{"id":936,"date":"2023-03-30T21:41:42","date_gmt":"2023-03-30T21:41:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=936"},"modified":"2023-03-30T21:41:42","modified_gmt":"2023-03-30T21:41:42","slug":"coming-to-grips-the-armory-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=936","title":{"rendered":"Coming to Grips? – The Armory Life"},"content":{"rendered":"


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By Joe Woolley<\/a><\/p>\n

I<\/span> started shooting IPSC in 1984. Back then, if you had a single-stack 1911 in .45 ACP and 8-round magazines, you were on the cutting-edge of technology. During a 32-year career in practical shooting, technology changed and so did we. We moved to compensated 1911\u2019s, fat-frame 1911\u2019s and then to double-stacked polymer frame pistols.<\/p>\n

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The Springfield XD-M<\/span> line of pistols uses interchangeable backstraps that allow you to customize the pistol\u2019s fit to your hand. Image:\u00a0John\u00a0McKenzie<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I shot a bunch of matches and did OK with those pistols (yes, I shot against Robbie<\/a> \u2014 no, he didn\u2019t lose any sleep over me being there), but they never felt completely \u201cright\u201d in my hand. It almost felt like I was fighting the pistol as I tried to attain the proper grip<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"xd-m\n<\/picture>
The author recommends using swappable backstraps to find the best fit for your hand. Here, he demonstrates how the proper grip allows his trigger finger to act\u00a0independently.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Several years ago, bad knees and advancing age convinced me to retire from USPSA, but the last two years I competed I did so back in single-stack division. I had picked up a nice, thin 1911 again and felt like I had just grabbed an old friend.<\/p>\n

I finished up 35 years in the corporate world a few years back and figured out how to turn a hobby into a profession. Now I get paid to teach people how to shoot, amongst other things. For all the years I was in competition, I focused on the WHAT and the HOW.<\/p>\n

\"xd-m\n<\/picture>
The XD-M<\/span> is highly customizable, shown here with different-sized backstraps and the magazine well upgrade kit<\/a>. Image:\u00a0John\u00a0McKenzie<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When you teach, you need to think a lot about the WHY. Why did I like the single-stack 1911 so much (like you need a reason, right?) We can talk about balance, grip angles, thickness and many things, but it finally dawned on me that it just fits my hand.<\/p>\n

Your Choice<\/h2>\n

The right pistol needs to fit in your hand correctly. Get too small a pistol and it gets lost in your hand, making it very difficult to manipulate. When the pistol is too big, you can\u2019t reach the trigger correctly and a shooter will frequently push the shot to the weak side or have to turn the pistol in the hand. That was what was wrong with the pistols I shot all those years \u2014 they were too big for my hand.<\/p>\n

\"fingertip\n<\/picture>
According to the author, you should be able to place your finger on the trigger so that it presses straight to the\u00a0rear.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At 5\u201911\u201d and 240 pounds, I am a decently sized guy. I have a big, beefy hand and short, fat fingers. Dad had long, piano player fingers, but he didn\u2019t pass that gene along. So, my hands are what they are and I shoot better with a pistol that fits my hands.<\/p>\n

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When you are trying to decide on a handgun, check a couple of things to make sure that it fits you:<\/p>\n