Proper Grip Stance for G2 or Encore Handguns

[Bob96]

  For the high recoil calibers like the 45/70 should you lock your elbows & wrists tightly to try and reduce recoil back and up or lock just the elbow or just the wrist? Do you try to fight gun movement or somewhat just let it roll & recoil?

[MePlat]

It is going to be interesting to see the responses you get on this.

[MS Hitman]

If you like for your wrists and elbows to function properly, I'd recommend against locking them. 

There are some loads and calibers you just can't hold the recoil down and it's best to roll with it.

[Keith L]

Why do I think this thread will generate that video clip again of the Encore recoiling back past the shooter...

[MS Hitman]

I don't know Keith; it may or may not.  I'd just hate to see someone hurt themselves without first being warned or advised against such activity.  Or course, they are his elbows, wrists and forehead, not mine.

[Keith L]

I agree.  I just cringe each time I see that video.  I am sure it will scare some folks away from the fun of these handguns.  I don't have any of the hand cannons so I will let others comment.

Thanks.

[Bob96]

    I too have seen the mentioned video. I am speaking about trapdoor level 45/70 loads. What is the best way to hold the gun to prevent video type experiences?  I am awaiting a barrel and would like to try it out with the proper type of hold as I have not used anything of this recoil level in a G2 propr.

[30hrrtt]

Now you got me wondering.  Didn't see the video.  Where can I pull it up?

[Ladobe]

If you like for your wrists and elbows to function properly, I'd recommend against locking them. 

There are some loads and calibers you just can't hold the recoil down and it's best to roll with it.

It's nice to see the right answer posted up front MS Hitman.   Thumbs up to you.

I've greatly enjoyed shooting TC, bolt, revolver and muzzle loader handcannons for over 35 years.    The 45/70's recoil pales when compared to some of the ones I've had.   If you try to fight the heavy recoilers, no doubt sooner or later they will come back and bite you.   It's much better to learn how to go with the flow and not try so hard to control them.   You'll shoot them more accurately, not get shy of them and not get hurt by them.   Is true with the handcannon wildcats available for the Contender pistols, and even more so now with the Encore's.   Replacing the factory grips on the TC's helps a lot too.

People not learning how to shoot them was a big plus for those who did over the years though.   Lots of handcannon barrels have always been available for sale as "slightly used" for a reduced price by folks who were soon afraid of them after buying them.   Some with as little as 1 or 2 rounds fired.   While they are not for everybody, anyone can learn to shoot the heaviest recoilers comfortably.   It's all about technique, not muscle.

IMO-YMMV

[CBM]

Which aftemarket grips help ? I like the way the laminated grips look........but have no clue what brand or style to order .

I am putting a .460 sw together and want to do it right the first time if possible .

[Ladobe]

CBM -

Biggest problem with TC factory grips - they are generic and don't fit everybodies hand well.   Not TC's fault, they had to go with something they thought would fit the most people.

Pachmayr Decelerators would be my first choice on a heavy recoil handcannon.   They do an excellent job and are now available for the Encore frame.   

Nothing wrong with wood (laminated) either if you have them made to fit your hand.   There are several shops that make custom aftermarket grips for TC's - some will fit them to your hand pretty well with just a tracing.   Best is to be able to go in for fitting and testing them while in progress, but few folks can do that.   I was lucky - I used to live within 30 miles of Bullberry and ran around with Fred.    Georgia Jim is another fellow with a large following on aftermarket custom grips for the TC's.   And another is Claude Gatewood.   All have web sites.    Only three I have personal experience with (that are still in business), but there are others who should be able do them just as well as these three.

HTH

[David D.]

Georgia Jim does good work.
Here is another who turns out some fantastic work.
http://www.muttmotorpool.com/contender.html

[kennisondan]

I had always been an advocate of a weaver stance with the elbows slightly bent and let the gun recoil back some, absorbing it with backward and upward movement... once I shot my 35 contender with my wrist bent around to the right on an improvised rest with only my thumb behind it and it did hurt me some for a while...
for some stupid reason I overestimated the recoil recently of the  475 I got and stiff armed my right in order to hold it. and held it in a death grip as well... I did not shoot well, as I got tired hands and wrists really fast - caused inconsistency.. simultaneously, I also tore some tendons in my right forearm and elbow and am having arthritic problems in it and the wrist and shoulder as well... I have shot a lot for a long time and had some worsening arthritic problems and a shoulder repair in the past... but I can say that the arthritic problems worsened or became more active and widespread and the old shoulder injury got painful again ... 
It could be a coincedence or it could have aggravated the almost there conditions and made them worse.. It defeinitely made me worry about my shooting of the 475 and it was a mystery why I could pick up the forty four and forty five and 308 encore and was shooting a lot better with those than with the 475 every time.. my consistency and confidence began to diminish and I could to figure it out...
your post asking that question put a face on the problem for me.... why I did that I do not know... it was stupid and it was overlooked..
so my opinion is shoot it so as to absorb and roll with the recoil, and hold it tight enough to not let it go, but repeatablly tight so you can do it everytime... and never lock your arms or wrists .... it may not hurt you .. it may not make for arthritis to flare up.. it may not hurt your consistency... but ; it could do so and it is so easy to just shoot it like you shoot all your other guns... I shoot my 308 like that and it is fine... as soon as I can shoot again at all I will shoot my 475 like everything else... and better to boot I would bet ... Just my two cents..( that will be a quarter.. inflation, etc. )
dk