Are you prepared to shoot weak handed?

I was born left handed, mother made me do everything right handed, so that really payed off as I can shoot about equally with either maybe better with left as my AMTU yrs in the Army I shot left handed, much better left 1 handed than right.

Can't wipe my rear left handed but I can shoot passably that way. My uncle told me that often people in gunfights get shot in the hand because the other guys look at the gun and naturally that's where they shoot. That's when I started practicing left handed. I haven't taken measures to make my carry habits more ambi but I suppose that would probably be wise.

edit: not that I plan on being in any gunfights, but you never know when somethings going to happen to your hand/arm/shoulder, gunfight or no.

Yes I'm actually half decent at it.

A couple years ago I took an injured shooters class. 1st half was all medical, tourniquets and packing wounds. 2nd half was range work, one handed manipulations, remedial action, and shooting with both handguns and carbines. It was one of the better classes I've taken, well worth the time and effort. Handgun was relatively easy, carbine was another story altogether.

Secondly I compete in IDPA and it's rare not to have a weak hand only part of a stage. In addition my club also runs a PPC match, which forces due to tgt layout shoulder transitions around cover to engage all the tgts. Both force me to practice week-hand, if nothing else than to avoid embarrassment...

Good point. I can shoot with my off hand and was put to the test in a training class. Accuracy suffered and I was a bit slower, but still scored 100%

However your post makes me realize I should have at least one wrong handed holster on hand for my carry gun.

Good point, and good post. Heal fast man.

Kleanbore said:

They did not miss two handed. They did not miss strong handed. They did not miss weak handed. They did not miss weak handed with the gun held upside down.

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This is my favorite passage from a Dr. Seuss book.

I am right hand dominant, and my left hand gets generally only auxiliary use. However, I have always practiced left weak hand shooting. For 8 of my 10 years in the Corps my primary weapon was an M1911. We were required to be able to shoot with each hand. That was done because of the realistic possibility that one could be **** in or otherwise injure their dominant hand or arm. So my early training has always influenced my current practice, which includes both live and dry fire exercises. I do find that weak side shooting is a challenge when it comes to magazine and slide release because neither of my pistols is ambiguous. I urge everyone to practice both two-handed and one-handed shooting with each hand being used to hold the grip.

We've trained for many years on weak hand shooting. What is very difficult for me is reloading using only the weak hand.

Yes. Several years ago I broke 7-8 bones in my dominant side arm and shoulder. Which forced me to shoot exclusively weak handed for over a year. Clumsy at first but soon became more accurate than my dominant hand as I knew exactly how I wanted to train my grip and trigger control without the bad habits of my strong hand. About 6 months into it my eye dominance switched.

Hope you heal up soon... don’t waste this opportunity though; practice not only weak side firing technique but also one handed reloads, malfunctions, and awkward positions.

I tried this yesterday with my new 442. I was pretty happy with my strong hand only and regular grip performance. I could not hit a 8” plate at 10 yards weak hand only. Not the easiest gun to shoot one handed but obviously some more practice is in order. Not sure if it is a strength issue or just brain knowing how to pull the trigger smoothly.

Right hand left eye dominant here. I shoot rifles and shotguns left hand just fine. I do practice shooting pistols weak side (left hand) but need to do it more often. Shooting rifles left hand and pistols right hand does have an advantage for when I have to transition from rifle to pistol.

I am pretty satisfied with my ability to shoot with my weak or off hand now.
I started practicing years ago then let it slide. A couple of years ago I was shooting left handed (weak hand) and was surprised how quickly I had lost my ability. Since then I shoot left and right handed every time I go to the range.

Armored farmer said:

I turned my semi over dumping a load of wet ag lime. I saw it going over in the mirror. Seat belt already off when I rolled up my tarp. I was still clutch the wheel when the the dust settled and i was laying on the passenger window.
View attachment 906916 View attachment 906917
My lcp was in the pocket of my bibs.
I got a sprained shoulder out of the deal...the best we can tell without going to ER during covid 19.

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Yikes man. Glad it wasn't any worse, but that looks like a royal pain to deal with.

Armored farmer said:

Yeah, make no mistake...it is. And during covid b.s. I'm the adjuster and agent too. Nationwide doesn't want to send anyone out.....

Oh... and a big storm blew through last night and wrecked my new deer hunting castle......
View attachment 906920 grrrrrr.
Finished it Monday....wind got it Wednesday.
Broke windows and a $220 door.
I'm tired of taking pics of things laying on their sides!

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Double whammy. Ugh. I live in a place that gets pretty bad winds. Can’t stand that. Sorry for the troubles.

Glad you didn't wind up any worse off. It's been real windy here too this week.

Yes, I can shoot one hand weak hand; I know because I've practiced it.
I carry a 2nd pistol in my weak hand front pocket; it offers me the options of putting my hand on it without revealing I'm carrying, and quick access with weak hand.
I've got a Glock IWB, no way to put my hand on it without revealing I'm carrying.
Kahr PM9 is typically my 2nd option weak hand pocket gun; it was easier to shoot quick & accurate one hand than a LCP 380 - IME.

Not as good as I would like and I am reminded every time I run into a classifier that requires weak hand shooting. That said I can usually get by shooting weak hand. Shooting a revolver double action weak hand only teaches some sight focus that is fore sure.

Not quite the same as shooting a handgun weak hand but as a teenager I shot a lot of 4 position indoor 22 LR shooting with a club. One of the members has a left handed biathlon air-rifle. I taught myself to shoot that standing left handed. It actually helped my shooting, especially my standing position learning to do it left handed.

Sorry for your trouble, shoulder problems are the worst.

I used to shoot both hands, but haven't in a long time. I could shoot rifles weak sided and do OK

Yep.

Being cross dominant, I learned in the Army that I needed to shoot a rifle right handed (I'm a lefty). Can't hit the broad side of a barn with a long gun the right way.

Pistols, I'm just about equally bad from either side.

Many decades back I was confronted with left side barricade in IPSC competition. Started the weak hand then, and have continued.
With some practice it's not at all difficult.