So what stance do you use when shooting handguns?

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isosceles stance two handed, shooting foot forward one handed (left or right). same grip regardless.

murf
 
If I want to work on fast target shooting from the holster, its a Chapman/ISO blend. Elbows flexed slightly, support side foot very slightly forward. I focus on sight picture, sight alignment, trigger press, minimizing motion of shoulders, lower body, head, etc. At stationary targets.

But, truth be told, I spend most of my practice time shooting around, over, or under obstacles, from crouching, kneeling, prone, or supine positions, walking or running toward, away from, or at an angle to targets. When I can, I use moving targets.

When you do this, the differences between Weaver, Chapman, ISO, power ISO, or whatever else you might imagine, don't matter very much.
 
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Never been able to overcome serious training in the Weaver (thank you, USMC) and later training in DTs in law enforcement academies just reinforced the bladed (F.I.) stance. It's been my default stance for well over thirty years and no one's been able to train me out of it...
 
Mostly Weaver, except i don't put so much weight on the forward foot. i guess my knees are a little bent, but not much. I was never military or law enforcement, so i've never been trained, and I've never had to worry about anyone shooting back. Tin cans just don't scare me that much.
 
I shoot single handedly…
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…well, I had to hold the camera too.:)
 
There seems to be some confusion here.

Weaver vs. Chapman
1. Both the Chapman and the Weaver utilize the support arm to pull downward on the gun.
2. In the Chapman the dominate arm/elbow is locked out, in the Weaver it isn't
3. The Chapman is more bladed, to the target, than the Weaver...that's what allows the dominate arm to be locked out. Basically the Chapman is the Weaver rotated toward the non-dominate side until the dominate arm is locked straight

Weaver vs. Modern Isosceles
1. Both stances utilize the same foot placement...it is the classic fighting stance
2. In the Weaver the elbow of the non-dominate arm points downward. In the Modern Isosceles both elbows point out to the sides and are not locked out
3. The Weaver pulls downward with the non-dominate arm, the Modern Isosceles squeezes the gun between both the heels of the palms
 
Ah, I see. In that case, I shoot an “Unlocked Chapman”.:)
I am more turned from the target than a Weaver, my support arm is more a compensating weight and my fingers are gripping stronger than my palms are squeezing.

And while bullseye shooting I put my support hand in my pants pocket, to keep from wagging it around like a dogtail. I tried holding it to my chest, but I get tired and it falls.
 
One handed for bullseye, locked elbows works best for me up through 44mag accuracy wise. Using the 500 I quickly learned that that causes my right elbow and shoulder to absorb too much shock, as well as pushing me back a step if the stance is side by side. So big bores have posed a bit of a bent elbow related learning curve to get accuracy up to 44 level. I find the trigger pull direction and grip needed to change a bit, also not dipping my head, and accepting the pushback and not leading the recoil in attempt to maintain position. That’s what seems to work best for me.
 
Being deep into geezerhood I much prefer to sit on my butt at a bench and use my homemade rest. When I do stand to shoot I stand straight up as my back DOES NOT like to bend and my arms are as straight as Ol' Arthur will let them be. At a certain point in life you have to start adapting to what your body will allow you to do. May not be correct but it still allows me to burn gunpowder and I even manage to hit my target now and then.
 
I started Weaver. I guess I’m more Chapman now.

Shoulders are a little tore up. The Isosceles is uncomfortable for me.

35 years of standing with my left side towards people I was talking to, the Weaver/Chapman is pretty much ingrained.

I could probably force myself to do something else but, why?

I’m very accurate. Reasonably fast. No longer in a uniform and, an older guy that is very grey in public.
 
While I tried to remain faithful to variations of Weaver, Chapman and Iso ... my martial arts background eventually caused me to treat "stances" during active shooting drills and training to mirror those of my arts training. It depends on the totality of the circumstances of the moment. Balance; flexibility of movement; the ability to quickly shift posture as needed; and supporting stability of the weapon during operation are all important to me.

Now, when I was working with people as an instructor, I kept it simple, much like I would when working with beginners in arts training. One of the major shooting stances could usually be introduced to serve the needs of the great majority of people, depending on their physicality and the needs of the moment. More advanced shooters might sometimes benefit from a minor adjustment or tweak of their techniques. I made it a point not to belabor 'names' of techniques, but explained the benefits of needed balance and postures during static, transitional and movement activities while shooting. The point wasn't to teach them the names of techniques, but to make them better able to be balanced, stable and put accurate hits on-target without having to look for footprint outlines on the ground or checking their appearance in a mirror. ;)
 
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The modified Weaver stance isn't bad at all but I prefer the Isosceles stance for most of my shooting. I do slightly change the "classic" Isosceles stance but I didn't know it was called the Power Isle else stance. I never heard that designated before I read the article. I feel it's more versatile and you can easily shoot the the right or left without having to move your feet. With Weaver I feel it's difficult to shoot to the left without moving my feel when you're right handed. Two handed with both eyes open works well for me.
 
Something occurred to me while spending another night less than sleep-full.

What is it called when one is moving and shooting?

Is there a term for that?
Once stopped, there is term for that stationary shape, but are there terms and ways one should practice while moving?


Is it a just generic description of the maneuver?
Back up while shooting. Move right while shooting.
(Diving flip spin bullseye? :cool:)
 
What is it called when one is moving and shooting?
Moving and shooting. :)

The "stance" is fluid and constantly morphs through a number of things, depending on how you're going and which way you're shooting. This is where having a broad base and having shot all the different techniques and methods and being comfortable and familiar with them puts you way ahead of the curve from those who "only know and shoot one way".

If you're going to follow one god, Bruce Lee is your man. :thumbup:

And unlike for Richard Prior, "How you go?" isn't scary at all. :p
 
Well, this made me totally self concious of position last night at the range. It was like I was a newb all over again. I did notice taking more of a champan form and altering my grip slightly higher made a difference in time to get back on target. However - changing everything also made it look like I was patterning a shotgun! will be interesting to see how things shake out and how long it takes for me to commit the adjustments to muscle memory.
 
When just shooting stationary at a target I shoot Square to the target.

When shooting competition or practicing for it, there's no real stance. Its more about your upper body/torso and arms/head.

I've seen plenty of folks shoot off balance or on one leg during comps. I've even done it myself on occasion. Thats real world shooting.
 
All of them:cool:, plus a few.
Seriously, I try e few shoots squared up, a few one hand, a few weaver, a few retention with different foot placements, and a few different positions on the ground if the weather's good, and occasionally some weak hand.:)
 
Interesting article, and responses.
I prefer to shoot out in the great wide open but a few years ago a buddy talked me into going to the range to shoot bowling pins. I'd never done it before and when my turn came up I shot one handed, the way I've always done, as that's what I was taught as a kid. I was informed that I'd be faster using a two handed stance, so I gave it try but couldn't hit a darn thing!

I still practice it, sort of a modified Weaver, but it feels unnatural to me and makes target practice more work than fun.
Hopefully I'll get the hang of it someday!
 
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