On the Grip frame comparison thread the subject of technique was brought up, so I thought I'd start a new thread for that subject.

How do you hold and shoot your Big Bores?
(for Big Bores, 400gn @ 1400+, 405's @ 1750...)

We've all heard stories about some guy burring the front sight in your forehead... I think these guys are holding the gun straight in front of them in a relaxed grip. There was also the unfortunate incident in Texas a few years ago with a 454 and a young boy who actually died from his head wound.

I stand angeled towards the target with more weight on my forward foot. I wrap the off hand around the gun hand, have the gun arm bent just slightly and pull back and into the gun hand that is pushing to pre-load the muscles in your arm just slightly. I think this helps to not have a run away gun under recoil. If the gun does come way back, it comes up and to the right of my head( right handed).

So please anybody share critiques, comments, suggestions, observations...

This seems to work: www.customsixguns.com

What caliber was that in the video?

I think it depends on the particular gun and load because I have 2 different methods on whether or not I can control the gun. If I can hold it relatively on target I'll do the "pull with the left, push with the right" and keep it pointed in the general direction I want it to. Now, if it hurts too much to do that I'll keep my fingers squeezing together but loosen my wrists and elbows and just let the gun go up in the air.

Also, like Lar I keep one foot forward (I do my left) and angle my left shoulder forward too. As he notes, this makes a heavy kicker move up and over your right shoulder so no chance of getting smacked.

I have a few heavy kickers, and one REALLY heavy kicker. For me, the key to control is a lot of grip tension (with both hands). My .50 Alaskan will not bury its front sight in your forehead, but it will in the top of your scalp. I don't let any of them "ride." I really muscle them, which allows me to get back on target more quickly as well.

I always stand square to the target, no foot forward, I lean just slightly into the gun, good grip pressure with both hands & elbows slightly bent. I'm pushing with the right hand & pulling with the left, this helps steady the gun. Left thumb is over the right thumb & I always cock the gun with the left thumb, you don't want to use the right thumb. Why cock the gun six differnt ways with the right thumb?
I don't let the gun "roll" as many like to do, I would much rather control it as much as possible so I grip it hard!

Dick

Pistol vice an a long string!!!

quote:

Originally posted by OLBIKER:
Pistol vice an a long string!!!

Not a bad idea! LOL!

quote:

Originally posted by john113wyo:
This seems to work: www.customsixguns.com

The shooter really seemed to "ride " with the recoil in that video. Interesting. He seemed to let the recoil take his shooter over by his left shoulder/side area. Made me wonder if my approach of trying to outmuscle the recoil was the price of getting hammered more than needed.


Anyone have input on his technique????

TEANCUM;
Study the mans technique. I shot with him a lot for a few years. It is something that takes a time to learn, but it is worth it.
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Just stay awake. And do the same thing every time. Just stay awake, they have NO conscience.
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Heck, do a series of videos, and study them. Look for errors, they are what you have to work on.

That technique wouldn't work with many of my revolvers. If you let them ride, they will make contact. I am willing to bet the loads John L. is using in that video are pretty mild, but I may be wrong. Any insight, 257x50?

Whitworth;
You have to understand he knows what that revolver is going to do.
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He is not using anymore beef to control it than is needed. He knows just where that revolver is going to end up with each load.
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Hit the switch on a gun that is new to you and you use more beef than you do one you get used to it.
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We aren't talking necessary follow up shots here. He is taking his time and squeezing the trigger..
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27+ years of it on a regular basis does that to you.

The more powerful guns I hold with bent elbows so the elbows act as shock absorbers. For multiple shots it's important for the gun to not move in the hand as slight movement changes the POI.

quote:

Originally posted by 257x50:
Whitworth;
You have to understand he knows what that revolver is going to do.
.
He is not using anymore beef to control it than is needed. He knows just where that revolver is going to end up with each load.
.
Hit the switch on a gun that is new to you and you use more beef than you do one you get used to it.
.
We aren't talking necessary follow up shots here. He is taking his time and squeezing the trigger..
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27+ years of it on a regular basis does that to you.

I have a couple revolvers that no one would be able to shoot one handed with any reasonable control. Not dumping on JL, but you're not going to casually shoot some of these guns and we don't really know what load is in that revolver, but I will bet it's not all that hot. Not saying they can't be shot one handed, but again, control will be highly compromised. JMHO.

Whitworth;
Couldn't agree more.
But casual would not be the word I would use. Like I said in an earlier post. Stay awake.
Shooting the Maximums off the bench to check them out was never casual. Bench shooting would beat you up so quick..........
It was all good though!

I shot 25 rounds of my .50 Alaskan off the bench weekend before last -- I know all about staying awake! Ask jwp475 and Hitman what that one is like -- you had better be paying complete attention or your DNA will end up on the front sight. Even offhand I have some revolvers that will break the grip of your support hand.

Here's the little devil.......

Okay Whit;
I can go with the beast part, but "little"?????????
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That is like saying Lizzie Borden was a "little" upset at her parents!!!!!
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I smile every time I see that revolver.
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Sort of like a Gran Prix Bulldozer.......
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Yup.........2 hands.

quote:

Originally posted by Dick Thompson:
I always stand square to the target, no foot forward, I lean just slightly into the gun, good grip pressure with both hands & elbows slightly bent. I'm pushing with the right hand & pulling with the left, this helps steady the gun. Left thumb is over the right thumb & I always cock the gun with the left thumb, you don't want to use the right thumb. Why cock the gun six differnt ways with the right thumb?
I don't let the gun "roll" as many like to do, I would much rather control it as much as possible so I grip it hard!

Dick

Very close to the way I hold mine. I put my left thumb over my rright behind the knucle where the thumb attaches to my hand

I do the same as Whitworth, a lot of muscle and a very tight grip.
Main reason is any relaxation will over shoot a deer.
I have shot the .475 many times with one hand but that will also over shoot a deer.
I find any relaxation can't be controlled so the barrel rise is the same each shot. Every different way you shoot would need different sight settings and I like mine to have the same POI as they do from the bench, from sticks, Creedmore or knees.

I agree with whit on this one,I would be willing to bet,since I have shot that exact gun JL is shooting in the video,that it's loaded with his HS-6 load for 950-1000fps with 450gr projectlie if I remember correctly.That said it still has enough recoil,especially one handed, if you don't keep your mind in the middle it will get in the middle of your mind as I was told.

However whits crazy ass loads take alot of focus.Focus on grip, focus on trigger squeeze, then focus on front sight and try not to let it hit you.JLs short 500L was pleasent with HS-6,and attention grabber with H110,but in that type of gun,SA ruger bisley style,I felt in control.I ain't going to say that someone can't shoot whits SRH 500L onehanded(H 110 loads),but I will say they won't be in control.It has a crazy muzzle flip and rise.

I think the biggest thing is consistency.If I can think get two hnds on it,square up,or lean against something I will hold it the same way everytime.I have been working on just grabbing up and shooting,and trying to feel how my hands naturally want to be versus how I force them to be.But what ever style is chosen if you aren't consistent with grip pressure and position your poi and shooting won't be either.Unfortunately I have already witnessed this myself.

What I'm finding out with my heavy loads is that while I can tolerate the recoil (for a while) it's the banging of my second finger between the knuckle and the first joint on the trigger guard that's the problem. That mother gets hammered and after a long session the next day it was bruised with the slight purple color. Ouch!!!

I talked to a very experienced and often winner at the cowboy shoots and he also shoots a .475 a lot and his comments were that it is sometimes the size of your hands more than the grip design will be the cause of such action. He said his hands were small and didn't get pounded but he knew of many who did and what the cause was. My hands have long fingers and usually a 2x glove. He mentioned that I might want to try some cycling gloves or weight lifting gloves to see if they are padded in the right areas and if not to try to increase some padding there. I'm familiar with both types of gloves.

Maybe I still haven't figured how to handle those shooters with the heavy loads with my grip????

What say ye????

PAST makes an excellent shooting glove, you might check them out.

Dick

quote:

Originally posted by Dick Thompson:
PAST makes an excellent shooting glove, you might check them out.

Dick

Yes they do. They used to make a padded "knuckle protector" for the middle finger as well. I still have one but can't find that it is still offered anywhere.

I bought a finger recoil pad from Brownells a few years ago, but didn't see it on there site.

The worst part of shooting my 470NE is my middle finger getting bashed by the trigger gaurd. This little recoil pad makes a huge difference. I leave it in the ammo box so it will always be there when I'm going to shoot it.

That's not a bad idea, Lar!

Just got off the phone with John Linebaugh.

He said the load (.500 Linebaugh) in the video is only doing about 900 FPS.

It was a reduced load (around 25 grains) of H110/410 grain cast bullet to get a massive fireball for the video.

Looked good didn't it?

And I second Dick Thompson's PAST glove endorsement...

John113wyo;
That sounds like a one hand load............
Hate to shoot a two hand load when I thought it was a one hand load!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the tip about Brownells but when I visited their site all they now have is a rubber cover that goes over the trigger guard with a screw to tighten it rather than something that fits around your finger.

My wife has been doing some things with high density foam lately and maybe I can make up something to take that whack out of the recoil that would fit around the finger like Lar45 has.

I used to take firm rubber and cut it to fit behind the trigger guard and super glue it to the gun. That worked better then anything I could put on my finger.

I shoot a magnum like any othr gun, just hold ontot it. I have seen shooter hit themeselves in the forhead, just firm your grip up & hang on.
I agree w/ some of the guys, the knuckle bangin of the 2nd finger is annoying after a long days shooting. I often just put a bandaid on htat finger if shooting a bunch, like a 60rd sting in metsil.