# Pistol Recoil Question: Holding A Gun Sideways **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 20, 2006, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistol-recoil-question-holding-a-gun-sideways/357572 "2006-05-20T22:14:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2006, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistol-recoil-question-holding-a-gun-sideways/357572/21 "2006-05-23T00:55:41Z")
> [@danceswithcats](#): > > If he’s in an airplane on a treadmill, his quack won’t echo, and no one knows why. What if he does it in the driveway? Angrily? ---
**Author:** ![MannyL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MannyL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MannyL)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2006, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistol-recoil-question-holding-a-gun-sideways/357572/22 "2006-05-23T02:17:35Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > What if the gangsta is on a treadmill? MOVIE TITLE! ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2006, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistol-recoil-question-holding-a-gun-sideways/357572/23 "2006-05-23T07:44:39Z")
One thing no-one here has mentioned is the inherent jamming problem with firing Gangsta Style. Because of the way the ejection system on most semi-auto handguns works (throwing the cartidge up and to the side), if you hold the gun sideways, gravity doesn’t always work to clear the cartridge from the breech, and it can get caught in the slide as it returns to load a new round, jamming the gun… ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2006, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistol-recoil-question-holding-a-gun-sideways/357572/24 "2006-05-23T15:26:39Z")
> [@Martini Enfield](#): > > One thing no-one here has mentioned is the inherent jamming problem with firing Gangsta Style. > > Because of the way the ejection system on most semi-auto handguns works (throwing the cartidge up and to the side), if you hold the gun sideways, gravity doesn’t always work to clear the cartridge from the breech, and it can get caught in the slide as it returns to load a new round, jamming the gun… I’m not sure i agree with this. In most of the semi-auto handguns I’ve fired, the shell has to fight gravity in order to eject _normally_. Of course, there may be other jamming problems associated with trying to hold the weapon upside down, but I dont think gravity is one of them. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2006, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistol-recoil-question-holding-a-gun-sideways/357572/25 "2006-05-23T15:47:09Z")
This is similar to the first question I asked on the Dope messageboard. Reasons against were the accuracy and ejected shells being thrown into your face. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2006, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistol-recoil-question-holding-a-gun-sideways/357572/26 "2006-05-23T16:16:58Z")
I’ve seen video on the net of a fellow firing an Uzi (or a similar variant thereof) on full auto, where the gun started out being held upside down (held regularly, but with the arm twisted so that one’s pinky finger and the clip of the gun would be pointing up) and was rotated to the normal firing position via recoil during firing. The overall effect was that he was able to put the majority of that clip on target, instead of spraying bullets into the sky. Perhaps if you were to fire a short burst from a small automatic weapon then gangsta style would be effective? ---
**Author:** ![Umbriel2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/4af34b/32.png) [@Umbriel2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Umbriel2)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2006, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistol-recoil-question-holding-a-gun-sideways/357572/27 "2006-05-23T16:21:39Z")
I concur with Cluricaun. The gangsta grip may be of some benefit when using rapid, barely aimed fire. With a normal grip, recoil tends to cause the barrel to rise, such that successive shots will tend to be directed over the target(s) head. With a sideways grip, successive shots will spray on the same plane as the target, being more likely to hit his friends and various innocent bystanders. This would be especially true with fully automatic weapons. I recall reading that the full-auto version of the Broomhandle Mauser pistol was often fired this way by its (often criminal) users, as it was particularly difficult to control. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2006, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistol-recoil-question-holding-a-gun-sideways/357572/28 "2006-05-23T16:39:06Z")
> [@Umbriel2](#): > > I concur with Cluricaun. This my friend is a dangerous notion… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2006, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistol-recoil-question-holding-a-gun-sideways/357572/29 "2006-05-23T17:01:46Z")
> [@SavageNarce](#): > > . . . the current preference for the two-handed bracing grip. Known as the [Weaver Stance](http://weaverstance.com/). ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2006, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistol-recoil-question-holding-a-gun-sideways/357572/30 "2006-05-24T04:06:32Z")
> [@CynicalGabe](#): > > I’m not sure i agree with this. In most of the semi-auto handguns I’ve fired, the shell has to fight gravity in order to eject _normally_. Of course, there may be other jamming problems associated with trying to hold the weapon upside down, but I dont think gravity is one of them. I think it depends which semi-auto you’re using. Assuming your average Gangsta has fallen victim to the _Glockenspiel_ (a term I’ve hijacked to to refer to people who believe that Glock handguns are the best pistols in existence bar none), or maybe has a Beretta M92Fs (more likely a Taurus PT-92), or maybe- just maybe- an M1911A1 of some description, then I’d say gravity is an issue- certainly, it has been on the examples of those gun that I’ve used (although I am, at heart, a revolver man!) ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2006, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistol-recoil-question-holding-a-gun-sideways/357572/31 "2006-05-24T04:15:41Z")
> [@Martini Enfield](#): > > I think it depends which semi-auto you’re using. > > Assuming your average Gangsta has fallen victim to the _Glockenspiel_ (a term I’ve hijacked to to refer to people who believe that Glock handguns are the best pistols in existence bar none), or maybe has a Beretta M92Fs (more likely a Taurus PT-92), or maybe- just maybe- an M1911A1 of some description, then I’d say gravity is an issue- certainly, it has been on the examples of those gun that I’ve used (although I am, at heart, a revolver man!) I was referring specifically to the 1911. I don’t see how being upside down could hinder ejection. ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2006, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistol-recoil-question-holding-a-gun-sideways/357572/32 "2006-05-24T15:48:38Z")
The only time to hold a gun sideways is when cornering (going around a corner, with your firearm up) if you don’t have enough room to use the standard “slice the pie” routine. My experiences with trying fire “gangsta style” were less than successful. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2006, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistol-recoil-question-holding-a-gun-sideways/357572/33 "2006-05-24T19:55:07Z")
> [@CynicalGabe](#): > > I was referring specifically to the 1911. I don’t see how being upside down could hinder ejection. Upside down, no- but held sideways, yes. The extractor on the M1911 is on the side of the slide, IIRC… which means that, if you’re firing the gun sideways, the shells are being ejected vertically, instead of at an angle of something in the 45-90 degree range. A lot of it depends on the age and condition of the gun, but firing an M1911 Gangsta-Style certainly seemed to lead to more jams and stoppages than firing it normally… ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2006, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistol-recoil-question-holding-a-gun-sideways/357572/34 "2006-05-24T22:42:39Z")
Ah ok. Now I see. Not that I’m going to try it. I get enough FTE jams when firing normally without pushing my luck. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistol-recoil-question-holding-a-gun-sideways/357572.md?page=1)