How To Grip A Handgun: Basics Of Modern Two-Handed Shooting
Whether you're a seasoned shooter or a new gun owner, knowing how to properly hold a firearm is essential for accurate and safe shooting. Handguns are already notoriously hard to shoot and a large majority of the people I’ve had the honor of training with over the years have all said that all pistol marksmanship comes back to your basic grip. People like Jerry Miculek, Dan Brokos, and Scott Jedlinski are all in agreement that this is simply the foundation of where pistol marksmanship starts. So in this guide, we'll go over the basics of how to form a good pistol grip, including hand placement, finger position, and grip pressure. By the end, you'll be well on your way to mastering the art of handling a handgun.
Hand Placement
The first step in proper gun grip is hand placement. Your dominant hand should grip the gun fairly lightly compared to your support hand (nondominant hand). This might sound counterintuitive but when you think about the mechanics of what is happening each time you pull the trigger it makes sense. Your support hand’s primary job should be to… well… support your firearm while your dominant shooting hand’s only responsibility should be squeezing that trigger as consistently and as fast as needed to get the job done.
The easiest way to do this is to think of always placing your right hand on the gun in a position where you can consistently squeeze the trigger with your index finger and disturb the sight picture as little as possible, after this, think of mating your non-dominant index finger with your dominant middle finger and wrap the support hand fingers around the firing hand fingers and squeeze with the support hand firmly.
This placement of your index over your middle finger should get you in the ballpark of what most people would call a perfect master grip but there are a few more small tips I can give you that will make it even better. These ones I learned from pretty much all of the same firearms trainers I mentioned above. The first of these tips is the alignment of your support and firing hand. In most of these photos, you’ll notice that the contours of my hands and thumbs mate together almost seamlessly and the natural curves of my hands line up with one another - this is what is going to really increase your consistency in terms of both recoil management and sight picture from a holster draw whether you’re shooting with a red dot or just iron sights.
Secondarily, you’ll always want to make sure that this grip is as high as possible on the firearm without making the gun malfunction - this will serve to help mitigate the recoil simply due to the better positioning of your hand behind the recoil rather than below it. Some handguns, like revolvers don’t allow you to form this specific type of grip because of their different grip angle and style, as well as their cylinder gap which if you have a normal “master grip” would wind up with your thumb getting blasted by hot gasses each time you pulled the trigger on your revolver. You can simply adapt your grip so that your thumb rides behind where the cylinder gap is and support the firearm with your support hand thumb by letting it ride on the cylinder.
Your non-dominant hand should then be placed on the gun as well, with your fingers interlaced underneath the trigger guard and your thumb pointing forward along the side of the gun. This two-handed grip provides a secure and stable hold on the firearm, reducing recoil and improving accuracy.
Grip Pressure
The final element of proper gun grip is grip pressure. While it may be tempting to grip the gun as tightly as possible, this can actually lead to accuracy issues and fatigue. Instead, focus on a firm but relaxed grip, allowing the gun to settle naturally in your hand. Your grip pressure should be consistent throughout firing, with no jerking or tightening during the trigger pull. This can take practice to master, so start with slower, deliberate shots and work your way up to faster shooting speeds. While the basics of gun grip are relatively simple, they can take practice to master. Spend time at the range working on your grip, experimenting with different hand placements and finger positions until you find what works best for you.
Conclusion
If you're new to shooting, consider taking a class or working with an experienced shooter to refine your grip technique. A proper gun grip is essential for accurate and safe shooting, so don't be afraid to invest time and effort into perfecting it.
Mastering proper gun grip is essential for accurate and safe shooting, whether you're shooting for self-defense, competition, or recreation. By focusing on hand placement, finger position, and grip pressure, you can improve your accuracy, reduce recoil, and enjoy a more comfortable shooting experience. Remember to practice regularly and don't be afraid to seek out guidance from experienced shooters. With time and effort, you'll be well on your way to becoming a confident and skilled gun handler.
Luke Cuenco
10.8.2023
