Proper Handgun Form: How to Hold (and Control) a Handgun

Controlling a handgun is tough, much tougher than controlling a shoulder-mounted platform like a rifle or a shotgun.

Even though the cartridges in which most long arms are chambered produce more felt recoil, controlling a handgun is more difficult because they are fired at arm’s length and less of the platform is in contact with the shooter’s body.

Consequently, proper form, which includes how you hold the handgun, is critical. Here’s how to do it.

The Shooting Hand

The shooting hand, which for most of us is the right hand, should grip the handgun as high on the frame as possible.

Grip the handgun so that the webbing between your thumb and forefinger comes right up to the base of the slide. Wrap your fingers fully around the grip, and allow your thumb to lay along the frame right at the base of the slide.

The force of recoil will divert in a line straight through the back of the barrel, which is housed within the slide. To get as much control as possible over recoil, you want your grip to be as close to the point of origin as possible, which means high on the frame.

This should go without saying, but your trigger finger should be resting along the frame or slide until you are ready to shoot; never place your trigger finger within the trigger guard until you are ready to fire.

The Support Hand

Your support hand (for most of us, this is the left hand) should be wrapped fully around your shooting hand so as to maximize the surface area contact between the handgun and your grip, which in turn increases control.

You do this by placing the heel of your hand right up against the tips of your pinky and ring fingers, then folding the grip up and around your dominant (shooting) hand.

All four fingers of your support hand should be wrapped fully around the front of the grip. You can bring your support hand all the way up to the base of the handgun, with your non-dominant trigger finger wrapped around the front of the trigger guard for maximum control.

Allow your support hand’s thumb to rest along the frame, as close to the base of the slide as possible, extending forward. This grip, again, is intended to maximize surface area contact between your grip and the handgun.

Stance and Form

Grip tightly, extend your elbows almost fully without locking them, and bend your knees slightly; you also don’t want them to be locked.

There are multiple acceptable shooting stances and you need to use one that’s comfortable for you. Popular options are the Weaver and Isosceles stances.

Whichever shooting stance you prefer, make sure you lean forward into it slightly. The proper grip can help control recoil while shooting, but so can the proper form.

Leaning in slightly will ensure some of your body mass is available to absorb some of the force of felt recoil, which will also help you keep your balance.

Another Tip: Shoot a Low-Recoil Round, like 9mm Full Metal Jacket

One last tip for shooters who are uncomfortable with high-recoil rounds; shoot a lighter-kicking cartridge, such as .380 ACP, .22LR, or 9mm Luger.

If you’re just training, there’s no point in shooting harder-hitting rounds like .357 Magnum, .45 ACP, or 10mm. They’re just going to tire you out faster. If you’re just punching holes in paper, stopping power really doesn’t matter.

Now, if you’re training for defensive purposes, then, by all means, train with the cartridge you’ve chosen for that application, but if you’re just plinking or shooting competitively, lower recoil is an asset, not a liability.

Opt for cheaper, lighter-kicking handgun ammo like LRN .22LR or 9mm full metal jacket for target shooting at the range; they will serve you just fine.