Bad range day!
- Thread starter Millie
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I’m sorry, but this is completely incorrect. The thumb should always ride over the safety on any SA gun equipped with a real one (1911, 2011, SA CZ, etc.). Also, newer shooters should engage the safety with the weak hand before holstering.
And, the arms/elbows should not be locked out.
Just my opinions.
Hashknife in the Bunk House, all fed and gone away to home. What a wonderful day.
OP
In my case, I sometimes put my thumb under the safety, and I end up not being able to fire the gun. My thumb has pushed it up and...no firing! (This is mostly on the 1911 9mm, and happened a couple of times in my one match. I'm ok on the p238.)
Place your thumb farther down and lock your support hand thumb over it. Your grip will be more natural and more solid. Firing one-handed, bend your thumb down toward your index finger.
Several reasons:
-It allows a higher grip with the support hand (and the main hand as well), which is the most important hand for recoil control, as shown by every top shooter in the world in both competition and tactical shooting in the last 30 years.
-It allows for a better more positive (and faster) draw because you are getting the grip in the holster and not changing it once you have the gun up.
-It eliminates the very real and common problem of bumping the safety on. This can cost you a match, or your life, depending on why you are drawing the gun.
You can do it your way. Just giving my opinion.
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Ah. Matches and top competitors. Ducktail safeties and high grips with thumbs pointing at the target. I see. I suppose those things require compensation in gun handling.
By conservative estimates, I've probably fired a million rounds through various 1911 pistols over the last 55 years. No upswept safeties on any of mine. The spot weld afforded by the standard safety tang works the way it was intended. I've never bumped a safety on, and I've never seen anyone bump one on. The only one that I've known to bump on was Gray Wolf's Les Baer, and that was because a burr on the sear foot was grabbing the safety lug under recoil and refusing to let go. She wasn't toughing it with her thumb. I knocked it off with a file and by her reports, it's been fine ever since.
I tried that thumb pointing grip a few times just to see what it was about. It weakened my grip to the point that I couldn't control the recoil well, so I abandoned it. Maybe it doesn't work well for Millie, either.
By conservative estimates, I've probably fired a million rounds through various 1911 pistols over the last 55 years. No upswept safeties on any of mine. The spot weld afforded by the standard safety tang works the way it was intended. I've never bumped a safety on, and I've never seen anyone bump one on. The only one that I've known to bump on was Gray Wolf's Les Baer, and that was because a burr on the sear foot was grabbing the safety lug under recoil and refusing to let go. She wasn't toughing it with her thumb. I knocked it off with a file and by her reports, it's been fine ever since.
I tried that thumb pointing grip a few times just to see what it was about. It weakened my grip to the point that I couldn't control the recoil well, so I abandoned it. Maybe it doesn't work well for Millie, either.
By conservative estimates, my 70 year old mom has been driving cars for likely half a million miles. She doesn’t give good advice on driving technique though.
Folks used to ride a horse to get to town. Now they drive a car... We have evolved...
Shooting technique has vastly changed since the 1911 platform was developed. We have evolved...
NKD is spot on....
I worked with Millie and made a few suggestions. I saw her shoot (2) baseball sized groups at 7 yards with (2) seperate guns she had never shot before.. When she had correct grip and her thumbs positioned properly, she had an immediate reduction in group size.
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