1911 help.

[Bill Douglas]

Guys, I had a really bad day at the range yesterday. We were doing an action shoot which was from the holster then five shots into five targets in as shorter time as possible. I kept accidently poping the magazine out because of the oversize mag release button, or pushing the safety on (upwards) with my usual two thumbs forward hold that I'd always done with my CZ75. One of the guys said to have my thumb on top of the safety but that sounds like a way to take a big chunk of flesh out of my hand with slide bite. What are your thoughts and what do you do? I'm planning on getting rid of the oversized mag release for a start.

The gun


How I presently hold it


How it was suggested I should hold it

[Mike C]

It takes getting used to,but I always have my thumb on top of the safety. It looks like you have just the tip on it. Try resting more of the thumb on it like in the 1st pic.

Hope that made sense. The slide should not hit your thumb don't worry.

[Eric Coffey]

Hard to tell from the pic, but if the safety is one of those "wide paddle" types, I would replace that as well (with a standard or even slim-width version). I guess it's down to personal preference regarding grip/technique, but I have never seen anyone use the "thumb above safety" method. Also, that weak-hand position is a bit odd looking to me. Like it's "one knuckle" too high. YMMV.

[MotoSook]

I agree. The weak hand is odd and likely popping the may release and sometimes forcing your right thumb up into the safety.

My weak hand is lower with the mag resting on the base of my pinky and ring fingers.

Eta: I'm nonexpert, but my grip works and I've never dropped a mag on accident nor hit the safety.

[on2wheels52]

I don't like the strong hand in either picture. Get that one right with the gun first.
Jim

[pitargue]

Thumb on top of the safety, specifically for not engaging the safety on recoil. You will not get slide bite.

Also, the weak hand index finger should be below the trigger guard. Sympathetic weak hand trigger squeeze will most likely pull your shots left.

Added bonus. Point your weak hand thumb towards the target so you get isometric tension to control recoil.

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

I am no expert however I do have a franken1911stein

Grip with your right hand (I am assuming you are right handed/eyed) as you would a revolver. The right hand just appears too high in the grip to my untrained eye. You want to ensure the back safety is depressed when you hold the grip. Make sure your right index finger, if that is the one you use to pull the trigger, is confortably situated. Get with a range master if not sure. You want the right finger to be able to gently sqeeze the trigger not pull your spoon out of alignment.

Have you tried shooting with your left hand holding the bottom of the grip and pulling back on your right hand to hold it in position, steady, and with some tension back toward your body? Control of breathing is very important.

In both photos your left hand worries me. You will be dragging the rounds to the left and I do not understand how the left hand is helping to steady your aim.

I can easily see how either grip above will release the clip. This issue appears to be more your grip than the release.

Any of the safeties should be easily engaged with your shooting hand when positioned correctly. I shoot from a lower position on the grip and the slide safety is easy to reach with my thumb. I have small/medium size hands.

[pitargue]

Originally Posted by Groesbeck Hurricane

The right hand just appears too high in the grip to my untrained eye.

No such thing on a 1911. Especially w/ the duck tail, aka beaver tail.

IMHO.

[dhoward]

Thumb on top of safety.

[Bill Douglas]

Thanks Guys. I'll experiment. THe two thumbs forward as per Brian Enos's hold sure works with the CZ75 and it brings the barrel back down fast for the next shot. There just seems to be a lot more room on the CZ and the safety is more of a glunk, glunk, other than gradually coming on from a thumb touching it on the 1911. I'll try the thumb on top but I'm sure nervous about slide bite with a timed shoot from the holster. I'll do a whole lot of practice with snap caps I think

[Mericet]

This might help: ‪Get a Grip - NSSF Shooting Sportscast‬‏ - YouTube

[Bill Douglas]

Thanks Neil. That's the grip I've been doing with the CZ (other than the thumb on top of the safety), so I'll give it a go with the 1911. Interesting what he said about the weak hand having about the same presure as the strong hand. I tend to be about 25% strong hand 75% weak hand, so I'll change that too.

Yay, I'm looking forward to my next session at the range.