saa roll?

[RJL-77]

So how much roll and how do you control it.  I know this is prolly a worn out dumb question, but no one has ever explained it to me. 1, Is this roll in the grip on the stocks  , 2 or the wrist/ elbow? 3, Is it best to shoot stiff elbow or bent? 4, shoulder lopcked.   It seems to me that sometimes I feel like I am fighting a control issue till my whole arm is tense, or my shoulder locks, wrist gets sore.  fingers turn white.  What combination am I doing wrong.  I even tried my tongue on the other side of my mouth.(got bit cause it was unnatural). standing up one handed bullseye stance  What works for you?  Jim

[Glanceblamm]

The double action will tend to press straight back into the palm of your hand while the s/a will roll as you said.

My worst case senario would be a hotter load or a heavier bullet in my short barrel gun and it can roll back enough upon recoil for the hammer to peck the area between the thumb & trigger finger...hard. In this case I just have to firm up my grip a bit.

I still prefer the light touch and to let the gun recoil naturally. If I am doing sight in work, my wrist's would be resting on those bags. You should be relaxed when shooting but have the gun firmly under control.

[DanChamberlain]

RJ

I'm all about light touch and let'er roll!  Unless I'm shooting a load/gun combination that could cement the front sight in my forehead! 

With standard loads for .45 Colt, .44 Special, .357 or whatnot, I like to hold the gun just firmly enough to guarantee it's not going to drop when I shoot, and let the recoil just do its thing!   

If you are shooting the heavies, well, go to John Linebaugh's web site and watch him shoot the .475.  Then you'll see how it's supposed to be done with the wrist-breakers.

Dan

[44 Man]

I find when I grip firmly (elbows bent a little), when the gun goes off, my wrists bend some and my elbows also bend.  This allows the gun to roll back but it doesn't shift in my hands.  If I try to hold it with my arms straight and tight, then it will twist in my hands, slide and sometimes the the hammer can get me.  So I learned to grip it firmly in my hands with both arms slightly bent and just let it roll.  Even my .44 mags are ok this way.  Back in the day, I used to really try to hold it down, now I know better.  44 Man

[BlkHawk73]

  Not to tight - tensing those muscles will make you shake.  Let the gun roll in the hand, let your hand roll with your arm.  I like the same stance/hold regardless of handgun.  Push forward with strong hand, pull back with weak, easy smooth trigger finger.  Seems a darn steady platform for me.    A biggie is how the gun fits YOUR hand.  The right grips come into play here.  I guess if all else fails, as a last resort, one could try the dreaded and seemingly sacrilegious Pachmayer type. 

[44 Man]

Blackhawk73.  As much as I have tried (and suceeded to a small degree with 1911's) to use the 'Weaver' stance you describe, when it comes to single actions I alway seem to come back to an Icosilese stance.  I do like the Weaver for most things, just doesn't seem to happen naturally for me with single actions.  44 Man

[tomray]

Seems like some of you are talking about shooting SAA's with two hands??......... I shoot them Off Hand with the other hand at rest...................same as I shoot Bullseye. I just think pistols and revolvers are meant to be shot with one hand, unless your shooting Pins and Plates, or a SASS speed event.......But then, thats the same as Pins and Plates, except your wearing authentic period western clothes.
I also agree with the lighter touch and let the gun roll in my hand.........I will say, I think learning to shoot a SAA well is tougher than learning to shoot a 1911 to the same degree of accuracy...... Also, I can't shoot the SAA as well as a 1911, but thats why I shoot Off Hand.

Tom

[Glanceblamm]

Seems like some of you are talking about shooting SAA's with two hands??.........

Guilty as charged as I do over 95% of my shooting two handed. I can shoot accurately with one hand and use the classic dueling pistol stance even going as far as to let my off hand fingers rest in my front jean pocket. When I shoot two handed the index and middle finger of the weak hand are usually parallel to the cylinder with the ring finger and little finger supporting the grip. The thumb is pointing up and to the side and is used for a range finder (hahaha) Not, well sometimes but that is another story.

I am usually shooting at 2" 3" & 6" steel from 35yds to 60yds when not doing target work.

[Ole Man Dan]

Blackhawk73.  As much as I have tried (and suceeded to a small degree with 1911's) to use the 'Weaver' stance you describe, when it comes to single actions I alway seem to come back to an Icosilese stance.  I do like the Weaver for most things, just doesn't seem to happen naturally for me with single actions.  44 Man

I'm the other way...  I cut my teeth reading about Jack Weaver.  I learned the Weaver stance as a kid.  Over the years I've adjusted my Weaver stance into whats known as a Modified Weaver.  Works for me.
Heavy recoil is tamed by the Weaver.  Let your single action roll, it's natural.  If you try to fight it you will be miserable. 

[44 Man]

Shoot them however you can reliably hit with them, at the distance you wish to.  I think when speaking of one handed shooting we are talking about less than 25 yards.  When you want to drop a whitetail deer at 75 yards, you best use two hands and also brace your shoulder against a tree.  The longest deer I have shot with open sights was at 80 yards with just such a hold.  Shoot how you wish, that's why we enjoy single actions.  44 Man

[tomray]

Shoot them however you can reliably hit with them, at the distance you wish to.  I think when speaking of one handed shooting we are talking about less than 25 yards.  When you want to drop a whitetail deer at 75 yards, you best use two hands and also brace your shoulder against a tree.  The longest deer I have shot with open sights was at 80 yards with just such a hold.  Shoot how you wish, that's why we enjoy single actions.  44 Man

44 Man,

Yeah, I was referring to formal shooting, or plinking at 25 yards. I wouldn't attempt a 75 yard shot at a whitetail with a SAA, I'd much prefer my Colt  Anaconda for that distance.........primitive sights of the SAA, and 64 Y.O. eyes probably wouldn't give me the results I'd be looking for, at 75 yards.
Hey, I didn't mean to infer that two handed shooting was "unacceptable"........I just don't picture myself ever shooting a SAA that way..............I've shot that way with a 1911 competitively at plates and pins when I had younger eyes and did quite well..........and If I had to "get defensive" with a 1911 in any situation, I'd use two hands...............I think you get my point...

Good Shooting,

Tom

[Lloyd Smale]

doesnt much matter how much you let them roll. the trick is to do it exactly the same each time

[Tommyt]

doesnt much matter how much you let them roll. the trick is to do it exactly the same each time

I agree
Unless your Best shot
Knotted your ForeHead 

Tommyt

[Lloyd Smale]

been there done that!!

doesnt much matter how much you let them roll. the trick is to do it exactly the same each time

I agree
Unless your Best shot
Knotted your ForeHead 

Tommyt

[RJL-77]

Thanks for your input,  Keep it comming!
Jim

[Glanceblamm]

When you want to drop a whitetail deer at 75 yards, you best use two hands and also brace your shoulder against a tree.

This is the best line that I have heard so far and I will raise it to two hands on the gun, shoulder against a tree, and one knee on the ground. This is the position that I found myself in anyway when a coyote showed up while on a deer scouting trip.

I also have the Creedmore position on the agenda to practice sometime. Might have some use for this but it would probably be more by chance than intent for sure. It is actually very comforatable but a good chap or at least coverall would be a must with a revolver



Again, this would be more in the intrest of a specialty shot.