Get a Grip!! – The Secret Key To Pistol Shooting

in Accessories Misc., Clay Martin, Competition, Gear Reviews, Gunfight Science
Get a Grip!! - The Secret Key To Pistol Shooting
Grip strength is a must for gunfighters.

What is the one bit of fitness you absolutely cannot ignore if you want to shoot a pistol well? And for that matter, what do the champions of action pistol shooting all have in common? Look, I get it, a lot of the gun world isn’t going to be mistaken for Mr. Olympia contestants, this author included. And at a glance, most dudes on the street wouldn’t think of Rob Leatham or Taran Butler as high-performance athletes. But there is a common denominator and a place I assure you they would crush most football players. Grip strength.

Grip strength has more to do with shooting a pistol, especially shooting a pistol fast, than most know. It is often overlooked, but it’s very real. It is also a difficult one to judge from looks. I have trained competitive bodybuilders that had abysmal grip strength, my guess is an overreliance on straps. But it is kinda funny to see some yolk-up muscle head that literally has the grip of a 12-year-old girl, but it does happen. And I’ve seen a few other examples that led me early on to believe that grip specific training should be part of pistol work. Now if you are a cowboy, iron worker, or BJJ fanatic, please feel free to ignore this. All of those people in my experience have fantastic grip strength. Rebar monkeys are famous for being able to do things like crush unbreakable cups on demand, and we aren’t going to improve on that. But for the rest of you, I have a couple of items guaranteed to help you out.

Get a Grip!! - The Secret Key To Pistol Shooting
As shipped.

Kettlebells are great for grip strength and something you might want to have around for what is looking more and more like another round of COVIDIOT lockdown. They are also very expensive though, and prone to breaking if you drop them on concrete or asphalt. Not exactly ideal if the goal is to push grip strength to the limit. However, Mountain Tactical Institute has introduced an outstanding solution. Soft kettlebells that you fill with sand. Not only can you adjust the weight as you progress, up to 40 pounds, but they will take a lot more punishment than iron bells. The real genius part of the MTI bag is the PVC handle that rolls in your hand, which keeps you from ripping callouses off as rubber degrades. This bag is absolute dynamite and fills a wide variety of roles. You can’t beat it for $50, plus a bag of sand from Home Cheapo.

Get a Grip!! - The Secret Key To Pistol Shooting
The filling process is smooth and easy.

Next up is a bit more specialized, but perfect for pure grip strength. Captains of Crush grippers! Yes, there are cheaper knock-offs, but nobody does it like CoC. Every gripper is made to exacting standards and will last a lifetime. Also included is an instruction booklet with pre-made training sessions. This isn’t a fidget device you keep on your desk and squeeze while making phone calls. These boys are serious about grip training and have done the research to improve yours. The Captains of Crush grippers are so serious that Emerson knives at one time had a challenge for any show they attended. If you could close a #3 or #4 at the Emerson booth, you got the knife of your choice for free. That is no small bet considering the price tag on an Emerson.

Get a Grip!! - The Secret Key To Pistol Shooting
rip it out
Get a Grip!! - The Secret Key To Pistol Shooting
and don’t be afraid to swap hands

Last, we have the old firebase special. When you are in a remote area, you learn to make do with what is laying around. And one of the best tools for grip is the classic military water can. For as long as I can remember, the issue model was the Scepter, which I think is Canadian for “tough as nails”. They aren’t cheap at $49.99, but they will last forever. The easiest way to train grip with two of them is a farmer’s walk. A farmer’s walk is an exercise so easy to understand even Marines get it. Fill up two water cans. With me so far? Now pick each one up by the handle. You can label them Port and Starboard if that helps. Now walk until you can’t hold them anymore. Dump half the water out, or just rest a bit if water is a precious resource. Now carry them back home. Simple. And the other nice part, you have a resource for water storage that is dual purpose. Scepter makes both 5 gallon and 2.5-gallon models, both of which are great.

Get a Grip!! - The Secret Key To Pistol Shooting
Captains of Crush

Don’t let them catch you slacking on grip strength, it is one of the best things you can do to improve your pistol game. Not to mention all the other things in life it helps. Get shopping, and post Popeye forearms in the comments!

Get a Grip!! - The Secret Key To Pistol Shooting
This plus walking. The flip-flops are optional.

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About the author: Clay Martin is a former Marine and Green Beret, retiring out of 3rd Special Forces Group. He is a multi-decade and -service sniper, as well as 3-Gun competitor and Master ranked shooter in USPSA Production. In addition to writing about guns, he is the author of “Last Son of The War God,” a novel about shooting people that deserve it. You can also follow him on twitter, @offthe_res or his website, Off-The-Reservation.com

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  • Karl Dahl October 25, 2021, 12:32 pm

    Clay! Hey, Clay! I was squeezin’ my CoC #1 while reading this!

    • Yep yep October 25, 2021, 6:05 pm

      Everyone just move along nothing to see here……………..

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