Noob Question: different technique?

T

TheNoob

Inactive
Background: I've been shooting semi-autos for a while now. I purchased a revolver a while back but haven't had the chance to shoot it much. Part of the reason was that I just didn't like the way it felt when I shot it. It kind of stung my hands and that turned me off of it (I have a severe allergy to pain of any kind :P ). It's been pretty much a spare gun that stays in my office ever since.

In hindsight, I think part of it was because I was trying to shoot it like a semi-auto. By that I mean instinctively trying to keep the gun from jumping too much so that the slide would work the way it was supposed. Considering that there isn't a slide to absorb some of the recoil, logically, it was then going into my hands. That's just my theory, however. I was watching others at the gun club shooting revolvers and they all seemed to let their revolvers rise a lot more than you would let a semi.

So as to my question: is there a significant difference between the technique used on a semi-auto versus a revolver? Should I be letting the gun rise and not holding it so rigidly or is the stinging hands/wrist just the nature of the beast?

Thanks!
The Noob
 
I think a lot of it has to do with the weight of the revolver, the grip, and what load it is shooting. My little S&W Sigma .380 ACP semi really raps your palm, and my friend's little S&W .357 Magnum revolver (can't remember the model) was a real beast. Worse than any .44 Mag I ever shot. Thin grips seem to sting more, as there is less surface area to spread the recoil force through.
 
Compared to many semi-autos, revos have a high bore axis, and no slide to absorb recoil, so their muzzles tend to rise more. I'm amazed when I shoot my Glock how little that muzzle moves. Same basic grip (1st pic).

Don't try to control the recoil, but maintain a firm & neutral grip. Grip a revolver as high as possible with your strong hand. You shouldn't see any grip material between the gun & the web of your strong thumb when looking from the top (2nd pic).

As far as painful recoil, I have to ask what gun, caliber & ammo are you shooting? Rubber grips with a covered backstrap can help reduce felt recoil. Try some different ammo, and a firm grip, too.

TomIDPA2012Worlds.jpg


IDPAindoorNats2012-4.jpg
 
DO NOT put your thumb up by the cylinder gap by the forceing cone as shown in the pictures above!!!! If it is a mag. caliber of .357 or more it WILL destroy your thumb!!

Go google revolvers and cut off fingers for proof.....
 
DO NOT put your thumb up by the cylinder gap by the forceing cone as shown in the pictures above!!!! If it is a mag. caliber of .357 or more it WILL destroy your thumb!!
Click to expand...

IF it's a magnum powered round, it can cause trouble. A point we just openly discussed in this thread:

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=483283

As you can see, though, a thumbs-forward grip isn't always a problem. Besides, my main point to the OP was that the strong hand grip should be high.
 
Great answers! Thanks very much.

One question though: when you talk about a "neutral grip", what is that exactly?
 
A grip is neutral when the gripped gun wouldn't move if either hand is removed as the other continues to grip as it had been. Imagine gripping 2 ends of a piece of tissue paper, rather than a gun. Each hand can be gripping very firmly, but if your grip is neutral, the tissue won't tear.


BTW, welcome to TFL!
 
I grip I"ve used ONLY on with revolvers is the overhand grip. Hold the gun with your strong hand (right usually), cock it, then put your left on the top of your right wrist. This helps keep the gun out of your skull and supports your right wrist. The trick is to still allow your arm to move with the recoil, just within limits and with control.

But, I've only used this with reasonable loads/guns and I've never really tried it with huge super powered guns. It might hurt your right wrist more even if it keeps your forehead blood free.
 
It kind of stung my hands and that turned me off of it (I have a severe allergy to pain of any kind :P )
Click to expand...

Exactly what pistol and what load are you shooting?

A full house 357 in and airweight revolver is going to hurt no matter what you do.

More info would be helpful.
 
As others have said, it really depend on what type of revolver you're shooting. I, personally, can "muscle down" a revolver in the same fashion that I would a semi-auto so long as the recoil is no more severe than that of an all-steel .357 Magnum. Once you go beyond that into either lightweight .357 Magnums or .41 Magnum and larger, I find that "muscling down" quickly becomes unpleasant and that allowing your forearms to roll with the revolver's recoil is a much more tolerable technique.
 
I'm surprised no-one else has mentioned this but the grip of a revolver is much more flexible in design than a semi-auto as well. If you haven't got the right grip it can make a big difference to both the feel of recoil & how the impact is distributed.
The original factory grip on this .357 was never comfortable, no matter where I gripped or how I gripped.
DSCF7941.jpg


Then I swapped it out for this style & it was a whole world different. Where I used to be feeling it after maybe 20~30 rounds of full house .357's with the old grip I can shoot the same loads all day with this one.
DSCF7977.jpg


If trying a few different grip positions & grip techniques doesn't fix it for you try some different grip types &see if that helps as it did me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top