Trigger hand thumb position

[ovenpaa]

I have been practising a new hand position for long range, where instead of placing the thumb of my trigger hand on the top of the stock wrist behind the bolt I place it to the right hand side, parallel to my trigger finger in a biathlon type grip. Initial shots pushed the POI a good minute right however the error was short lived and the position seems to work for me.

The reason for the change? There is a groove on the right hand side of the stock of the S&L above the trigger that my thumb fits in very nicely.

[meles meles]

Thumb ?

[ovenpaa]

The things that enable me to climb trees whilst you stripy types have to dig holes

[20series]

I can see the benefit of this technique, wrapping the thumb around the stock could introduce twist into the stock. I might try it myself to see if i get a benefit or not

Alan

[ovenpaa]

What I meant to ask was has anyone else tried this technique.

20S, it was surprising how much out my first couple of shots were and I was in half a mind to give up but as I was on the paper I persevered, I noticed that I am using less of a hand squeeze to control the trigger and more finger control now. Not sure how it would work on triggers with very high or very low weights.

Oddly enough I used to do similar with my SMLE to stop me smacking my nose with my thumb under recoil.

[Sim G]

I have been shooting with this type of grip for as long as I can remember. However, the thumb of my firing hand just sits on top of my hand, I grip the pistol grip with the heel of the thumb on one side of the stock and the tips of the fingers on the other side of the stock.

One big advantage of keeping your thumb from wrapping around the stock appears to be quicker bolt manipulation.

[Tower75]

While I haven't tried this position, for a while now I've been using my middle-finger as my trigger finger.

I have a very light hold on the stock's wrist, lay my index finger along the stock, pointing at the target and use my middle finger to squeeze the trigger.

Sounds daft I know, but it's actually quite comfortable, and I've been told, that "apparently" the brain controls the middle finger differently to the index - less jurky. Well, whatever the reason, it works for me

[dave_303]

I've tried it, often now place my thumb flat on the back of the stock, look at at early marks of Martini Henrys they have a knurled place to rest your thumb on the back and right of the receiver

[targetman]

Always wrapped my thumb tightly over the stock wrist and rested the side of my nose against my thumb........

That is fine for a Target Rifle but is inclined to produce a large spray of blood if I do the same whilst shooting my Martini Henry ....

[tikkathreebarrels]

Used to shoot No4 with middle finger on the trigger and thumb and first finger on the bolt knob for mad minuting. Sometimes I use this on my bolt action wabbit gun.
I shoot my 6BR in the manner you describe and whilst I've tried it on my 308, I've found that with a bipod I lose sight picture too easily.
Have you tried the "thumb holding the back of the trigger guard" grip?