Grip, Trigger Pull, And Shooting of a Revolver?

M

Mosin-Marauder

New member
Was wondering if there were any good articles or advice you fine folks could provide on the correct Grip(s), placement of the trigger finger, the correct methods of shooting (and cleaning!), and any other useful information about a revolver for someone who is new to them (Very limited experience with a .22 Revolver, other than that none at all). Would really appreciate any help and advice you guys could offer. Thank you! :)

Regards,

-Mo
 
I apologize, I'll try to shorten it a bit.

What would be a good grip for someone who is starting out with revolvers be? How do I correctly pull the trigger (I've seen some people recommend using the joint of the index finger and others using the traditional "pad" of the index finger, like in rifle shooting). And any advice on proper aiming and other fundamentals of shooting a handgun. Any extra info for a newbie would be much appreciated also. I hope this clarifies a bit, I apologize if both of these are incomprehensible, haha.

Regards,

-Mo.
 
(I've seen some people recommend using the joint of the index finger and others using the traditional "pad" of the index finger, like in rifle shooting)
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You'll get slightly better leverage using more than just the "pad"

There are a lot of variables involved as to what is "best"

Hand size, how well the gun fits your hand, and the weight of the pull can dictate what is most comfortable

Try both styles and see which feels more natural to you, and that will normally be what works best
 
Look up

Grant Cunningham's site for his books

or check

Amazon for his books

He specializes in revolver shooting.

You can't just get a one-stop lesson here.

Cunningham's easy to read well illustrated books
include

Defensive Revolver Fundamentals (start with this one)

Gun Disgest Book of the Revolver

Gun Digest Shooters Guide to Handguns

Also peruse his internet site for some worthwhile
articles
 
Okay, thanks, guys. I will try and see which trigger pull works best, and I will see about reading some of those Books and websites, now.

Thanks again for your help!

Regards,

-Mo.
 
I think the best place to start is decide what you want to use it for - carry, woods, home, etc. Once you decide that, folks can recommend some models to try, then you can go to the gun store, see how they feel, and go from there. If there is a range near you that does rentals, even better.
 
I've already picked out the revolver, mostly just for a woods/range gun/maybe home defense. I will get a better revolver for when I want to carry seriously.

And Thanks for that, G. Completely forgot about Ol' Jerry. I'll have to watch some of his videos.
 
Well, I looked around the gun store and saw a bunch of the new Semi's and revolvers and didn't really like the feel of any of them. I'm into C&R rifles and stuff, and the owner showed me a Nagant revolver in almost unissued condition, bore and everything was superb, and it felt really nice in the hand. Despite my better judgement I put it on Lay Away and I'm close to getting it payed off. I've been told to get a better gun for a first gun, but I have been wanting one of these for a really long time and didn't know when I'd get a chance to buy one as good as this. Go ahead and scold me, now. :p haha.
 
That's what I was thinking. It's not a heavily recoiling cartridge, either, and I could reload for it, eventually. I don't plan on concealed carrying or anything, but it would be nice as a range practice gun, like you said.
 
I think the best place to start is decide what you want to use it for -
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And the next place to go is, what you are going to use (type & caliber). Then you learn the specific techniques that work "best".

Mechanically, revolvers fall into two broad categories, Single Action (SA) and Double Action (DA). My wife calls them "cowboy guns" and "cop guns" (we are old, and grew up while cops were still all carrying DA revolvers)

Both have that round thingy in the middle (cylinder), and may shoot the same shells. Other than that, they are different animals, and to get the best from each means understanding a bit about how they are different, and using the particular technique that works best for them, and for you.
 
I don't think there is anything wrong about having interest in a Nagant revolver but I also think:

most of what you would read, watch or research with regards to avid revolver shooting is going to be kind of lost and/or extremely difficult to translate to this particular revolver

Now I --KNOW-- that many are going to talk about fundementals, hands-on practice, all trigger time is good trigger time, etc etc etc.

It is an oddball repeating handgun and it certainly does have a cylinder... but if we tried to compile a list of 'revolvers', this one would be nearly as far from the center of what most would call a modern double action revolver -- or one where a younger shooter would research technique for trigger manipulation and grip.

I would -love- to see you come across a solid, nicely used four-inch heavy barrel S&W Model 10.

And YEAH, I will take some heat for being the bad guy who isn't offering support and a slap on the back for the Nagant find... but seriously -- have you tried the double action pull on one of these yet?
 
Wasn't that bad. I liked the single action.
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There you go. The experts will tell you everything, but it all boils down to what you feel, and what you like, and dislike about it.

Get that Nagant, and some ammo, play with it a little, see what it is, and is not, and what you can do with it, and what you can't. Admittedly, you are a novice, but it will give you a baseline of your own ability, with that gun. And then put it away in your collection, so it stays in good shape, a unique milsurp handgun.

Just don't stop there. When you can, get a modern revolver. In a common caliber. I used to always say "get a .22" to learn with, but ammo shortages still plague some areas, so get something you can get ammo for. .38 Special would be a good choice. A .357 Magnum gives you more options.

Get a S&W, or a Ruger, or a Colt ($), something made for the civilian market, and check the trigger on those. You might find something ...different from the Nagant. Something that, once you get used to it will let you shoot even better.
 
"Sixguns" by Elmer Keith is available as an E-book through Amazon. I just re-read it (for the third time). Even though written in 1955, and updated in 1966; it gives the revolver shooter just about all that one needs to know. Tips on hold, sighting, trigger control, etc. are all discussed. Chapters on target shooting, hunting, personal defense with all types of revolvers (as well as some auto-loaders) are included.
 
Mo,
With your very limited frame of reference, you tend to choose surplus designs that appeal to your eye.
There's nothing inherently wrong with that in itself, but I'll say very strongly that the Nagant is an extremely bad choice to learn DA revolvering with.

I would have to take some considerable time to think of a worse one.

Do yourself a favor & get something that'll actually work FOR you instead of AGAINST you.

The DA pull is atrocious, you will not learn how to work a GOOD trigger, re-loading takes time away from shooting & makes it a time-consuming distraction.
Finer points like where you position your trigger finger won't matter on the Nagant.
Learning a smooth & consistent DA pull with a 13-15 pound trigger isn't going to happen.

You'll be fighting the trigger & sights, taking all day long to load between strings, and handicapping yourself needlessly.

The Nagant is a war relic, not a learning tool.
I sincerely suggest you use your head on this one, if you seriously want to learn a DA revolver, instead of your affinity for obsolete military designs.

Neither your RG nor a Nagant will get you there.

If you don't plan to use the DA trigger & only want a leisurely plinker, you'd be far better off with a Ruger .22 Single-Six.
Denis
 
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