royal barnes
Member
I shoot my carry guns with two hands. My competition handguns for CAS and Wild Bunch matches are shot one handed.
Is one-hand shooting a legitimate stance?
- Thread starter monotonous_iterancy
- Start date
- Status
monotonous_iterancy
Member
- Joined
- May 27, 2012
- Messages
- 915
No. It's just that some people have given me the impression that it's "the wrong way" to hold a gun. Yet it seems like nearly everyone did so until 40 or 50 years ago.
SwampWolf
Member
As has been said, there are more than a few pistol shooting disciplines that require using only one hand (Bullseye is the "game" I compete in) to shoot with and that every serious shooter concerned with self-defense should become proficient shooting a pistol with one hand in the event he only has one left at his disposal or in the interest of speed. Some are so wedded to shooting a pistol with one hand only that I've heard said, "If you were supposed to use two hands they would have called a handgun a handsgun". When I first started shooting a pistol in the late fifties and even while shooting one in the military and, later, during the first part of my le career, shooting one was mostly a one-handed affair.
It's my opinion that, for most serious shooting endeavors (hunting and self-defense for example), you should use two hands to shoot a pistol whenever it is possible and/or practical for securing firm recoil control on repeat shots and for attaining the best accuracy. The stance that I like best for self-defense shooting is known as the Chapman Stance, a "modified" Weaver stance. Massad Ayoob, in his book Combat Handgunnery, described the Chapman technique as being when "the gun arm is locked at every joint, rigid behind the gun, and the forward arm is bent at the elbow and pulling the whole locked gun arm into the shoulder, as if pulling in tightly on a rifle stock" (emphasis mine).
It's probably a good idea for most people to experiment with different stances and techniques to help determine which configuration works best for their individual needs and circumstances. Like most other things in life, one shoe doesn't necessarily fit all feet.
It's my opinion that, for most serious shooting endeavors (hunting and self-defense for example), you should use two hands to shoot a pistol whenever it is possible and/or practical for securing firm recoil control on repeat shots and for attaining the best accuracy. The stance that I like best for self-defense shooting is known as the Chapman Stance, a "modified" Weaver stance. Massad Ayoob, in his book Combat Handgunnery, described the Chapman technique as being when "the gun arm is locked at every joint, rigid behind the gun, and the forward arm is bent at the elbow and pulling the whole locked gun arm into the shoulder, as if pulling in tightly on a rifle stock" (emphasis mine).
It's probably a good idea for most people to experiment with different stances and techniques to help determine which configuration works best for their individual needs and circumstances. Like most other things in life, one shoe doesn't necessarily fit all feet.
mgmorden
Member
Just because people used to do something doesn't mean its as effective as modern techniques. Doesn't make it "wrong", but just inefficient.
100 years ago everyone plowed their fields with a horse. Does it work? Sure. But it would also be inaccurate to say "Since they did it that way a century ago a horse and a plow are just as good as a tractor.".
Practice one-handed shooting, but practice it as a tool to have in the toolbox in case you HAVE to shoot that way for some reason. Just going out and shooting one handed as our primary shooting method isn't going to be as effective. You're certainly free to do it if you wish (free country and all), just understand that you're limiting your potential doing so.
tipoc
Member
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2006
- Messages
- 3,563
Yeah both one and two handed shooting were always a part of the combat shooting "handbook". Look back at the vids I posted in post #35 as an example of that. The military was teaching the "point shooting" techniques pioneered in the 1920s and 30s. But also used and taught 2 handed holds.
In the post war period Jeff Cooper, who popularized and championed the Weaver stance for rapid and accurate fire, changed the face of "combat" style firearms training and competition. The change was for the good. But as sometimes happens, the stick tended to be bent in the direction of two handed aimed fire and there was a tendency, mistakenly, to disregarded the place of one handed training and techniques. There has been a revival of these latter in the last decade.
So when folks say it's "the wrong way" to shoot or hold a handgun it's part of the remnants of the bending of the stick.
tipoc
OurSafeHome.net
Member
Having served in the USMC Mounted Color Guard, the predisposition towards one handed shooting came into clear focus. Cavalrymen rode horses (back then), the left hand was for the reigns and the right hand was for your weapon (sabre or pistol).
Marksmanship (and other skills-at-arms) was super fun!
(and quite a challenge!)
Marksmanship (and other skills-at-arms) was super fun!
(and quite a challenge!)
Zaydok Allen
Member
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2011
- Messages
- 13,274
Being able to shoot a gun one handed is what makes a handgun a handgun, and not a really inpractical rifle.
You never know what situation may arise when defending oneself. I practice one and two hand shooting, because both are legitimat and valuable skills. I will always attempt a two handed grip though if time allows though, as you are much more likely to hit your target.
Asking if it is legitimate is kind of like asking if shooting a rifle with a bipod rather than just holding the rifle up yourself is legitimate. It sure is, and both skills allow you to do different things, and are useful in different situations.
You never know what situation may arise when defending oneself. I practice one and two hand shooting, because both are legitimat and valuable skills. I will always attempt a two handed grip though if time allows though, as you are much more likely to hit your target.
Asking if it is legitimate is kind of like asking if shooting a rifle with a bipod rather than just holding the rifle up yourself is legitimate. It sure is, and both skills allow you to do different things, and are useful in different situations.
Bikewer
Member
Who said you were always going to have two hands available? What if hostilities start with you taking a bullet in one or the other?
We spend part of each training session and qualification on one-handed shooting, both weak and strong hand.
We also practice drawing and reloading with one hand only.... Again both strong and weak hands.
Just part of overall "pistolcraft".
Of course Jeff Cooper is known for:
Student..."Do we always shoot with two hands?"
Cooper..."No, only when we want to hit something."
We spend part of each training session and qualification on one-handed shooting, both weak and strong hand.
We also practice drawing and reloading with one hand only.... Again both strong and weak hands.
Just part of overall "pistolcraft".
Of course Jeff Cooper is known for:
Student..."Do we always shoot with two hands?"
Cooper..."No, only when we want to hit something."
fastbolt
Member
Getting a good grip on a handgun is important.
Once the gun is solidly within hand, the shooting technique may be dictated by the circumstances. Some techniques favored by some folks may be disadvantageous under different conditions.
Then again, maybe some particular shooter will be lucky and only have to use their handgun under conditions favorable to using their preferred technique.
In gaming/competitive venues this is pretty much something that's known in advance. In real life, non-sporting applications, things can be less predictable.
I'm not rigidly attached to any specific shooting technique with handguns, any more than I am with one specific striking technique (martial arts) using one of my hands.
Someone who wants to consider themselves properly skilled and well versed with shooting a handgun under all manner of possible circumstances might be best served to be able to shoot 1-handed, using either hand, and 2-handed, also using either hand (as the "master" hand for a 2-handed grip).
Sometimes the size & weight of a particular handgun may lend itself to being fired more easily with one hand. Sometimes not.
Making precise shots with a handgun at 50, 75 & 100 yd distances is often easier for many folks to do when using 2-hands, especially when shooting heavier, hard recoiling Magnum revolvers. Large handguns can get heavy as the rounds rack up. Spreading the weight between 2 hands/arms can be helpful in holding & steadying handguns. (Especially on days when you're feeling brisk gusts of wind trying to move the gun's sights off that itty bitty target down range.
)
Why does this have to be a "one or the other" thing, anyway?
I like to keep my skillset well-rounded. Why not? Might be handy at some point.
Once the gun is solidly within hand, the shooting technique may be dictated by the circumstances. Some techniques favored by some folks may be disadvantageous under different conditions.
Then again, maybe some particular shooter will be lucky and only have to use their handgun under conditions favorable to using their preferred technique.
In gaming/competitive venues this is pretty much something that's known in advance. In real life, non-sporting applications, things can be less predictable.
I'm not rigidly attached to any specific shooting technique with handguns, any more than I am with one specific striking technique (martial arts) using one of my hands.
Someone who wants to consider themselves properly skilled and well versed with shooting a handgun under all manner of possible circumstances might be best served to be able to shoot 1-handed, using either hand, and 2-handed, also using either hand (as the "master" hand for a 2-handed grip).
Sometimes the size & weight of a particular handgun may lend itself to being fired more easily with one hand. Sometimes not.
Making precise shots with a handgun at 50, 75 & 100 yd distances is often easier for many folks to do when using 2-hands, especially when shooting heavier, hard recoiling Magnum revolvers. Large handguns can get heavy as the rounds rack up. Spreading the weight between 2 hands/arms can be helpful in holding & steadying handguns. (Especially on days when you're feeling brisk gusts of wind trying to move the gun's sights off that itty bitty target down range.
)Why does this have to be a "one or the other" thing, anyway?
I like to keep my skillset well-rounded. Why not? Might be handy at some point.
5Wire
Member
One handed all the way: U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit Pistol Marksmanship Training Guide. More than you wanted to know.
ed mcgivern is rolling over in his grave.
mr. mcgivern chose a double action revolver for his fast and fancy shooting because a 1911 auto pistol was too slow.
murf
p.s. all his shooting (except long distance shooting) was done using only one hand.
mr. mcgivern chose a double action revolver for his fast and fancy shooting because a 1911 auto pistol was too slow.
murf
p.s. all his shooting (except long distance shooting) was done using only one hand.
Certaindeaf
member
I think a "handsgun" is called a rifle.. or something. never know though
rskent
Member
Sure it is. Weather you are shooting for fun or training for self defense. I would think you should be able to shoot strong hand or weak hand.
Besides it gives you a good feeling knocking the center out of a target with a 45 one handed. After all shooting is still supposed to be fun, right?
- Status
