WATCH: Bullseye Pistol Grip with Brian Zins

by
posted on December 2, 2019

According to 12-time NRA National Pistol Champion Brian Zins, a proper bullseye (precision) pistol grip is, "Firm, consistent and repeatable!" Easy enough, right? In his latest video for SSUSA, Zins reviews the fundamentals for a winning bullseye pistol grip.

Brian Zins Pistol Grip
Grip is key, your hand is the only thing touching your gun.


First rule: Trigger finger placement is the most important part of your grip. This is because the trigger finger is the only part of your grip that is moving. The rest of your grip, while stationary, should be consistent and firm. How firm? Enough to manage recoil, but don't hold it too tight or your hand will be worn out by the end of a grueling bullseye pistol match. 

Brian Zins Pistol Grip
If you are holding the gun correctly, when you raise your gun it should naturally align to your eye.


When developing your one-handed pistol grip for bullseye pistol shooting, be sure to keep these things in mind.

  1. Avoid bending your wrist. Keep it flat, as if you are throwing a punch. This will help to manage recoil.
  2. Once you establish your grip and bring up your gun, the sights should automatically align to the eye. Any deviations from this are most likely a grip issue, not a position issue.
  3. Apply consistent, even front-to-back pressure in your grip. Do not put put pressure on the side of the grip. This avoids issues with the thumb.
  4. Be aware of your grip pressure as the trigger finger is moving to avoid sight misalignment. Do not allow grip pressure to change during sustained fire.


When the gun comes up and is properly aligned to the eye, you may not be on target. Move your feet to get on target. As long as your gun comes up and sights are aligned to the eye, you are in good shape. (Watch Zins' previous shooting position video for more details.)

Brian Zins Pistol Grip
A proper precision pistol grip avoids wrist break when aligning sights or a red dot to your eye.


Once you master this grip, shooting your bullseye pistol will feel better and recoil will be better managed.

This video is the fifth installment in our bullseye pistol series featuring Brian Zins. Below are links to the previous videos.


To learn more about Zins’ pistol training classes, please visit his Facebook page here.

Latest

1969 NRA Nationalmatches 6
1969 NRA Nationalmatches 6

Military Competitors Return In Droves: 1969 National Matches

Although the military didn’t provide personnel support to the 1969 National Matches, military shooters participated in large numbers that year.

WATCH: Browning Citori 825 Sporting

The new Citori 825 Sporting over-under from Browning is a solid 12-gauge option for hunters who want to up their game in sporting-clays competition.

New For 2025 Ammunition, Bullets And Brass From Capstone Precision Group

New top-tier ammo, bullets and brass from Capstone Precision Group brands Berger, Lapua and Vihtavouri will be available for competition shooters in 2025.

SHOT Show 2025: Competition Optics Roundup

You won’t want to miss these 10 competition shooting optics we found on the show floor at SHOT Show 2025.

Real Avid’s New Breech Plug 4-In-1 Scraper Is A Compact Tool For Muzzleloaders

New from Real Avid is the Breech Plug 4-in-1 scraper for muzzleloaders.

WATCH: Staccato HD P4

New from Staccato is the HD handgun lineup with four-inch and 4½-inch models, both chambered in 9 mm Luger.

Interests



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