BULLET
POINTS
C O NTROL
PHOTO AND ARTICLE BY: BRODY KENNEN
H
andling your sidearm is like handling your vehicle. If you are
negligent or arrogant: a severe cost could result. On the range
you could see stove-pipe jams, a wide shot pattern on target,
and experience having to take more time reacquiring between
shots. In a gunfight these errors could very well get you killed.
One training factor is how you grip the handgun. For semi-automatic
handguns, I recommend the Combat Grip. This grip is also referred to as
the Leatham-Enos Grip, in case you want to do more research, and it’s
also commonly referred to as the “thumbs forward” grip.
The Leatham-Enos grip provides the best for recoil control. A high grip
in the beavertail, with the firing hand, controls rearward felt recoil and
muzzle flip. The support hand assists in controlling muzzle flip and puts a
clamping pressure towards the interior of the handgun itself. The easiest
way to describe this is to think of it as a four-way intersection where all
roads lead to the center. I couple this grip with an Isosceles or Fighting
stance (between Isosceles and Weaver) to keep the handgun in direct
alignment with the center of my frame.
For the thumbs: always forward and always high along the top of the
frame. Most people will find that their DA/SA and striker handguns are
similarly laid out. Assuming you’re right handed, your right thumb should
reach the bolt catch without overextending and your left thumb should
sit on or under the takedown lever. Those who run a 1911 will notice their
controls are slightly more rearward, behind where your fingertips lay. A
slight difference in the SIGs and Glocks that I run is the takedown lever.
On the SIGs, they are pronounced levers as opposed to the slim, recessed
“levers” on the Glocks.
I can best describe the Leatham-Enos grip as a clasping grip – from the
four directions. Older grip techniques like the Teacup and the Thumbs-
Down, taken from revolvers, do not offer the same amount of drivability on
semi-automatics. If you use those methods on a semi-automatic,
you’ve probably had to reposition your hands after four to five rounds
downrange. If that’s happened and you haven’t tried the Leatham-Enos,
then do so. Practice it dry before heading to the range. You can couple
the practice with the Trigger Reset Drill and, equally, both techniques will
tighten up your shot groups over time.
Practicing the grip while dry-firing is used
to find where a lack of comfortability may be.
Some report issues in the support wrist from
the forward cant required for proper thumb
placement. The cant can be equivalent to nearly
15-degrees of angle. There is an inward clasp of
the grip, but the cant provides forward resistance
against recoil. While not advised by all, I lock
the supporting wrist and the entire firing arm
as it is centered to my frame. There are several
physiological arguments against locking one
or the other, and even both, as presented by far
more experienced shooter than I. But, you will
adapt the grip for the best recoil compensation
suited to you. It might be less wrist cant or a lack
of elbow-lock because of a heftier body size.
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HARLEY-DAVIDSON
OF LAKE CHARLES
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Harley-Davidson Softail Sport Glide
LEFT
X - Supporting thumb
placement.
Y - Base of supporting
palm placement.
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RIGHT
The support hand fills
the remaining opening
on the grip.
If you wish to read the extended version of this article,
then visit :
www.thearmednovelist.com. Questions or comments?
Email [email protected].
16 Thunder Roads Magazine Louisiana/Mississippi | July 2018 | www.thunderroadslams.com
www.thunderroadslams.com | July 2018 | Thunder Roads Magazine Louisiana/Mississippi
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