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Guy at the gun range told me I was gripping my pistol like a toddler throwing a tantrum
Back in 2018 I was at this indoor range in Phoenix and some random dude next to me watched me empty a mag and just straight up said 'dude you're squeezing way too hard, relax your hands'. I was mostly missing the target and getting frustrated. He showed me the thumbs-forward grip and told me to let the recoil do its thing. Felt totally wrong at first but after like 20 rounds my groups tightened up a ton. Still think about that guy sometimes. Anyone else get unsolicited advice that actually worked out?
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phoenix_bailey11d ago
Hmm, I gotta say I see this a little different. I mean sure, a death grip is bad but that whole "let the recoil do its thing" advice... it can backfire if you don't have a solid foundation. I've seen too many new shooters take that too literally and end up with a loose wrist which is how you get malfunctions or the slide biting your hand. Grip pressure matters a lot more than people give it credit for, especially with hotter loads. That thumbs-forward thing is good but only if you're actually locking your wrists
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ward.jamie11d ago
Wait, is that really what happened to you too? Man, that sucks but I totally get it. Honestly, getting called out mid-mag like that is embarrassing but sometimes it's the only way to figure out you're doing it wrong. The thumbs-forward grip changed everything for me too once I stopped fighting the gun so hard.
But I feel you on the loose wrist thing though. I've seen guys at my range try to relax too much and end up with the slide chewing their thumb up. Weird how that advice feels backwards at first. That guy who helped you out sounds like a solid dude for keeping it real like that.
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