Maximizing the Combat Handgun Grip

Understanding, developing and refining an effective and consistent combat or final firing grip on the pistol are essential to repeatedly engage a designated target with both fundamental (precision) and combative (getting the hits necessary to stop the threat) marksmanship. While a less than optimal grip will allow us to hit a target once, follow-up shots are unlikely to hit where we want without a consistent combat handgun grip. Having worked with a lot of shooters over the last 10+ years, I have found that handgun grip and improper trigger management are the two main reasons why people cannot or do not consistently put rounds where they desire.

The final firing grip (FFG) is our physical interface with the firearm. A proper FFG should provide the shooter with:

Natural point of aim or consistent indexing of the handgun in our visual cone, so our sights are already aligned without having to do any work to align them.

Effective management of both vertical recoil (muzzle flip) and horizontal recoil upon discharge. Grip Guidelines

To achieve these goals, a few guidelines need to be followed whenever gripping the handgun. First, the strong hand needs to grip high into the beavertail or backstrap of the pistol, to the point where the flesh in the web of your hand is compressed. The higher the handgun grip into the backstrap, the closer the hand and forearm are aligned with the bore axis, thus providing better management of vertical recoil or muzzle flip.

Second, the middle finger of the strong hand should ride high and tight against the “root” of the trigger guard, or where the trigger guard grows out of the handgun grip itself on the frontstrap. This limits downward movement of the gun if the trigger is slapped or managed improperly.

Last, the support hand must meld with the pistol and envelop as much of the gun as possible, thus providing maximum friction on the gun and limiting lateral recoil or muzzle sway.

Both hands should grip the handgun firmly and an attempt should be made to exert forward and rearward pressure similar to clamping or squeezing a pair of pliers with the strong hand and side to side pressure with the support hand. In some training circles, a numeric designation for the amount of pressure to exert is given, such as 40% pressure with the strong hand and 60% with the support hand, although I doubt that under pressure of attack anyone will be cognizant of such references. Simply remember to grip high, grip firmly and cover as much of the frame of the handgun with flesh as physically possible.

Revolver Grip

The revolver handgun grip is commonly seen in law enforcement and among citizen shooters. This grip is easy to teach to new shooters or large groups at one time and works well with almost any modern semi-auto handgun or revolver. At statistically common gunfight distances (0 to 7 feet), shooters can quickly attain combat-effective hits. Executed properly with a revolver, this grip exerts downward pressure with the thumbs in an attempt to minimize vertical recoil. When utilized with a semi-auto pistol, this grip keeps the support-side thumb from contacting the slide or frame.

One benefit of this handgun grip is that it allows the support-side thumb to be used to engage/disengage the safety or de-cocker on larger pistols for individuals with small hands. However, one of its weaknesses is how this grip can create a pocket or gap between the support hand and the frame. The gun can recoil into this gap, especially when firing rapid shots or follow-up shots at greater distances. In addition, the forward end and frame of the pistol are left exposed, creating an opportunity for excessive lateral recoil. While proponents of the Revolver Grip advocate how easy it is to teach and to learn, it has been my experience that both new and experienced shooters acclimate to other grip methods just as well without experiencing the associated weaknesses.

Thumbs Up Grip

I have seen some students of the modern technique schools utilize the Thumbs Up Handgun Grip. Elevation of the strong-hand thumb often forces the web of the strong hand higher into the backstrap of the pistol, providing better vertical recoil management. Elevation of the support-hand thumb provides greater coverage of the support hand on the grip frame of the pistol, increasing grip friction. Advocates of this gripping method state that with the Thumbs Up Grip, there is less chance of inadvertently hitting the slide stop/release or de-cocker as compared to the Leatham-Enos Thumbs Forward Grip (see below).

Leatham-Enos Grip

The Leatham-Enos Grip was developed in the early 1980s by competitive shooters Rob Leatham and Brian Enos. In this handgun grip, the pistol is completely enveloped by the hands. The strong-side hand rides high and tight into the backstrap, and the inside of the support-side thumb fills the gap on the frame of the pistol. The support-side wrist and thumb are pointed straight alongside the bore toward the target. Some shooters lock the wrist forward and lock the support-side elbow while bending the strong-side elbow (reverse Weaver), as this provides a consistent physical index. With the support-side thumb and wrist forward, the pinky of the support hand should point straight toward the ground (or as close as physically possible) when flagged as a test of this grip.

No gaps should be present between the inside of the support-side thumb and the grip frame of the pistol. The fingers of the support hand wrap completely around the strong-side fingers on the frontstrap, with some shooters aligning the knuckles of each hand for consistency.

A Common Mistake

A common mistake is the shooter not gripping high enough into the backstrap of the handgun. This leaves a small gap which the gun can then vertically recoil into when discharged. To fix this, remember to grip high and tight into the backstrap and flag the strong-side thumb upward. This also provides a good visual of the space on the grip frame of the handgun which needs to be filled with the support-side hand.

Placing small amounts of grip tape in key contact areas has worked well for me over the years, but as grease from your hands, dirt, water and other foreign substances get on the gun, the edges of the tape inevitably start to peel or roll up, requiring reapplication. A small amount of Loctite 380 Black Max applied along the edges significantly helps reduce peeling. (Big thanks to Claude Werner for that tip!)

Another option is having the handgun grip professionally “stippled” or textured. This modification may or may not affect the resale value of your handgun but, if you’re like me, you care more about how well you shoot than you do about what might happen if you decide to sell it. I did my own stippling job on my G19 with a Sears Craftsman soldering iron.

Maximizing Performance

Shooting is a complex combination of multiple skills that some individuals pick up rapidly, while others require time and patience to achieve the goals they set for themselves. If shooting fast and accurately every time were easy, everyone would be a top-ranked competitive shooter and nobody would miss an enemy combatant or attacker during a self-protection related encounter. No matter the skill level, understanding, refining and possibly improving upon the combat handgun grip will aid in becoming a better precision shooter and/or faster and more accurate combative shooter.