I recently saw a video with the shooter keeping his thumb on the right side of the grip instead of around the grip. Can anyone here who shoots that way explain the pros and cons?
Shooting with thumb not around grip
- Thread starter Keithpeoples
- Start date
Depending on the gun, my thumb wrapped around the grip can interfere with the recoil, usually rotating the gun a little. To keep that from happening, I may rest my thumb on top of the grip, in line with the recoil. I tend to do that with very lightly-held breakbarrels, and less so with guns that have the end of the bolt on top of the grip (as then my thumb interferes with that).
And welcome to the AGN!
And welcome to the AGN!
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Many, myself included, do that with precision rifle shooting (centerfire). I did it today at the range with my Ruger Precision Rifle 6.5 Creedmoor.
Like this:
The advantage of it is that you're less likely to "milk" or "GI Joe Kung-Fu grip" and moving the gun when you press the trigger. Isolating the movement of your trigger finger without "sympathetically" moving the other fingers is a challenge. So, this minimizes that effect, because your thumb isn't wrapped around the grip.
Hopefully that made sense. This thumb around the same side (as seen above) is a more "relaxed" position, and less likely to move the gun during the trigger press. At least that's the theory behind it.
Like this:
The advantage of it is that you're less likely to "milk" or "GI Joe Kung-Fu grip" and moving the gun when you press the trigger. Isolating the movement of your trigger finger without "sympathetically" moving the other fingers is a challenge. So, this minimizes that effect, because your thumb isn't wrapped around the grip.
Hopefully that made sense. This thumb around the same side (as seen above) is a more "relaxed" position, and less likely to move the gun during the trigger press. At least that's the theory behind it.
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Target guns have utilized "Thumb Up" stock profiles for decades, on the AR type grips it becomes a tad more difficult from just folding your thumb up as shown above, or placing some sort of rest post or fence to place thumb on or against.
* General technique is to take away hand tension at grip allowing the pressure to break trigger ONLY between Thumb to trigger finger. Nearly all accomplished shooters will use this hold time to time pending discipline shot.
* General technique is to take away hand tension at grip allowing the pressure to break trigger ONLY between Thumb to trigger finger. Nearly all accomplished shooters will use this hold time to time pending discipline shot.
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A lot of folks (myself included) use a thumb-up grip when possible, as you can use your thumb press down a bit more at the rear of the gun to stabilize it.
Right or wrong, that's my story and I'm sticking with it! (Of course, many of you guys have seen my target work, and it is nothing to write home about).
Right or wrong, that's my story and I'm sticking with it! (Of course, many of you guys have seen my target work, and it is nothing to write home about).
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Think about the recoil of the rifle during the shot cycle -- the movement of the rifle that occurs from the time the trigger sear releases the hammer to the time the projectile exits the muzzle. Now look at the angle of the shooters right arm from the elbow to the grip. With the thumb around the grip, any recoil would push the shooter's hand back and push the shooter's right arm back and to the right and push the grip to the left -- and this would happen even before the projectile exited the muzzle.
The shooter is trying to minimize his contact with the rifle during the shot cycle. He wants the rifle to recoil the way the rifle naturally wants to move without him having any adverse random infuence over that movement.
Advantage? It could be an advantage in a precision bench-rest type of competition. In other situations where you really have to handle your rifle, I think it would be impractical.
stovepipe
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Observe nearly any competitive and successful Field target shooter you will see Thumb up nearly all the time !
Bench rest not so much as general grip is super light or resting on bags or a sled with the act of breaking trigger just a light touch.
OFFHAND shooting this type hold can really be beneficial so one can keep a light grip and not snatch trigger .... practice is key !!!!!!
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Hi Motorhead. Thanks for the info. I thought I was the first to reply to this thread -- looked like it was being ignored, so I didn't have the benefit of reading anyone else's replys first.
It's good to know that this approach is so widely used and I will practice it more in situations that I previously thought it would be of little benefit. I will also get my shooting friend to do the same. It's funny how guys (like me) can be shooting for many years and thinking they are doing their part and the rifle is to blame for the rest, when they are actually not doing their part very well (me again). Thanks again.
stovepipe
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I do it every time I’m shooting rested. On a lot of rifles without a dedicated grip/stock for it I simply rest the thumb against the cocking lever or whatever comfortable thing I find on the stock. So much more precise (for me)…
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Many custom stocks have a thumb-up style and a grip style built in them. This is a great thing for people with sore thumbs like me. The thumb-up style relieves pressure on my hand and is more comfortable for me.
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I may have to try this Wizardly thing you speak of!
I'm an Old Military Sniper and never heard of this Wizardly thing!
I'm an Old Military Sniper and never heard of this Wizardly thing!
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when shooting from a stable platform such as prone or benchrest I was taught and continue to prefer shooting with the dominant thumb aligned to the axis of the barrel.
when holding the rifle unsupported externally.... then i would envest the grip (thumb over).
when holding the rifle unsupported externally.... then i would envest the grip (thumb over).
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This is how I shoot EFT and Benchrest. Thumb up takes the “grip” out of play and minimizes the gun movement when pulling the trigger.
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Shooting springers in benchrest competition I find it allows me to be more consistent as you do not torgue the gun with your trigger hand as much. In centerfire benchrest I shoot totally free recoil, only trigger finger touches the rifle. The more you contact the rifle the more things you WILL DO that is detrimental to accuracy. Now after all this, my wife lightly grips her D75 on the bench. And if your going to shoot her for your lunch money, you best bring a sandwich.
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I have arthritis in my trigger finger and often will lock an accu-trigger because I can't pull straight back. So, in BR, I use my left thumb and forefinger to squeeze the trigger and trigger guard. BR shooters do a lot of strange things!
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