J frame grip/ sight picture question

[Bartman]

I've been weighing options for a CCW for a while now and a J frame revolver has been a heavy contender in mind. I'm not real concerned about the trigger weight or recoil as these seem to be training issues rather than design defects. I was handling a 638 at the Fort Wayne gun show yesterday and I noticed something I never have before. I've always heard that a high grip on the backstrap is the best grip for a small revolver for controlling recoil. What I noticed was that when trying to aim, that grip pulls the front sight higher than the rear so that I really have to torgue my wrist down to line up the sights. I didn't have that problem if I gripped it lower, but the hold didn't feel as secure in my hand that way.

I'm wondering if this is just a matter of being unfamiliar with shooting a small revolver or if its an indication that the gun is too small for my hands.

I'm freely admitting my ignorance here so don't feel that you have to go out of your way to point it out

P.S. my only other handgun is an M&P 9mm

 

[Latewatch]

Any small handgun can pose problems if you have large hands. Typically the higher you can get on the grip of any handgun, without interfering with operation, the better off you will be with recoil managment. With that being said everyone's hands/bodies are different and you may or may not have to make some minor adjustments to your technique and or to the weapon (different grips for example) to make it work effectively for you.

My J frame also points high with my firing grip and it's just something that I've trained myself to deal with if I'm shooting it past spitting distance.

 

[VERT]

For what it is worth I grip my J Frame and "torque my wrist down" as you explained it. If not the front sight is high.

Glocks can be the same way in that they "point high". It is just a matter of training with the gun you carry.

 

[Kagnew]

I have a 637 and a 642 and just grip them as I would any handgun. I've never concentrated on a "high grip".

 

[Bartman]

Thank your for your replies. I haven't ruled out revolvers yet. If I ever manage to save enough money I'm going to have to make a decision sooner or later.

 

[9mmfan]

For what it is worth I grip my J Frame and "torque my wrist down" as you explained it. If not the front sight is high.

Glocks can be the same way in that they "point high". It is just a matter of training with the gun you carry.

Exactly right. I have to do the same thing.

 

[marv]

My K frames are all square butt. I always thought the round butt was better looking. Finally got one. First reaction was: I can't shoot this thing. My old wrist doesn't bend that far. I found that a grip that fills the gully between the front strap and the trigger guard makes the gun much more shootable and doesn't detract from the looks.

 

[downzero]

I have a 637 and a 642 and just grip them as I would any handgun. I've never concentrated on a "high grip".

Maybe you should start concentrating on a "high grip" for all of them, then.

 

[mainjet]

I have and carry a 642. I grip it normally and practice with it in that matter.

I find that the rear sight is almost nonexistant anyway. However, I can hit the paper at a good distance (25 yards) with it pretty easily which tells me that I can probably hit things at a closer distance (5-10 feet).

As you probably know - this is no target pistol. I think that the small rear sight goes hand and hand with the intended use of the pistol which is not target shooting or shooting at something 30 yards away. Could you hit something 30 yards away? Sure, but at that point you probably have plenty of time to get your sight picture, aim and fire. If you miss you will have time to take a couple more shots in the same manner.

 

[woodsie57]

The old Tyler T-Grip is available again,Put one on my m36,really like it-if you have the little wood grips now,and want to fill in behind the trigger guard without addad weight/bulk,its worth a look.

 

[sharpetop]

I too tourqe my wrist down a bit with my 642. If i get the top of the front sight level with the top of the rear of the "trough", it shoots where I want it to.

 

[deviljunkie]

i have a ruger sp101, at close range i simply just put the front sight on target and call it good.

 

[jurassicnarc]

I have a S&W 640, a 442, and a M&P 340 with the XS big dot front sight (My current EDC) All are S&W 'Centennial' types with small round butt grips. All have been fitted with Pachmeyer COMPAC grips, with the scallop on the front tip for the little finger. Accuracy went way up (even with the 357) after fitting the new grips, probably because they fill in the gap behind the trigger guard, and the cushy handfilling properties. Great for IWB carry too.

 

[FERLACH]

I have shot j frames for years, tried differant grips, and settled on rubber boot grips. Feel and shoot best for me.

 

[Lethgar]

In my experience with my Detective Special, just hang on tight. No full firing grip changes from how I shoot my 19-3, just less to hang on to.

 

[lowendgenerator]

I had a 2 week love affair with a J frame. I had the same problems you did. In order to get a good grip on it, I had to point my knuckles at the ground. That got old, real quick. I went back to single stack sub-compacts for my EDC, and never looked back.

 

[Kagnew]

Maybe you should start concentrating on a "high grip" for all of them, then.

Yeah, especially when shooting a PPK. Good advice.

 

[IndyDave1776]

For controling recoil with a J-frame, I would suggest sticking with an all steel or stainless example. I simply don't understand the concept of buying an alloy or titanium gun of miniscule dimensions and then fighting recoil, especially for someone of larger stature. Incidentally, I have been happy with the Uncle Mike's grips that came standard on my model 60. They look somewhat long and narrow but fit my larger than average hands quite well.