I just wondered what you all have found to be the best way to grip Contenders in the larger calibers with heavy recoil. Also, what specific brand/model of grips are the best for the big thumpers?

Hmm, well how do you explain a grip? I just wrap my hands around and hold on. I use a reasonably firm grip, one around each side. I never allow my off hand under the grip, nor do I rest the bottom of the grip on anything solid. I like my factory rubber grips as long as I keep them tight. The attaching bolt has a tendency to come loose. Hope that helps.. Slim

On my 14" .444Marlin,I use the two handed death grip! just kidding.

I have Pachmeyer "Gripper's" on mine. I use the same hold I use on big bore DA revolvers. Maybe a little tighter. - Dan

Does anyone hold the forend with their offhand, or always use a "standard" pistol two handed grip on the main grip. I don't know if that would affect accuracy or not.
Related question, anyone ever got a bloody finger from the rear spur under the triggerguard?

I hold the gun in my right hand and let the left hand support the gun. I make no attempt to hold the gun with my left hand. The ones that wrap their left fingers aroung the shooting hand with them behind the spur will long remember that stunt. Makes me wonder if the ones that recommemd that hold has even shot a hard kicking Contender or Encore. Just lay the gun in the left hand and let the first two fingers support the trigger guard and the last two be below the spur just lightly curled around the shooting hand. I have shot this way since the first contender I had and have seen no reason to deviate from it even on the hard kickers. On a sandbagged rest I hold with one hand only with my left slightly touching my shooting hand to add steadiness. Always remember to place the left hand the same place with the same tension on all shots. On hard kickers the gun will recoil away from the left or supporting hand both on the bench and offhand.

Thanks Meplat for the explanation. I am new to the Contender game (and am really enjoying it), and was just needing some advice on this. I guess my basic question is- does anyone hold the supporting hand under the forend instead of under the trigger guard as you explained. However, I can see how consistancy would have to be practiced because the gun would be recoiling up away from the supporting hand.

I have always shot my Contender with the off hand on the forearm. I have always felt more comfortable shooting the 14" barrels[358JDJ] that way. I have a 10" barrel 44 Mag on the way, may be different with the shorter barrel. Lone Hunter

Lone Hunter,

I am also more comfortable with the offhand on the forend. Both my barrels are also 14" (223 and 375 JDJ). I am surprised to find that most other shooters shoot Contenders the "traditional" two handed grip. I feel that the weight of the barrel always tries to pull the shot low, and supporting the gun farther forward helps counter this. This is more of a rest than a grip, because I do not try to hold the gun down from recoil once it fires. Much like the loose hold on a bow grip.

My 14" 35rem. came with the wood finger groove grip, it is the worst for a hard kicker, it would twist in my hand under recoil and not enough room to get two hands on the grip. I tried the off hand on the forend but developed a bad flinch due to the twisting. I put pachmyer finger groove grips on it, now I can get both hands on the grip and just wrap the top two fingers of the off hand around the spur, and the flinch went away because I could control the gun. I don't shoot this one without resting the forend on something. My 12" 45/70 balances better and I can shoot it as mentioned without resting the forend.

I would urge anyone that tries the forend method of holding to maybe work out a different way of holding if you ever get into heavy recoil calibers. The forend hold is ok with calibers that have recoil to moderate heavy put please be careful of some calibers out there. Some joker will let you fire a stomper while you hold the forend and then you will have the imprint of a barrel in your skull while he laughs his behind off. Just be careful is all.

Hey Meplat, I think you and I hold about the same way. I know you have a Encore in .50 AK, as do I, and that one requires one to pay a little attention to the grip. I hold mine with 95% of the grip going on with my shooting hand (right). I cup the grip and right shooting hand in my left hand with the left thumb along the left side and left trigger finger either along side of the trigger guard or resting on the OUTSIDE tip of the trigger guard spur. I do not wrap the left trigger finger around the grip on the Contender or Encore, as if I do, it's gonna get hit, as you pointed out. I do wrap the left middle, ring, and little finger around the grip as with my hands, they do not get hit with either the .45-70 Contender or the .50 AK Encore. I experimented with using the off hand to hold the forend and placing the left hand on top of the scope. Both methods for me were terrible and they are the last methods I would use. With the size of my hands and the grip method I use, I start out with a two hand hold, but after recoil, only my trigger hand (right) will be holding the pistol. Recoil always pulls the piece out of the left hand. As you pointed out, consistency in grip method, whatever you use, is critical to shooting these things accurately. Putting the off hand thumb wrapped around the rear of the grip is a definate no-no for my hands. For me, I have to get the off side thumb and trigger finger out of the way or pay the price for not doing so.

I bought a used Herret grip from Contender Ed. Cheap.

I shot, noted high points, and carefully sanded to fit. This took many trips to the range.

It's easier to sand off than to sand it back on, so go slow.

Grips that fit your hand make a dramatic improvement. I can't overstate this.

I use two hands, with a very strong right ahnd grip and a left hand support. Keep that left hand away from your rest- side tree, bench, log... or get bit!

I've started using PAST gloves on my Casull revolver, and they help. I think by getting a good solid sticky grip.

Since I have medium size hands, the rubber grips just murder my paws.

Pete

Never felt the need for anything much bigger than a .30-06' in my Encore for elk but the 30 or 7MM Rem SAUM sounds like it might be fun. I have never had my Encore "bite me" when gripping with two hands. But I must admit the I shoot it mostly with my .257 Roberts barrel. Guess I am not man enough for those big thumpers . I will try the two finger trigger guard rest, sounds interesting. I just can't get comfortable with gripping the forearms although I have seen them gripped that way with rifle scopes while shooting silhouettes. Slim

Pachmeyer and a two hand hold. this is true with the small caliber too

Ken, I us the pachmeyer gripper also on my contender. I always use a one handed grip. Even with my .444 Marlin it serves me well. However in the field while hunting I never shoot off hand. I have always carried a walking stick in the field with me. This always me to hold onto the stick with one hand and rest the gun across my other arm.

My preference is to hand it to someone else!

Sorry, couldn't resist that one.

I shoot an FA .454 and I just make sure that my thumb of my left hand isn't on top of my right hand at the shot.
Takes about 6 weeks for the blood blister under the thumbnail to grow out.

From my experience with .44 mags, and combat pistol shooting, the best and most accurate seems to be the following, as taught by the local law enforcement instructor.

Grip the pistol tightly with your right hand, settling it well into position. Squeeze until you almost have a shake to your grip. Wrap your left hand around the fingers of the right hand, with the left thumb on top of the right. Relax the grip of the right hand, and keep firm pressure on the left, up to the point of having the shake again, then relax the grip just enough to steady the hold. Practice this feel until it is secound nature.

This will give the best accuracy grip, and if you are shooting a semi auto in the future, you will find you stay pretty much on target for rapid fire.

Good luck.

Maybe I'm one of the few that likes these, but for hunting I really like the Big Shot/Push Pull Grip. You hold the grip with two hands and the recoil is spread over twice the surface area. I used to have a skinny barrel T/C 45/70 and that is where this grip really shines. I sent that grip to Denzel Roberts and he made me one for the Encore. By the way, I don't use that funny looking banana forearm that fajen made to go with the Big Shot grip. I prefer the wide flat bottom forearm, and that is what Denzel Roberts made me for the Encore. I like to let the wide flat forearm rest on what ever and just let it recoil all it wants to. I never lock my arms, just let my arms act like shock absorbers.

Ken, I would purchase one of the grips from the following website.
www.dwrobrtcwoodnmor.com
He will make you a custom grip designed for heavy recoil.

I have not done it personally, but the only person I have seen try to hold the forend almost got the hammer in the forehead. It was a .30/.30 contender.

[ 10-10-2002, 19:25: Message edited by: Jeremy ]

Hammer in the forehead from a 30/30? Did he have oil on his hands at the time? Lone Hunter

I have an Encore in 470 Nitro Express with a 15" barrel. Shooting it offhand, I hold the forend with my supporting hand, locking the elbow out. With my firing hand I push out as hard as I can. I have to make sure that my arms are "locked" or the gun will come right back at my face. With the 1" straight bull barrel it is too heavy too shoot offhand without holding the forend. I did shoot it once holding it with my strong hand only (offhand). It was way to wobbly and the recoil plus the twisting action was painful.
When I shoot it off the bags, I hold it with my firing hand and put my support hand over my firing hand at the wrist to support it. The forend rests on the bag. This way it is not too bad to shoot. The gun only comes 3-4 " off the bag and my wrist don't take too much of a beating