Martin L. was visiting Budapest, Hungary during the winter holidays.
While there, his brother purchased him a session at a shooting range as a birthday gift.
At the shooting range, Martin decided to shoot several weapons.
And after getting comfortable shooting a few guns Martin decided to shoot a .454-caliber pistol.
As you know, this is a large caliber, especially for a pistol.
“I had the opportunity to shoot a .454-caliber Casull Raging Bull,” said Martin.
But, after firing the first shot from the .454 pistol, the gun flew backwards.
“The instructor notified me that the gun was powerful. When I squeezed the trigger, the weapon’s recoil and the pistol’s poor grip caused the weapon to turn on me.”
Martin accidentally fired a second round that hit the ceiling, barely missing his face.
He didn’t realize how close the second shot was until he watched the video from the shooting range.
Martin later shared the video on social media to teach others about gun safety and to ensure people were aware of shooting range safety.
Obviously, when you are shooting a gun, you are responsible for every bullet that leaves the gun.
That’s why it’s so important to maintain control of the weapon at all times.
Of course, to control the gun you need a proper grip – which includes a quality front strap on the grip.
What is the front strap on a pistol?:
The front strap is the front-facing surface of the grip, the part the inside of your fingers grab when holding the gun.
The vertical portion of the grip between the trigger guard and the bottom.
The purpose of the front strap is to provide support and control when shooting.
Depending on the specific firearm, the front strap can be textured or stippled to improve the grip.
Some pistols, like the 1911, can be customized with aftermarket front strap accessories.
Benefits of textured front strap:
A textured or checkered front strap helps your fingers stay in place when the gun recoils backwards.
The front strap can prevent your hand from sliding or moving when firing multiple shots.
Plus, if the grip gets wet from rain, sweat, or blood, a textured front strap can help keep your hand from slipping.
A better grip means you will have more control of the recoil.
Also, you’ll have faster target re-acquisition since the gun won’t be moving around a lot in the hand.
A textured front strap gives your hand a comfortable placement.
This way you can grab the gun in the same position every time, helping to create muscle memory.
Drawbacks of a textured front strap:
One of the drawbacks to a textured front strap is that over time it can be abrasive to the hand.
If you are shooting at the range all day it could cause irritation.
Also, when drawing a concealed pistol, the gun has to clear the holster and your clothing.
A textured front strap can snag easily.
Plus, it can cause holsters and clothing to wear out sooner if the front strap rubs against them often.
Lastly, a textured front strap is going to trap dirt and oil more easily, so it’s another part to clean frequently.
There is no doubt that textured front straps improve grip and control.
A few of the most common ways to add texture to the front strap are checkering, stippling, or grip tape.
If you are going to add texture to the front strap, be cautious doing so because the last thing you want is to overdo it with texture.
Find a good balance before doing anything permanent.
