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SHOP NOWThis video walks through five core fundamentals that commonly cause problems for pistol shooters. The hosts demonstrate each concept on the range using a Glock 34 in 9mm.
The video opens with a lighthearted skit where Matt appears to miss the target with a Glock pistol, then clarifies he was intentionally aiming off. At the range with Classic Firearms, Matt and Jason introduce a discussion on five common problems that affect pistol shooting. Matt explains that viewers often comment that he holds a pistol incorrectly but rarely explain what is actually wrong. He notes that even when he shoots well, people still criticize his grip. Jason responds by outlining that he uses five key fundamentals as a gauge for effective pistol shooting and will walk through them to help improve consistency and control with a handgun.
Jason’s first fundamental is stance. He emphasizes that stance equals strength and stability, giving the shooter a solid base to manage recoil. For a left-handed shooter like Matt, Jason wants to see a fighting stance where a straight line can be drawn from the heel of one foot to the toe of the other. This heel-to-toe alignment helps ensure balance and prevents the shooter from rocking backward under recoil. Jason notes that the Glock 34 in 9mm is not a heavy-recoiling pistol, but a stable stance still matters for consistent hits and efficient target engagement.
The second fundamental is grip. Jason explains that grip is foundational because it keeps the pistol where it needs to be during recoil. He acknowledges that shooters use different methods, such as the push-pull technique that Matt prefers, where the dominant hand pushes forward and the support hand pulls back. Jason instead visualizes the grip as pulling apart a horseshoe, with both hands applying lateral tension away from each other. This anchors and locks the wrists, helping absorb recoil and maintain control. Matt finds the method a bit unusual but can see how it might work with practice, especially for managing movement between shots.
The third fundamental is trigger prep. Jason wants the trigger finger to have a definite, repeatable placement rather than slapping the trigger. Using the Glock’s trigger safety as a reference, he prefers to place the pad of the finger in the middle of the trigger, centered on the blade. This positioning helps ensure that when the trigger is pulled straight to the rear, the pressure is equal each time. He warns against inserting too much finger, which can cause the muzzle to jump or push shots left or right. A consistent trigger press, with the finger working straight back, reduces flinching and keeps impacts more predictable on target.
The fourth fundamental is presentation. Jason clarifies that presentation is not simply swinging or bowling the pistol out toward the target. Whether drawing from concealment or an open holster, he wants the gun and hands to travel in a straight line as much as possible. His hands meet as he acquires the pistol, then he punches out toward the target. As he extends, his hands rotate to lock the wrists together, which aids recoil absorption. This straight, consistent presentation also helps with faster and more controlled transitions between targets, reducing the tendency to overdrive or underdrive the gun when moving from one aiming point to another.
The fifth fundamental is follow-through, which Jason compares to a basketball shooter holding the hand up after a shot. With a pistol, follow-through means maintaining control and awareness after the shot breaks instead of immediately relaxing or dropping the gun. The shooter should allow some relaxation in the muscles to absorb recoil while keeping enough control to bring the sights or dot back on target. Jason stresses maintaining pressure on the trigger and working from the wall and reset rather than slapping it. Slapping introduces inconsistencies and can throw shots left, right, or off center. Using the trigger reset and controlled follow-through supports faster, more accurate follow-up shots.
Matt loads a magazine and shoots using his normal technique so Jason can observe. Jason notes that Matt tends to drive the gun downward, which could be related to the longer slide of the Glock 34 or simple unfamiliarity. He also sees that Matt keeps his arms very stiff. Jason recommends allowing a slight bend in the elbows so recoil and target transitions are easier to manage. Matt explains that his stiffness comes from his push-pull grip, where he aggressively pushes with the dominant hand and pulls with the support hand to lock the pistol out. Jason contrasts this with his horseshoe-style tension, which he believes offers more flexibility and reduces the risk of overdriving the gun past the target during transitions.
To evaluate follow-through and consistency, Jason has Matt fire controlled pairs—two shots as quickly as he can comfortably manage while maintaining control. Matt intentionally moves his point of aim around the target so the hits are not stacked in a single tight group, making them easier to evaluate. Jason is pleased with the results, calling the pairs some of Matt’s best, with acceptable spacing and alignment. They notice some vertical stringing, which Matt suspects is related to overdriving the gun during follow-through. In a later string, Matt alternates sides of the target and correctly identifies a shot that went over the shoulder without immediately checking the target. Jason points out that this is effective shot calling, an advanced skill where the shooter knows the impact location from sight and recoil feedback alone.
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