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I started with a G17 that I felt very good about shooting and believed I could hit pretty well. Traded up to a G22 because I wanted the larger caliber shot "just in case." I haven't been as accurate with the G22 as I was with the G17 but I attribute that to lack of range time. It's been over a year since I've really focused on shooting my handgun because I have been focusing on my marksmanship with a rifle.
I bought a G23 for EDC because it was smaller and a better CCW. I didn't like it because it was/seemed worn out: the slide wouldn't lock back and both the slide and slide release seemed excessively worn. I couldn't shoot it well and in my mind I felt that the pistol was "shot out" and I needed a new one to improve. Duh...So, I traded it for a new G27 which I was able to shoot for the first time today. I've added grip extensions to all magazines to allow for all four fingers to have a solid purchase while shooting.
The temperature was 52° with clear skies and light winds at 1-3 mph. While everyone else at the range was shooting steel, I was shooting paper because I wanted to see where I was hitting. I was shooting 165gr Winchester FMJ range ammo at a silhouette target at 8 yards and the first few shots almost missed the paper. I convinced myself to calm down and apply the basics that I've learned from reading on the internet about proper grip, stance and sight picture.
I was having real trouble holding onto the G27 in the "preferred grip" of two hands presented by Travis Haley of Haley Strategic from youtube. I try and try but I can't get my hands to form a solid weld to the pistol as has been suggested. I adjusted a number of different times but still felt the recoil was pulling the pistol out of my hands during the recoil phase. I attempted to compensate for my lack of secure grip by placing my left hand index finger over the front of the trigger guard and this didn't work at all because I was unable to keep that hold consistently.
The only thing that worked was to return my grip to how I was shooting before I traded my G17: pistol butt plate seated in my left palm with the left hand fingers grasping the fingers of my right hand from the bottom up, over the front of the fingers of my right hand. This grip afforded the most consistent stability allowing me to return the sights to target without resetting my grip after each shot like milking the grip.
My groups were stringing across the target from right to left consistently four inches to the left and two inches low. I was able to tighten up the group by moving my finger on the trigger to the second joint and gripping the pistol quite a bit tighter with my right hand. The group went from 8" to 4" and I reduced the difference between my point of aim and point of impact by almost six inches scoring several very nice single shots in a tighter group that had begun to round up from the horizontal string I started with...but I'm not comfortable with these results.
I shot approximately 300 rounds and improved significantly over the course of a few hours. I took my time and examined what I was doing using the frequent breaks to really think about things.
My question for the experts is this: is there a "best grip" for consistency and how do you hold it?
I realize that I need more practice and will need to maintain my skill through regular shooting. I have not remained current over the last year and will need to change my shooting schedule to incorporate pistol practice as well as rifle practice concurrently.
I bought a G23 for EDC because it was smaller and a better CCW. I didn't like it because it was/seemed worn out: the slide wouldn't lock back and both the slide and slide release seemed excessively worn. I couldn't shoot it well and in my mind I felt that the pistol was "shot out" and I needed a new one to improve. Duh...So, I traded it for a new G27 which I was able to shoot for the first time today. I've added grip extensions to all magazines to allow for all four fingers to have a solid purchase while shooting.
The temperature was 52° with clear skies and light winds at 1-3 mph. While everyone else at the range was shooting steel, I was shooting paper because I wanted to see where I was hitting. I was shooting 165gr Winchester FMJ range ammo at a silhouette target at 8 yards and the first few shots almost missed the paper. I convinced myself to calm down and apply the basics that I've learned from reading on the internet about proper grip, stance and sight picture.
I was having real trouble holding onto the G27 in the "preferred grip" of two hands presented by Travis Haley of Haley Strategic from youtube. I try and try but I can't get my hands to form a solid weld to the pistol as has been suggested. I adjusted a number of different times but still felt the recoil was pulling the pistol out of my hands during the recoil phase. I attempted to compensate for my lack of secure grip by placing my left hand index finger over the front of the trigger guard and this didn't work at all because I was unable to keep that hold consistently.
The only thing that worked was to return my grip to how I was shooting before I traded my G17: pistol butt plate seated in my left palm with the left hand fingers grasping the fingers of my right hand from the bottom up, over the front of the fingers of my right hand. This grip afforded the most consistent stability allowing me to return the sights to target without resetting my grip after each shot like milking the grip.
My groups were stringing across the target from right to left consistently four inches to the left and two inches low. I was able to tighten up the group by moving my finger on the trigger to the second joint and gripping the pistol quite a bit tighter with my right hand. The group went from 8" to 4" and I reduced the difference between my point of aim and point of impact by almost six inches scoring several very nice single shots in a tighter group that had begun to round up from the horizontal string I started with...but I'm not comfortable with these results.
I shot approximately 300 rounds and improved significantly over the course of a few hours. I took my time and examined what I was doing using the frequent breaks to really think about things.
My question for the experts is this: is there a "best grip" for consistency and how do you hold it?
I realize that I need more practice and will need to maintain my skill through regular shooting. I have not remained current over the last year and will need to change my shooting schedule to incorporate pistol practice as well as rifle practice concurrently.
