Let’s Talk About Grip: The Foundation of Shooting Accuracy

[Brians356]

This!!!!!

It ain't the arrow, it's the Indian.
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[Dave M.]

Let me open a can of worms and go down this rabbit hole. I'm new to the group and want to post one of the most over looked topic, so let me talk about it. They say the devil’s in the details, and when it comes to shooting accuracy, those details start with your grip. Here’s a stat that might surprise you: nearly 70% of shooting errors are linked directly to improper grip pressure or alignment. Think about that for a moment—before you even focus on sights or trigger control, your grip might already be working against you.

Why is grip so important? A solid, consistent grip does more than just hold the firearm—it keeps it steady during recoil and helps you maintain control in any situation. It’s not just a minor adjustment; it’s the foundation that every accurate shot is built upon.

Let’s get practical. The next time you’re at the range, try this: apply firm, even pressure with both hands and ensure your support hand is positioned high on the grip. This simple adjustment can significantly enhance your stability and control, leading to tighter groups and better overall performance.

Now, I’d love to hear from you. What’s your take on grip? Is it something you actively work on in your training, or do you tend to focus on other aspects? Have you found a particular technique that works wonders for you? Let’s share experiences and tips—what’s been your biggest challenge with grip, and how have you overcome it? I’m looking forward to learning from everyone’s insights!

I think your take on the grip is great for pistols but not terribly relevant for F class shooting where a lot of shooters have neither hand on the rifle and touch the trigger off with no more than the slightest even pressure by the index finger which amounts to 1.5-3oz.
Dave

 

[357Mag]

No grip is the best.

Steve -

Howdy !

" No grip ". You mean, like this ?.....

With regards,
357Mag

 

[357Mag]

Now, while my focus here is primarily on handguns, it’s worth noting that grip is just as critical when handling a rifle, especially when shooting from the shoulder. A proper rifle grip provides the stability needed for accuracy, allowing you to control recoil, maintain sight alignment, and manage follow-through effectively. Whether it’s a handgun or a precision rifle, grip plays a pivotal role in consistent shooting.

Michael -

Howdy !

The best thing I ever did to boost my handgun shooting....
besides " practice...practice...practice ", was outfit the gun with custom ( Herretts ) stocks/grips. ( see pics )

Yeh, baby !!

With regards,
357Mag

 

[Rtheurer]

Russ Completely agree. But, the 'foundation' is the position itself. Grip, along with other factors are important.
What do you think?

I guess I think of it as Part of the position its self. Not just a factor of the position that is separate from the positional foundation but an integral part of it. For Rifle shooting and position shooting, it seems to me the lighter the rifle is and the more Recoil it generates the more important it actually is.

 

[JEFFPPC]

I wish I had some one close to me to teach me pistol shooting because I plain suck.

Here is what worked for me almost 60 years ago when I was in college. Locally the big match of the year at most clubs was Field Day, consisting of 7 to 9 events in various disciplines with the overall score being the big winner. After several years of not winning any of these matches due to horrible handgun scores I decided to fix it. I bought a Ruger Single Six and a case, 5000 rounds, of CCI Standard. I think it was 99.00 plus tax. That winter I shot it all in the basement firing into the coal bin and a box of National Geographic magazines. After that I would shoot perfect scores with the handgun and started to win Field Days. Try it, might work for you.Over they years I had the privlage to shoot against Micky Fowler, first person to win 3 Bianchi Cups, and also John Pride who was a Cup winner. Micky beat me every time, once by 1 point, and I was proud of that loss. I beat John every time I shot against him just to prove I was also lucky some days. Practice with a purpose will work.

 

[Straightshooter1]

Steve -

Howdy !

" No grip ". You mean, like this ?.....

With regards,
357Mag

Yeah, no grip shooting is cool. This:


or this:

 

[JEFFPPC]

Yeah, that one on the bottem.

 

[D-4297]

Just for what it's worth ; I think Hand Grip is relevant if one is shooting TR , as compared to Open . My Father taught me to shoot pistol as a teen , and he stressed "holding" the gun with the three fingers of the "Hold" hand , and keeping the trigger finger portion of the hand loose and relaxed .
I shoot with a GRS HYBRID stock , that has the three-fingered , pistol-grip built into the stock , and have carried this same technique into my TR shooting .
Smooth ; even , equal , but gentle pressure on the three-fingered grip , and a very relaxed trigger finger .
I shoot with a Duplin and rear bag , so I do have to maneuver the rifle manually to set-up for each shot .
For those who use Bi-pods that have a joy-stick , that would be closer to Open-style , free- recoil shooting , so it my technique may not apply .