With a 1911 type pistol, the firing side thumb MUST ride the safety. The only time it comes off is to manipulate other controls and them immediately goes back on top of the safety.
No high thumb.JJ 45 said:Which way is best for you?... "thumbs high" or NOT and why?
Pros and cons please...Thanks, JJ
Correction: "Here is a good example of what one person recommends as a way to grip a 1911."Sharkbite said:Here is a good example of the correct 1911 grip
Nonsense. I've been shooting 1911s for more than 50 years. Not only do I not "need" to have my thumb ride on top of the safety, I can't shoot my way out of a wet paper bag if I try keeping my thumb on top of the safety.With a 1911 type pistol, the firing side thumb MUST ride the safety. The only time it comes off is to manipulate other controls and them immediately goes back on top of the safety.
With a 1911 type pistol, the firing side thumb MUST ride the safety. The only time it comes off is to manipulate other controls and them immediately goes back on top of the safety.
I don't ride the thumb safety either, my thumb stays just below it. I was taught that you should start with a strong one handed grip and support it, when possible, with your off hand, because you never know when you'll need to shoot one handed or have to fight for possession of your gun. Also, I use the same grip for both pistols and revolvers. I have no problem with recoil control or accuracy and I've never accidently engaged the thumb safety in almost 50 years of shooting the 1911. And, I still manage to win single stack at most of the local USPSA matches I participate in.[*]You can't predict when you may need to shoot one-handed. I can't shoot one-handed with my strong-hand thumb over the safety, riding the side of the slide. It makes no sense to me to use one grip for two-handed shooting and a different grip for one-handed shooting.
hdbker, how did he say to grip the pistol?Not long after I got my first 1911, I was shooting at my clubs outdoor range when a young guy taped in the shoulder and asked if he could talk to me. He was a Marine home on leave. He'd been watching me shoot and seen that my grip on my pistol was wrong. He schooled me on the correct way to grip the pistol. The different way to grip did feel better, more natural. My shooting has improved sense then. I got his address overseas and sent him photos of a few of my targets and thanked him. hdbiker