Double action revolver shooting
- Thread starter Sid
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Bob Wright
New member
The thinking is to keep both elbows slightly bent, thus pushing forward with the gun hand while pulling back with the offhand. The resulting tension sort of locks the gun in place.
Bob Wright
Bob Wright
When shooting fast and aggressively, elbows are slightly bent and I'm bent forward in a boxer's stance.
When shooting for accuracy, I'm a bit more erect, and elbows are a bit more bent.
Either way, I'm squared up to the target and do NOT do the push/pull thing. There's no such thing as "locking the gun in place", IMO. It's a futile endeavor. A neutral grip, in contrast, keeps the muzzle returning to the same place each time, which is a more effective way to manage the muzzle.
When shooting for accuracy, I'm a bit more erect, and elbows are a bit more bent.
Either way, I'm squared up to the target and do NOT do the push/pull thing. There's no such thing as "locking the gun in place", IMO. It's a futile endeavor. A neutral grip, in contrast, keeps the muzzle returning to the same place each time, which is a more effective way to manage the muzzle.
g.willikers
New member
There's many ways to hold and point a gun, especially handguns.
And many ways that have been taught down through the years.
The one a person choses seems to be related to the era it was learned.
For example, the push pull method was the standard in the eighties and early nineties.
Then the neutral grip with pointed thumbs seemed to gain popularity.
Kind of like those who trained when the Weaver stance was taught still prefer it.
And those who like the isoceles stance learned how to shoot that way.
It's all good, if it's effective.
Personally, I like bent elbows with most of the weight of the gun and arms supported by the shoulders.
Easier on creaky elbows and quite effective with recoil control.
To each their own, whatever works.
What matters most is the results.
And many ways that have been taught down through the years.
The one a person choses seems to be related to the era it was learned.
For example, the push pull method was the standard in the eighties and early nineties.
Then the neutral grip with pointed thumbs seemed to gain popularity.
Kind of like those who trained when the Weaver stance was taught still prefer it.
And those who like the isoceles stance learned how to shoot that way.
It's all good, if it's effective.
Personally, I like bent elbows with most of the weight of the gun and arms supported by the shoulders.
Easier on creaky elbows and quite effective with recoil control.
To each their own, whatever works.
What matters most is the results.
I am a pretty fair DA shooter, and I always locked my elbow(s). However, I always paid a lot more attention to my sights and trigger pull than to my elbows, feet, ankles, hairdo, sock color or shoeshine.
I consider all the business about position and stances and such to be pretty much irrelevant at most times and complete nonsense when dealing with self defense shooting. I always thought that while I was getting my arms just right and my feet at the oh-so proper angle, the bad guy would be pushing lead and I would be in deep doo-doo. (Dead, but with my legs at the proper angle!)
Jim
I consider all the business about position and stances and such to be pretty much irrelevant at most times and complete nonsense when dealing with self defense shooting. I always thought that while I was getting my arms just right and my feet at the oh-so proper angle, the bad guy would be pushing lead and I would be in deep doo-doo. (Dead, but with my legs at the proper angle!)
Jim
Bent elbows for recoil management.
My first time shooting a hand gun was a 357 and I was told to hold it like a cup and saucer. Left hand flat under my right hand. They did not give me ear plugs. I fired one shot an the world got quiet for a while.
I now hold solid with both hands locked together.
To each his own.
David
My first time shooting a hand gun was a 357 and I was told to hold it like a cup and saucer. Left hand flat under my right hand. They did not give me ear plugs. I fired one shot an the world got quiet for a while.
I now hold solid with both hands locked together.
To each his own.
David
I found this the other day, more about hands than elbows, but still interesting and informative.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYbfVGK-vRs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYbfVGK-vRs
Why not go the world's best revolver shooter for tips? Jerry Miculek keeps his elbows slightly bent. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEHNZFTfSD8
I figure a couple pics might help. My arms are extended, but not locked. They might appear locked in the photos, but it's because I also rotate my elbows a bit out. Seen from 1st person, the bend would be clear. Stance is squared up to the target, and grip is neutral.
Here's a vid, too. You might be able to see my arms are extended, but not locked. Again, stance is squared up to the target, and grip is neutral.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNFerCV3W4Y
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Here's a vid, too. You might be able to see my arms are extended, but not locked. Again, stance is squared up to the target, and grip is neutral.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNFerCV3W4Y
.
g.willikers
New member
Anyone have a good description of a neutral grip?
Here's a attempt:
The neutral grip doesn't push the gun in any single direction.
All the pressures of the grip, including the trigger finger, cancel one another out, leaving the gun pointed directly at the target.
It's not an easy concept to explain or grasp
)).
Here's a attempt:
The neutral grip doesn't push the gun in any single direction.
All the pressures of the grip, including the trigger finger, cancel one another out, leaving the gun pointed directly at the target.
It's not an easy concept to explain or grasp
)).I shoot a lot of D/A revolver, I think My elbows are locked, I think the more rigid the better, just like it's important to hold the gun as tight as possible. Trigger control and sight alignment are most important. My elbow is definately locked when shooting D/A with one hand.
g.willikers
New member
It might be less important what the elbows are doing than the wrists and forearm muscles.
Chris Christian
Inactive
These are just my thoughts FWIW.
A neutral grip is one that doesn't cause the gun (front sight) to shift right or left on the shot. The front sight will rise under recoil, but it will stay centered in the rear notch. I achieve that (as a right handed shooter) by locking my support hand thumb over the top of my firing hand thumb... and using small diameter grips.
If we are dealing with action pistol shooting and the reduced loads used, the muzzle rise is minimal and the action of pulling the DA trigger for the next shot will pull the front sight back down into a proper position for an accurate second shot. At ranges under 15 yards, my splits with a revolver that produce D-0 (IDPA) or A-Zone hits (USPSA or ICORE) are about the same as those from my semi-autos (IDPA MA in SSP & BUG, and EX in the rest).
I think the key is to use smaller grips that force a more positive grip that keeps the gun from shifting in your hand under recoil.
YMMV.
A neutral grip is one that doesn't cause the gun (front sight) to shift right or left on the shot. The front sight will rise under recoil, but it will stay centered in the rear notch. I achieve that (as a right handed shooter) by locking my support hand thumb over the top of my firing hand thumb... and using small diameter grips.
If we are dealing with action pistol shooting and the reduced loads used, the muzzle rise is minimal and the action of pulling the DA trigger for the next shot will pull the front sight back down into a proper position for an accurate second shot. At ranges under 15 yards, my splits with a revolver that produce D-0 (IDPA) or A-Zone hits (USPSA or ICORE) are about the same as those from my semi-autos (IDPA MA in SSP & BUG, and EX in the rest).
I think the key is to use smaller grips that force a more positive grip that keeps the gun from shifting in your hand under recoil.
YMMV.