Holding the XD

[Dr. Strangelove]

Hi everyone, I am relatively new to the pistol shooting world and I just bought myself a XD 45 tactical. I watched a few videos on the internet for advice on how to hold a handgun. Including Todd Jarrett's, but the problem is that when I point with my thumbs like he does with the 1911 in the video, I end up holding my thumb over the slide catch and the slide doesn't stay open after the last shot is fired.

Where is your right thumb when you are shooting? Is it in the depression in the grip? If so where is your left thumb? If I could just see some pictures of right handed shooters holding their guns properly that might help out too.

[-CH-]

Originally Posted by Dr. Strangelove

Hi everyone, I am relatively new to the pistol shooting world and I just bought myself a XD 45 tactical. I watched a few videos on the internet for advice on how to hold a handgun. Including Todd Jarrett's, but the problem is that when I point with my thumbs like he does with the 1911 in the video, I end up holding my thumb over the slide catch and the slide doesn't stay open after the last shot is fired.

Where is your right thumb when you are shooting? Is it in the depression in the grip? If so where is your left thumb? If I could just see some pictures of right handed shooters holding their guns properly that might help out too.

its not a picture, but another video is better than nothing i suppose.

http://www.springerprecision.com/video.asp

[XDMickey]

Originally Posted by Dr. Strangelove

Hi everyone, I am relatively new to the pistol shooting world and I just bought myself a XD 45 tactical. I watched a few videos on the internet for advice on how to hold a handgun. Including Todd Jarrett's, but the problem is that when I point with my thumbs like he does with the 1911 in the video, I end up holding my thumb over the slide catch and the slide doesn't stay open after the last shot is fired.

Where is your right thumb when you are shooting? Is it in the depression in the grip? If so where is your left thumb? If I could just see some pictures of right handed shooters holding their guns properly that might help out too.

Maybe your being "silly" or not but I'll answer...The slide will always open when the last shell is shot. I don't think it is your thumb.

Its in the manual. See number 7...




Mick

[Barbarossa]

^ *Poke*

Originally Posted by Dr. Strangelove

I end up holding my thumb over the slide catch and the slide doesn't stay open after the last shot is fired.

[kdhs10]

Try holding your thumbs just off the gun, almost touching but not touching.

[XDMickey]

Originally Posted by kdhs10

Try holding your thumbs just off the gun, almost touching but not touching.

He is saying... "thumb over the slide catch and the slide..."

In my opinion NO way is he accidentally hitting the slide catch "button".
Also he says it only happens on his LAST shot????

[Dr. Strangelove]

It looks like I wasn't being clear. My thumb was resting on the slide catch, so the catch is always in the down position the way I have been gripping the gun. So when the last shot is fired and the slide moves back, my thumb has been preventing the catch from stopping the slide and the slide moves forward again. It would be the same thing as putting an empty mag in the gun and pulling back the slide while holding the catch down.

[Philadelphia]

Originally Posted by Dr. Strangelove

It looks like I wasn't being clear. My thumb was resting on the slide catch, so the catch is always in the down position the way I have been gripping the gun. So when the last shot is fired and the slide moves back, my thumb has been preventing the catch from stopping the slide and the slide moves forward again. It would be the same thing as putting an empty mag in the gun and pulling back the slide while holding the catch down.

Grip the gun in your right hand. Wrap your left hand around your right and place your left thumb forward on the frame just like you see in the Todd Jarrett video. Place your right thumb on the knuckle of your left thumb which is closest to your left palm (sort of as if that "first" (or "last" depending on how you look at it) left knuckle was the manual safety on a 1911). With your right finger alongside the frame (you keep it on the frame, right, not down on the trigger guard), your right finger and left thumb will be aligned on each side of the frame.

Your thumbs really don't do much so just rest them in position like that and you're good to go.

[apierce918]

Originally Posted by Philadelphia

Grip the gun in your right hand. Wrap your left hand around your right and place your left thumb forward on the frame just like you see in the Todd Jarrett video. Place your right thumb on the knuckle of your left thumb which is closest to your left palm (sort of as if that "first" (or "last" depending on how you look at it) left knuckle was the manual safety on a 1911). With your right finger alongside the frame (you keep it on the frame, right, not down on the trigger guard), your right finger and left thumb will be aligned on each side of the frame.

Your thumbs really don't do much so just rest them in position like that and you're good to go.

well said, my left thumb happens to lie right on the takedown lever, then right thumb on the left thumbs knuckle

[dsglenn]

Had the same problem as Dr. Strangelove, after I watched the video and started practicing with my left hand locked and high with the right thumb over my left I started having better control of all my handguns. Technique is key but practice is most important.