Holding a Sixgun

[Rick]

My revolvers wear butt ugly Pachs. Comes down to do you want to look good or do you want to shoot good. Pick one.

 

[KeithB]

Like Rick all my SAs wear Pachmyers. A standard SA grip belongs on a garden implement not a handgun. Opinions vary...

 

[Pistolero]

Pachmyers on my SBH seem to work well.

 

[Creeker]

There is no doubt the easiest way to shoot these is with larger target type stocks. We all know in order to shoot accurately you must repeat your grip. The standard single action stocks are far from best for this.

 

[Paden]

I hold all my sixguns via a Bisley type gripframe. I can't abide little wedge shaped blocks of wood which only fill half my hand and lend the gun a distinct inclination toward rotation under recoil.

 

[John]

I have to have a grip that fits. The only SA standard grip is a 44 Lipsey Blackhawk that for whatever reason seems to shoot well for me. I have pachs, mustangs, you name it but Mr Rugers originals stay in a drawer.

 

[Reed]

This thread inspired me to dig out my 45 Colt and take it to the range. Pain has kept it in the gun safe. It's clobbered my middle knuckle plenty. Putting my little finger under also hurts. Here's a hold I tried yesterday and didn't do too bad. I wrapped my left hand around my right, as much like a semi-auto grip as I could manage, with my L thumb extended along the frame below the cylinder, and my L pointer finger under the trigger guard, and pressing my R middle finger back hard away from the back of the trigger guard as much as possible. It doesn't look like much clearance from the trigger guard, but the second picture shows it a little better. Seems to be just enough to help. I tucked my right pinkie between my L pinkie and L ring finger, rather than try to let it ride under the grip. This mitigated most of the knuckle rap on my right middle finger and kept the pain out of my pinkie. It feels a little awkward, but I could probably get used to it. A little goofy is better than pain! I had a few wild shots. Trigger pull is really light and surprised me several times! Distance was 16 yards.

 

[Reed]

After re-reading fiver's post, I should try switching my thumbs. Would make cocking a whole lot easier w/ the L thumb!

 

[KHornet]

looks good Reed!

Paul

 

[freebullet]

Nice, the way your hand gobbles up the stock completely the Hogue might fit ya better. I shoot all handguns with left thumb over right, feels foreign not to.

Bob Munden offered some good tips on sixgunning. Rip Bob.

 

[Reed]

Thanks for the idea about Hogue. Just did a little reading about Munden. Pretty impressive! In looking for info about him, I ran across this video by Jim Finch. He puts his R thumb against the recoil shield. I can see how a good push with the thumb would help keep the trigger guard off the middle knuckle. I'm not too interested in speed, but I'll try any idea to save my knuckle. I feel bad this nice gun has sat in my safe so many years.

 

[Ian]

Don't put your thumb there if it's a hot load. That's fine for powder-puff, 180-grain SASS loads but it will hurt you if there's some power involved. Also, the "push" thing you have to counteract with push from your curled gripping fingers, or your shots go high-right as a RH shooter.

 

[Reed]

Thanks for that tip, Ian. Forewarned is forearmed.

 

[Rick]

Ian is 110% right. I don't know a thing about SASS shooting but if there is ANY recoil involved it would take all of one shot to fully understand the error of that. In addition my thumbs are long enough that it would push the grip right out of my hand, and the muzzle would be way high and way right.

 

[Reed]

You guys had me at the first warning. The second one cements the deal. I experimented with that grip and discovered that my thumb is too short to be effective as a support there anyway, so that idea is dead.

 

[Ian]

Context, always context. I watched that whole video series a while back, nice guy with some good tips for beginner and intermediate Cowboy Action competitors. The whole culture of that sport is very open and helpful, as those videos demonstrate. HOWEVER, Mr. Finch is only showing what HE does, in the class HE shoots in most, and is careful to point out a few times in his videos that what works for him doesn't work for everyone, even in the context of his sport.

 

[Pistolero]

Always cock left thumbed for this righty shooter. Always seemed much easier and less
harm to the grip consistency.

Bill

 

[KHornet]

Never gave it a lot of thought, but have always cocked with the right
thumb. Will have to try it left thumbed one of these days.

Paul

 

[Rick]

Should always cock a revolver with the offhand, it will not be in the same grip position after cocking with the strong hand. Probably little difference at muzzle thumpin distances but as the range increases it gets more and more important.

 

[Pistolero]

What Rick said is what I have always thought about it. Cocking with my off hand doesn't break up the grip like cocking with
the strong hand does.

Bill