Pistol Grip Basics

by
posted on October 5, 2018
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
aguilacup-6.jpg (1)

An effective grip lets us squeeze the trigger without moving the sights. A steady grip will also help with a natural point-of-aim—one that doesn’t require constant “tweaking” to keep the sights aligned. The best way to check your grip is with dry-firing practice, after double-checking that the gun is unloaded. Check your owner’s manual to be sure, but most guns can be fired empty. A .22 cal. pistol, however, requires a dummy round to prevent the firing pin from slamming against the chamber wall (where the soft, brass rimfire case would normally reside.)

Focus
The most important part of your trigger squeeze is at the instant the gun fires. We’re hardwired to blink and/or jerk the trigger in anticipation of the noise, so dry-firing a few minutes each day helps develop muscle memory that can override this natural instinct. Like a slow motion camera, focus on what’s happening during the last split second before the gun fires. If you don’t see the sights, then hitting the target becomes a game of chance.

Adjustments
If your sights jump to one side during dry-fire practice, try re-positioning your trigger finger left or right to achieve a straight line squeeze. Another way you might need to tune your grip is to reposition the back strap for a natural point-of-aim. For me, the back strap lays along the “life line” of my palm.

How hard should you grip? Err on the hard size so that the trigger pull doesn’t move the gun. Most of the pros use a very firm grip, particularly to steady the gun during rapid fire. Putting a “death grip” on the gun may cause tremors or cause your hand to go to sleep, so strive for a happy medium.


Read more pistol shooting articles: 

Latest

Mullers ARC July2025 1
Mullers ARC July2025 1

NRA Announces Dianna & Ryan Muller As Brand Ambassadors For America’s Rifle Challenge

NRA announces Dianna & Ryan Muller as brand ambassadors for America’s Rifle Challenge program, promoting AR-15 marksmanship, safety and training.

Eley’s New Trial Packs Let Competition Shooters Find Their Perfect Rimfire Match Ammo

Eley launches trial ammo packs to help shooters test and match precision .22 LR rounds to their firearms.

Ava Downs Captures Junior Olympic Trap Title On Home Turf

Hillsdale’s Ava Downs takes gold in women’s trap at the 2025 USA Shooting Junior Olympic Championships hosted at the Halter Center.

Brandon Powell Claims 8th Georgia State Sporting Clays Title

Brandon Powell wins his eighth Georgia State Sporting Clays Championship, continuing his dominance with multiple top finishes at the 2025 tournament.

Vincent Hancock Claims 30th ISSF Medal As Team USA Dominates 2025 Lonato World Cup

Team USA shines at 2025 ISSF Lonato World Cup with golds from Vincent Hancock and Sam Simonton, plus silver for Dania Vizzi.

Jon Shue Clinches Third Straight NRA National Precision Pistol Championship Title

Shue continues his dominant streak in bullseye pistol shooting after 2025 NRA National Precision Pistol Championship victory.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Sports USA delivered to your inbox.