Injured right thumb: shoot left awhile?

[Riverblue]

I got my right thumb broken a few months ago (bike accident: hit by a car: I fell off bike and thumb fractured in two places) and it's still healing. I've noticed it hurts some to shoot my S&W J-frames with my right hand. Next time I go to the range I plan to try using the left hand, and see how that works, hoping my right heals fully eventually. Anybody out there have any experience with this issue? I shoot rifles with the left hand not because I'm a leftie but because I have a hugely dominant left eye. (RIght eye is almost blind). Handguns though I have been using right hand on the trigger, left hand to stabilize the Weaver stance.

 

[jfh]

I recently bought j-frames for CC;

prior to these firearms, I had been mostly a semiauto shooter.

After I got my Mika pocket holsters for the 340, I tried various locations for carry. My wallet has been on my right hip for fifty years, and I didn't want to change that--so I tried a left hip pocket carry. FWIW, I am right-handed.

I was pleased to find I could draw quite cleanly and dry fire with my left hand. I grant you, I have been a "tool user" a lot of my life, and am a bit ambidextrous--but I simply didn't expect this much facility left-handed. It's also easy for me to switch grips if I am in a combat / two-handed grip.

The 340 has CT grips, so I am not terribly worried about eye dominance. I picked it up from the gunsmith today, and now I'll start practice shooting as well.

I suggest you try shooting left-handed, and see how you do. You may be surprised, and if you practice enough, I'd think you'd gain some left hand (fine) motor control you may not currently have.

Jim H.

 

[theken206]

all shooters should train to shoot well "switch" handed IMO.


Every weapon I shoot I play with it switch as well.{unless Im just taking a few shots with someone elses gun or running a single mag threw it or something}

 

[EddieCoyle]

I had to permanently switch shooting handguns from right-handed to left-handed when I lost the end of my right index finger. At first it felt really strange, but I found that after about 3 weeks of practicing for about 1/2 hour every day (dry firing when I couldn't get to the range) it began to feel more comfortable. Now picking up a handgun in my right hand feels weird.

 

[jad0110]

all shooters should train to shoot well "switch" handed IMO.

I agree, but I admit I don't train with my off (left) hand nearly enough.

Riverblue, sorry to hear about your accident. I'm glad your alright, more or less!

 

[JERRY]

absolutely!

you should be well practiced with your "weak hand" as well as your "strong hand" for just such an instance.....

what if you got your right hand injured during a fight for your life? what hand would you use then? you had better be prepared.

when you stop playing the what if game, the bad guys will win because they never stop trying to figure out ways to get you.

 

[Riverblue]

That's good news that several of you have gotten good on the left hand too. I will definitely start practicing that. I should also practice more DA, rather than using SA so much.

 

[DMK]

Injured right thumb: shoot left awhile?

Hey, what could it hurt? You might have fun with the challenge.

 

[Feanaro]

This is exactly why everyone should practice with their weak hand. And possibly pick up a holster for that side as well. You never know when you will sustain an injury to your strong arm. My neighbor dislocated his right shoulder about a month ago. He couldn't use that arm for about three weeks.

 

[ZeSpectre]

Training with the "weak" hand is important if you are training for self defense.

Here, take the Post Your Targets 2 - The Weak Hand Pistol Challenge and have some fun doing it.

 

[M2 Carbine]

Riverblue
That's good news that several of you have gotten good on the left hand too. I will definitely start practicing that. I should also practice more DA, rather than using SA so much.

The last few years my right hand has been becoming less steady at times, so that I shoot more left hand, maybe 5-10 percent.
I also use left and right eye when shooting weak hand.
I'm still slower shooting left handed.
I enjoy it.

It feels awkward at first but I believe you'll find it won't take long before you'll be shooting as good left handed as right.

 

[ED21]

good

Blessing in disguise. Forces one to switch when the situation is a little more on your side. Too bad about the injury but again, a blessing in disguise.

 

[Rexster]

I long ago made sure I was functionally ambidextrous with snubby revolvers, because I have used them as "backups" for over two decades, usually carried where either hand could gain access. A big reason for needing a backup is injury to the "strong" hand, perhaps occurring in a shooutout, with possible damage to the primary weapon. Much more common, of course, is hand injury due to other causes. More recently, I have worked more on being functionally ambidextrous with larger handguns, too. FWIW, I had long had a stronger right hand, but a more skilled left hand, so it's difficult to classify me as a lefty or rightie, though chronic injuries to my right hand, wrist, and arm are causing me to be more of a lefty, and my left hand and arm are now stronger. Happy healing, and good luck on developing ambidextrous shooting skills.