Is it a Good Idea to Practice with your Weak Hand?

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Its a skill that could come in "handy" in certain circumstances, not just with handguns- with any firearm. It was something we would occasionally practice in the military, and I have taken a wrong-handed shot with my rifle while hunting due to circumstances. I would say its a good tool to have in your tool box, but I wouldn't try to master it until I had mastered shooting the "normal" way.
 
NorthBorder said:
I never really practiced one handed shooting for anything other than defensive purposes. And they were from the 3 and 7 yard lines, with both hands. I extended the firearm out to arms length and canted the gun inward about 45 degrees. Basically, I just looked over the sights at the silhouette. Strong or weak hand, it was pretty effective in getting the round onto center mass.
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AFAIC your post answered the OP'S question. For years I thought I did good shooting weak hand only. Jim Cirillo taught me to can't the gun 45 degrees and use the sights. He explained all the muscle and sighting issues (use dominant eye) but I don't remember all of them. But it works. Cirillo was a fan of point shooting. It works with your weak hand only too. But can't the gun.
 
I actually taught myself to shoot, had nobody to show me otherwise. As such, I decided to learn to shoot ambidextrous. Eventually, after about 1k rounds through my sks, I became a proficient ambidextrous shooter.

Turns out, this helped me learn to shoot handguns with my left hand easier. Haven't had much practice, 'Rona era munitions shortage and all, but when I was shooting equal sized groups with both hands at 20 yards or so, I felt confident.
 
Right shoulder rotator cuff surgery leaves me shooting left handed for the time being. Well, the indoor range guy did not throw me out. He said "at least you are not hitting the floor or ceiling" ;). It was pretty bad. But, after a few magazines I had the .45s going downrange somewhere about the target and even managed a few groups. But, then I got tired. My left arm, by itself, just cannot hold a 1911 for 200 rounds. And then there is the eye thing. Well, if it had been a bad guy, he would have had a lot of holes in him in some strange places, about all I can say good about it.

3C
 
3Crows said:
Right shoulder rotator cuff surgery leaves me shooting left handed for the time being. Well, the indoor range guy did not throw me out. He said "at least you are not hitting the floor or ceiling" ;). It was pretty bad. But, after a few magazines I had the .45s going downrange somewhere about the target and even managed a few groups. But, then I got tired. My left arm, by itself, just cannot hold a 1911 for 200 rounds. And then there is the eye thing. Well, if it had been a bad guy, he would have had a lot of holes in him in some strange places, about all I can say good about it.

3C
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Maybe 50 rounds per session more regularly would be beneficial for you?
 
We were required to shoot weak hand, and it's still required for my annual HR218 re-certification. I also practice on my own.

Always thought it was a good idea, obviously a great idea if your strong hand is injured in a firefight, or even a canine altercation. lol

One thing they also taught us, how to rack a semi-auto with one hand. They had us take a knee and push the rear sight down on the heel of our back shoe, works well.

OP: hope you heal quickly!
 
One thing I've learned is that I'm more successful shooting with one hand only (either dominant or non-dominant hand) when I relax my grip a bit and allow my fingertips to drift away from the grip. Feels weird, but it really helps.

When I try to exert a death grip one-handed, shots go all over the place.

Smooth trigger press, sight picture and sight alignment are still critical.
 
C-grunt said:
Theres a few different one handed off hand shooting techniques that we teach officers and new recruits. None are really better than the other, it's more what works for you.

First thing is gun cant. Some people like it some dont. Im not talking full blown gangsta shooting but having the gun canted slightly towards the inside can be more comfortable a "natural" to people. Point at something with your off hand and youll see that your hand is probably canted somewhat.

Next thing is grip technique. The difference is really in the placement of your thumb. First would be the normal grip where you curl the thumb down along the fingers. Another option is to straighten the thumb and point it towards the target. It should run fairly parallel with the barrel and rest around the bottom of the cylinder. The key to this technique is to have positive pressure pushing the thumb forward which will help give stabilizing pressure along the frame of the gun. The last is to straighten the thumb and have it pointing up. Like your giving a thumbs up while holding the gun. Again you want positive pressure but this time you want it torquing the thumb back into the side of the handgun. This technique I find to be easier if you hold the gun more vertical instead of canting it.

Try those techniques and see which one you like. I personally cant stand the thumb straight technique but a few of my coworkers use it. I find the thumb up technique to work best for me.

Another spot where I see students mess up their off hand shots a lot is trying to fight the extra wobble and recoil. You just got to accept that your weak hand isnt going to hold as steady or control recoil as well as the hand that has been doing that job forever. Focus on a smooth trigger press and steady grip pressure and youll be far less likely to shank a shot low or off to the side because you were trying to muscle the sights still and ambushing the sight picture.
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I've always shot thumb forward myself, ive never tried the other techniques though.
 
When I lived in a Third World country and we had curfews, I used airsoft guns for practice and to pass time. Shooting with the weak hand, both hands at the same time, all kind of nonsense I could dream up and it entertained the kids. Cheap fun!
 
Actually, the last move was from Pembroke Pines, FL but my kids were born in Rolling Hills, California 30 some years ago. Very, very beautiful but already restricted back then.
 
For many years I practiced weak handed. When I had major strong side shoulder surgery It paid off! While I went down to a Jframe carried AIWB support side for a few months I felt confident in my ability to defend myself. Recently while doing some tactical training, I borrowed a SA EMP 4" 9mm and needed to shoot support handed due to no holster available for strong hand. No problem and the instructor was floored when I shot the exercise well. It shouldn't have been a surprise as he has seen me shoot support handed many times and has to remind himself that I'm naturally left handed. :D
 
I used to be ambivalent about practicing with my non-dominant hand. Even as a young LE firearms instructor. A couple of work injuries caused me to revise my thinking. ;)

Then there came a qual period where I gave it a lot of thought. I spent the next few months doing all of my range shooting using only my non-dominant hand (aside from the mandated qual using my dominant hand, of course, but I also redid the qual course using only my non-dominant hand). It was work, but I felt it paid off. Nowadays I always slip in some drills using my non-dominant hand, just in case my dominant hand is suddenly disabled, or otherwise occupied with some critical task.
 
I've always thought it was a good idea to be able to shoot from the weak side. I also make a point of working the slide, switching mags, and everything else weak handed.
Inigo Montoya convinced me years ago.
 
Responding to the OP's question without reading the entire thread: Yes, and I do so myself every practice session. My usual practice session is:
1) shooting with two-handed stance (ie "normal")
2) shooting with one-handed stance strong side
3) shooting with one-handed stance weak side
4) shooting with alternate stance (kneeling, seated, upright supported ... whatever available that's different from "normal")
 
Nice topic and not be overlook, even if you sound as a weirdo or lesser macho in the range, you must do it.
Kneeled both legs or single, weak hand or strong, prone or supine and reloading on the floor, behind cover countless options.
I do practice some as regular basis.
 
I like to rip a couple mags weak handed from time to time.
It's a great way to make sure an auto still works with a less than perfect grip, and it's a great skill in a pinch.
BTW, it's also a way to remember what shooting feels like to a newbie.
I need to try the cant thing.
Moon
 
Tallball said:
If you have any interesting practice techniques,
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no techniques, but teaching your left (weaker) side with your right (stronger) side. get to where you can throw a rock just as well with either side. just keep alternating sides while you throw focusing on the motions of your whole body.

the real problem with doing things with the "weak" side is lack of coordination of that side. repeat the rock throwing until both sides are equally coordinated. you can then move on to teaching your weak side to shoot with your strong side (same method as the rock throwing).

i do pushups to strengthen my "weak" wrist and hand.

luck,

murf
 
I'd say shooting 'wrong-handed' is a life saving skill...and it's one that I practice, just not often enough.

For me, I shoot rifles from either shoulder without feeling the least bit awkward and often do while hunting, depending on terrain and stand location.

With handguns, the weak hand definitely feels strange but my slow fire accuracy is about as good as with my dominant hand. I do find that I can't get a comfortable two-handed grip when shooting from the 'wrong' side.

But.... with shotguns, it's out of the question...

Good thread...I'll get on it...Rod
 
3Crows said:
Right shoulder rotator cuff surgery leaves me shooting left handed for the time being. Well, the indoor range guy did not throw me out. He said "at least you are not hitting the floor or ceiling" ;). It was pretty bad. But, after a few magazines I had the .45s going downrange somewhere about the target and even managed a few groups. But, then I got tired. My left arm, by itself, just cannot hold a 1911 for 200 rounds. And then there is the eye thing. Well, if it had been a bad guy, he would have had a lot of holes in him in some strange places, about all I can say good about it.

3C
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Have you considered using some of those small barbells in the 2-5 lb. range and work that weak arm in various angles and positions to improve your range of motion?
 
JTHunter said:
Have you considered using some of those small barbells in the 2-5 lb. range and work that weak arm in various angles and positions to improve your range of motion?
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I am only 7 weeks out from the surgery. I have PT twice a week and home exercises but no weight yet. It really is a drag because I still do (did) triathlons. I will begin weight workouts when the PT fellow says I can, usually around 12 weeks. Car wreck, woman texting ran a double stop sign and destroyed my new car and my shoulder.

3C
 
I'm another fan of shooting with the weak hand from time to time. Strong hand may be out of action and you'll have to make do, best to have practiced it at least a little bit.
 
I agree that it's a good idea to learn and be as proficient as possible shooting weak handed, but I'd caution against trying to do too much too quick. Asking the weak side muscle group and joints to do things you spent years working up with your strong side can be painful. If they're not conditioned properly, they won't function at nearly the same level and injury becomes a real threat.

Teach yourself the same way you'd teach a kid. Safe and slow, fundamentals first.

murf said:
the real problem with doing things with the "weak" side is lack of coordination of that side. repeat the rock throwing until both sides are equally coordinated
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I'm currently awaiting shoulder surgery on my weak side because some dummy took a bet on who could throw a softball farthest off-handed.
 
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