Posted by Zook on August 12, 2001 at 21:06:53:
My groups are consistently better when my grip is very tight. By very tight,
I mean much tighter than a very firm handshake. More like an aggressive
handshake or tight enough to be just below muscle shutter. I know that the IZH
46 has a low velocity and the pellet is in the barrel a long time. The gun is
also far from mechanically motionless so I surmise that my tight grip
compensates for the mechanical motion of the gun and the low pellet velocity.
But the tight grip, and resultant good groups, has its price. It can be a very
tiring 60 shot match. Even though, I am able to shoot matches at 90%
scores.
I would like to purchase a used CO2 match pistol (no PCs), which is
economical/reliable/fixable, with a two-stage trigger, and does not require such
a tight grip to get tight groups.
Please comment on:
- The tight grip
necessary with the IZH 46 (especially you IZH 46 users) Suggestions?
- And/or
suggested older model CO2 match pistols that have had good reputations.
(Classics)?
Posted by Bob on August 12, 2001 at 21:47:41:
Firm is a relative term.
Consider Tiger Woods golf grip. He grips the club firm enough so it won't rotate
when it strikes the ball. When asked he replies a firm grip. To achieve the same
stability I would have to grip the club very hard.
As you shoot you will
achieve the firm grip you have now, but with less muscle tension. Therefore less
movement (shudder).
Stay with the IZH46. You will look a long time before you
find a more accurate gun (higher velocity is not everything). With each shot you
exercising your arm and wrist as you cock it. I have tried and you can not buy
points. Higher price guns do not mean smaller groups or higher scores. Mastering
the basics of sight alignment and trigger control will you there. When you are
there then it's your head that will get you the GOLD MEDAL.
IMHO
Bob
Posted by Joe G. on August 12, 2001 at 21:53:28:
I shot an IZH-46 for
over a year as my main shooter when I first started shooting 10M several years
ago and as I learned I was able to do well with it. I don't remember holding the
grips as tight as you describe. I next moved to a Steyr LP-1 pcp which fit and
felt more comfortable and did help me although I did not get immediate gains.
(It came with the learning) I could recommend one of my other pieces as fitting
your qualifications. I have a Feinwerkbau Model 2 which shoots great, has been
reliable and should be economical to acquire ($400-500). I just took it out a
few days ago for the first time in a while and shot a 95 which is about as good
as I get. Of course there are a number of really nice CO2 pistols, Steyr,
Walther and the more recent FWB's just to name a few. Good luck and enjoy the
journey. Joe G.
Posted by TCooper on August 13, 2001 at 01:54:25:
If you want an
economical 10 meter target pistol don't forget about the BRNO TAU-7. This gun is
as accurate as the IZH-46 and it comes with a bulk adapter and a 150gram
transfer tank. The TAU can be used with 12 gram powerlets or bulk fills.
The
TAU-7 has:
- 5-way adjustable trigger
-nice walnut grip with adjustable
shelf
-2 extra 2oz barrel weights
-an adjustable rear counter
weight
-variable velocity (325-600fps)
-3 different front sight
posts
-different rear sight notch choices
You can get the TAU-7 at
www.topgunairguns.com
Another option for you is to get a set of custom made
grips for your IZH-46. I found the IZH grips were not suited to my hand at all.
I had to grip it tight to keep the front sight elevated enough to keep on
target.
Many shooters like the IZH once the grip is customized or replaced.
HTH,
Todd
Posted by Alexey on August 13, 2001 at 03:18:29:
Dear Zook,
You are
most certainly deceiving yourself. In sport shooting one can never arrive
anywhere by force.
Best regards, Alexey
Posted by Rodm on August 13, 2001 at 09:32:12:
Your grip is your grip. I
suspect that you will find that if you get a new pistol with a faster lock time
you will still have better scores with the tight grip that you are using unless
you work on it. The tight grip is helping you with your follow through. It is
follow through that makes a difference, not the grip. If you want to try a
looser grip just concentrate on your follow through with it and see if you don't
do better than you have been.
Follow through--Not moving the gun until you
see where the sights are after the shot.
Posted by Greg on August 13, 2001 at 10:12:56:
Zook, I own an LP10P and
guess what I "discovered" last night? I found that if I gripped the pistol
tighter that my groups improved and became more consistent! I suspect the real
reason this happened has nothing to do with lock time, fps, or mechanics.
Perhaps our grip just needed to be firmer, we need to do some wrist exercise, we
need to work on our follow through or we need to squeeze not jerk the trigger!
(Probably all of those) Anyway, I wouldn't look to a new pistol to solve the
mystery. Greg
Posted by Jerry on August 13, 2001 at 12:58:49:
I have been shooting a 'Z
for about three months. I could not get a good grip with the stock grips. I
upgraded to Vitarbo grips and with a little sandpaper and dremel work I feel
much more comfortable and my scores are mo'better.
Despite the advertising I
feel that the 'Z is a bit nose heavy and late in the day I have to be extra
careful to avoid the 7 o'clock in the five or six ring syndrome ( or worse )
shot.
That being said, some of my best scores have come on my last targets of
the day (perhaps I decide that would be a good time to quit :)
I am going to
upgrade to PCP because I want to get to wherever I am going in a Mercedes rather
than a SUV. ( But I am certain going to keep the SUV.)
--Jerry
Posted by Jon Powell on August 14, 2001 at 00:02:44:
I have the same
successful experience with using a tighter grip than is generally recommended. I
too attributed this to the excessively long bore time of the low velocity IZH-46
that I was shooting at the time. Pistols with shorter bore time are simply more
forgiving.
However, I've since upgraded to a Steyr LP1 and found that a very
firm (even tight) grip help my scores with that pistol as well, even though the
bore time is far shorter.
My theory is that a very firm grip reduces the
adverse impact of occasionally questionable trigger control and, to the extent
that you do flip the muzzle or jerk the trigger, it's more likely to occur AFTER
the pellet has left the barrel.
Notably, most elite shooters that I've heard
comment on this advocate a looser grip. I believe that they believe that a very
firm grip reduces your ability to exercise consistent trigger control (which I
can certainly understand). A grip exerciser USED WITHOUT THE TRIGGER FINGER
seems to both help me have a strong grip without strain, but it also helps to
differentiate between a firm grip on the two fingers below the trigger finger
while retaining independent fine motor control of the trigger finger. I try to
NOT exert significant pressure with the pinky ... it's too low on the grip to do
anything other than cause errors.
This sorta works for me. I have no idea if
it would work for anyone else.
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