Get a grip…..

[Foxyboy43]

Now call me old-fashioned but can someone explain for my feeble mind what the advantage of not gripping a rifle with your trigger hand thumb is but instead resting your thumb along the stock?
Any videos I watch now seem to have this err… non-grip and I note that often the rifle recoil throws the loose hand off the stock completely which must really, like really help a quick follow-up shot….
In the second pic the shot has just gone and not only is the hand off the stock but the trigger finger has come clear of the trigger housing!

 

[Mike1979]

No idea personally ....seems an uncomfortable way of doing it ...but as you mention have seen it a couple of times recently.

Dont think I am a goo enough shot to worry

 

[3595wilk]

it is mainly an import from PRS shooting......

Theory as follows.......

Reduced Tension: By relaxing the thumb and not forcing it around the stock, it reduces tension in the hand muscles, which helps improve trigger finger sensitivity and prevents pulling shots.

Improved Tracking: This method allows for better precision by reducing "sympathetic movement" (unintended squeeze of the thumb when the trigger is pulled), allowing the rifle to track straight back under recoil.

Not sure it matters much under 250m......

 

[John Gryphon]

but can someone explain for my feeble mind what the advantage of not gripping a rifle

I`m a gripper and always have been,I believe its best and when you hit 14 years grippings the best lol.

 

[Smellydog]

Whootehoo or whatever he goes by is a bit special. Opening line usually is " this is going to be a really great video" then often isn't.

 

[Foxyboy43]

Whootehoo or whatever he goes by is a bit special. Opening line usually is " this is going to be a really great video" then often isn't.

Indeed Smelly. The Backfire chap does the same - until he fires a stout load in a large chambering - next shot he has the thumb well over the stock…

 

[NullMac]

The original idea was that it prevented a sympathetic squeeze of the thumb and disturbing the rifle.

It was originated by military type geezers and they were shooting stuff with pistol grips or steep hand grips. In that context it works ok even with magnums as the hand still has enough of a hold to control the rifle. Does it make that much of a difference well thats debatable. Just because you wrap the hand or have the thumb on top doesn’t mean you will disturb the rifle.

The geezer in the shot looks to be compromising his hand position. I would have more of an issue with his trigger finger than the thumb per se. He is trying to get the trigger finger perpendicular to the trigger shoe but has overdone it and it is so far forward he risks dragging the trigger to the right. The hand looks disconnected from the stock so weakening control generally.

Ergonomics is horses for courses. I lay my thumb like that on my AI as it feels more comfortable/relaxed but not on my R8 as it feels contorted and like I am twisting the rifle a bit.

Worth trying things for yourself with rifle shooting. If it doesn’t help bin it and move on

 

[22xm1]

mainly with air guns, I shoot my Stoeger with my thumb down the side, and my HW100KT in a traditional grip. down to the gun I find, then I shoot the springer with the thumb round the back.

 

[Donkey Basher]

The effect of doing this, or not, can be very graphically demonstrated by using a .22LR & shooting a group with each of the different holds. When I do this with my Finnfire Range it produces two distinct groups on the target.

 

[andyk]

Hold that Forend!

Most of what needs to be said on the subject.

 

[Tikkat1x]

seems to me the just the same as having a thumb rest, or grove for such shooting, iv tries thumb round, on top and as in the picture, but my memory always reverts back to round,