Jarrett - and use his thumbs forward grip. I've found it works well for me with 1911's and my few tupperware guns.

Lane

same here....

[NAMVET72]

I'm a fan of Todd Jarrett - and use his thumbs forward grip. I've found it works well for me with 1911's and my few tupperware guns.

Lane


+2 to what Lane Posted..............

Clyde

[Big Smoke]

I use the crossed thumbs on a revolver, but for a semi-auto, I prefer thumbs forward, as mentioned. With more more skin on the grip, I have more control of the gun.

[svandamme]

i naturally grip mine with crossed thumbs, but much lower then in your picture.
right thumb goes about where the mag release is, left one above..

guess i have smaller hands ...

[Jason_G]

Thumbs forward, hands as high up on the grip as I can go.

Jason

[Roverron]

Thumbs forward, and usually a modified weaver stance

[Riverpigusmc]

Thumbs crossed, left thumb riding safety (southpaw shooter). Tried thumbs forward, hate it

[JBT]

I'm a fan of Todd Jarrett - and use his thumbs forward grip. I've found it works well for me with 1911's and my few tupperware guns.

Lane

Ditto. I am also a big fan of Mr. Koenig.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDzC6djUQxM&feature=relmfu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fp_2ECfbwKo&feature=relmfu

[Dave Waits]

I'm a Lefty so, just reverse everything(Like I have to)!
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii180/retmsgt123/IMG_0295.jpg

[Lane]

I'm a Lefty

I just figured you posted the picture backwards... :D

[girphoto]

This i the grip that I use..Thumbs forward with the weak hand facing down.

http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae326/girphoto/GRIP.jpg

[Thedragonslayer]

Thumbs forward and arms fully exteded and nearly locked. Strong hand thumb on top of safety.

[zenfly]

I use two hands because I don't have three..

[GoldenVolt]

High grip, thumbs forward and strong thumb riding safety. My
stance, is modified weaver.

Greg

[masakari]

I gave in, and I tried thumbs forward... and noticed a drastic improvement. Well, im sticking with it! Sometimes, i can just be too stubborn.
Funny thing is, it feels more natural... it was easy to get used to it. You would think years of muscle memory would be hard to kill, but not so.

[sdmc530]

I'm a Lefty so, just reverse everything(Like I have to)!
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii180/retmsgt123/IMG_0295.jpg

Leftys rock....the rest are backwards!

[Lane]

This i the grip that I use..Thumbs forward with the weak hand facing down.

http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae326/girphoto/GRIP.jpg

Geeze Gary, is there a gun in there somewhere?

:D

[Snipersnest]

I too, use thumbs forward.

[Jdl2]

Two thumbs forward. I agree, Koenig has some good training videos. Here's a video worth checking too. He speaks about 1911s near end. On YouTube he's known as Hickok45. This video addresses your question. If you like his style check out some of his other videos. Educational and entertaining.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22msLVCtPk8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[Sheepdog]

Thumbs forward. Koenig Rocks.:cool:

[saz41]

Definitely thumbs forward. I feels very natural to me.

[CharlieinKansas]

Deffinately Todd Jarret's style, take a look.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysa50-plo48&feature=player_detailpage

[skosh69]

Deffinately Todd Jarret's style, take a look.


Yep...I got my grip tips from him too....

[Riverpigusmc]

My young instructor at the RSO class today took me to task over not using thumbs forward..telling me how it was best, the slide would cut me using thumbs crossed, recoil recovery, ect.....I promptly drew and made forehead hits on the bad guys peeking out from behind the steel hostages. He moved on. It was a good day, and fun was had by all

[Horse'nround]

+ a dozen or two for T.F. grip. It allows me to change from 2 to single hand with little or no gun re-orientation involved.

[Roverron]

+ a dozen or two for T.F. grip. It allows me to change from 2 to single hand with little or no gun re-orientation involved.
For me it also makes for an easier mag drop.

[Boats]

Funny, but when I'm shooting right handed, it's thumbs forward. Left handed, it's thumbs crossed.

Go figure. But it works for me.

[DrHenley]

A few years ago I discovered some problems with my handgun shooting technique and developed my own "Crossed Thumbs" grip, which has served me really well.

I had used a thumb forward grip all my life, and had never been a very good pistol shot - with one exception. That was with an Baby Erma Luger. For some reason I could shoot it really well. I was quite a good shot with a rifle, and it bugged me that I could not transfer that skill to a pistol.

One problem I discovered was that the gun deflected slightly when I pulled the trigger. Countless hours were spent in my bedroom with a BB pistol and later with an Airsoft 1911 trying to eliminate the deflection. What I determined was that when pulling the trigger, all the muscles in my right hand would move slightly. The more tightly I gripped the gun, the worse the deflection was. The only way to eliminate it was to completely relax the muscles in my right hand. Well, having a completely relaxed grip with a 45, you lose control pretty quickly. Remember the Baby Erma Luger? I was able to shoot it with a relaxed grip because of the unique weight distribution of the Luger.

I had a marksmanship instructor work with me a while, and he mainly worked on my stance and relaxing my shoulders, etc. It helped but I still could not achieve the level of marksmanship I expected. And I still had that annoying deflection when I pulled the trigger. The only thing I could do was compensate for it with a little Kentucky Windage.

I analysed photos and videos of expert pistol shooters trying to figure out how they eliminated this problem. The crossed thumb grip stood out. It did not look natural to me, but I decided to try it.

With my grip, the muscles of the strong hand are used for one purpose only: pulling the trigger. The weak hand's muscles do everything else. The trigger guard rests on the weak hand index finger, which supports the weight of the gun. The weak hand also cinches the strong hand into place around the grip allowing the strong hand's muscles to relax.

I was able to successfully adapt this grip to every type of handgun with just minor adjustments - semi-autos, double action revolvers, single action revolvers, and even an Encore single shot.

I still shoot with that marksmanship instructor occasionally. He's amazed at how well he taught me (we'll just let him believe that...)

http://www.cotep.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=22&pictureid=127

[Razorwire]

DrHenley, interesting picture. Now I know why my wifes family in Georgia keeps asking me if I have a younger brother...I'm even wearing the wame faded yellow t-whirt today!

I started as a Law Enforcement firearms instructor in 1987 and the crossed thumb grip is what eventually got our pistol team into a winning position. I've tried thumbs forward and don't like it.

[zukinut]

thumbs forward myself.