holding a single action?

[bigboredad]

I've always been taught since I was about 12 that a single action was meant to roll in your hand and that you should not fight the roll. Well I'v been reading posts from a shooter another post that claims you must have a very tight grip and not let the gun roll up. He claims that especially the bigger harder kicking calibers that if you let the gun roll it will cause you to hit high and shoot over your intended target.

So I was curious since there is so many single action shooters here how you all have found to be the best way to hold a single action.
thanks guys

 

[Pal Val]

The hogleg grip rolls easy. The Bisley grip is a matter of preference. Any way you choose, just make yourself 100% consistent. A ange in grip is a sure change in POI.

 

[MOUNTAIN WILLIAM]

For a heavy recoiling single action it's almost a must. Take my 45/70 BFR, it's imperative. By the time the gun quit rolling, it was pointing toward the rear.

 

[RonS]

As stated, consistancy is the key. There are people who can shoot lots of heavy loads in a handgun, not let them roll up and not let recoil fatigue affect their grip or shooting. I am not one of them. I take a consistant grip and let the gun roll up. Not an exagerated amount, just the natural movement that happens with a firm but not death grip and smooth wood grips. I got excellent accuracy from my 5 1/2" SBH with magnum loads, so if I was losing something to my grip I couldn't tell it.

 

[Bucks Owin]

I have an idea that if you have enough grip on the sixgun so your middle finger doesn't get bashed with stout loads, your forearms are already tense enough to kinda absorb the "barrel in the forehead syndrome". Seems to work for me and my 91 lb sidekick here anyway... Certainly the grip shouldn't slip in your hand like a bar of soap...

BTW, I've fired many stout .44/.45 loads one handed as John Linebaugh does in link below and notice the recoil seems to go up and over instead of at your head. But I'm no expert and if I ever get my pipedream .500 WE, I may need to reconsider. Hardest kicker I've ever fired is the .454.... (and I held on with both hands! :shock: :lol: )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DZdfdAuxCA&feature=player_detailpage#t=0s

 

[J Miller]

The strength of my grip is directly proportional to the recoil of the cartridge / load.
Light recoil = lighter grip
Heavy recoil = tighter grip.

But, I do not grip the gun so tight as to prevent it from rolling at all. It has to roll some, that's the way it was designed.

Joe

 

[writwing]

Let me state I hate recoil. I hold my 4" 45C BH loosely enough to allow it to roll in my hand. I have shot Limbaugh loads with it and it is pure LOVE.

 

[357phase]

For a heavy recoiling single action it's almost a must. Take my 45/70 BFR, it's imperative. By the time the gun quit rolling, it was pointing toward the rear.

A burglar confronting that lady and gun would have a really bad day and if they lived through the ordeal,would require periodic psychiatric help for the rest of his life :shock:

 

[flatgate]

Yup, both hands.......

Southpaw, er, flatgate aiming at a gong up on a hillside.

 

[bigboredad]

I guess my question was a bit unclear. I've always let the single action roll and don't fight it. But according to the guy on another forum you should muscle it down and not let it roll.

 

[CraigC]

The sixgun should roll 'with' your hands, not 'in' them like a bar of soap.

 

[bigboredad]

The sixgun should roll 'with' your hands, not 'in' them like a bar of soap.

thanks Craig that's what I was trying to say. I've burned a lot of h110 and 296 with heavy bullets in the .44mag and the .45 colt. I've hung on tight but trying to muscle it down seems counter productive to the design of the gun

 

[Bucks Owin]

The sixgun should roll 'with' your hands, not 'in' them like a bar of soap.

Perfect... :wink:

 

[powder smoke]

I never really noticed a "roll" in my grip seems like more of a slide, anyways shoot it and then shoot some more. You will find what works for you! I use two hands similar the flategate's and have no fear of recoil don't fight it Go with it. Hang on to to it but not with a white knuckle death grip a relaxe and enjoy. Single Action handle recoil very well. Experience is your friend shoot and shoot often you WILL find your groove. ps

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

I guess my question was a bit unclear. I've always let the single action roll and don't fight it. But according to the guy on another forum you should muscle it down and not let it roll.

Howdy

I completely disagree with that. 'Muscling it down' is a good way to subconsciously introduce flinching. When one begins to anticipate recoil, the tendency is to subconsciously jerk the barrel down as the trigger is pulled.

Try this experiment: Put only 4 rounds in the cylinder, spacing them randomly in the 6 chambers. Load it up by feel, spin the cylinder a bit between rounds so you have no idea what the order is of empty chambers vs loaded chambers. Then try shooting the gun, holding it real tight and 'muscling it down' for every shot. When the hammer falls on an empty chamber, observe what the muzzle does. Chances are it will jerk down.

I shoot pretty stout Black Powder loads in all my 45 Colt revolvers. They recoil pretty good. I always hold the gun lightly with my pinky curled under the grip. Holding it this way allows me to maintain about 1/4" of space between the knuckle of my middle finger and the trigger guard. This 1/4" of space prevents my knuckle from being whacked by the trigger guard in recoil. The gun always rolls nicely in my hand, but it is never in any danger of jumping out of my hand, or whacking me in the forehead.

As has already been said, consistency is the key. If the gun rolls up in recoil, as long as your grip is consistent, your bullets will all go the same place.

 

[bigboredad]

I agree with Driftwood in that trying to muscle down the recoil is a good way to start flinching

 

[CraigC]

I agree, you definitely don't want to muscle it. You'll fatigue quickly and likely end up with some pain during and afterwards. Let it do it's thang, you're just along for the ride. I don't grip my single actions any firmer than I would my lady's hand. Whether I'm shooting a .22LR Single Six, .44Colt powderpuff loads or .44Mag 355's@1200fps.

 

[powder smoke]

I guess my question was a bit unclear. I've always let the single action roll and don't fight it. But according to the guy on another forum you should muscle it down and not let it roll.

Howdy

I completely disagree with that. 'Muscling it down' is a good way to subconsciously introduce flinching. When one begins to anticipate recoil, the tendency is to subconsciously jerk the barrel down as the trigger is pulled.

Try this experiment: Put only 4 rounds in the cylinder, spacing them randomly in the 6 chambers. Load it up by feel, spin the cylinder a bit between rounds so you have no idea what the order is of empty chambers vs loaded chambers. Then try shooting the gun, holding it real tight and 'muscling it down' for every shot. When the hammer falls on an empty chamber, observe what the muzzle does. Chances are it will jerk down.

I shoot pretty stout Black Powder loads in all my 45 Colt revolvers. They recoil pretty good. I always hold the gun lightly with my pinky curled under the grip. Holding it this way allows me to maintain about 1/4" of space between the knuckle of my middle finger and the trigger guard. This 1/4" of space prevents my knuckle from being whacked by the trigger guard in recoil. The gun always rolls nicely in my hand, but it is never in any danger of jumping out of my hand, or whacking me in the forehead.

As has already been said, consistency is the key. If the gun rolls up in recoil, as long as your grip is consistent, your bullets will all go the same place.

I'm in your corner also, Shoot and don't even think about recoil, the key is practice the more one shoots the less you'll tend to think about it. Gotta be almost secound nature. ps