onehanded shooting

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samlynas

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hi everybody,

i'm new to this, and would like some advice from oldtimers on something.

i understand that most advanced shooting courses include some onehanded shooting. well, i'm interested in learning to use firearms, and i only have one hand anyway, so i thought i'd try and find out how feasible it is to learn to use handguns, and maybe even rifles and submachine guns if possible.

just to give you the necessary info, i lost the hand in a car crash, but still have all the arm and the wristbones. i can bear a fair weight with it, but trying to control the recoil on a rapidly-firing weapon could be difficult. as for a rifle, i don't know how steady i could hold it, though i'd say i'm a fair bit stronger than average for my size (180 cm) on my right side, which should help.

i'd really like to learn to shoot, but don't want to waste time with weapons that i couldn't use properly anyway.

thanks a lot,

sam
 
Welcome!

One thing I can nearly guarantee is that you'll like this forum. Anyhow, about the shooting with one hand. This is general advice only, as I have no experience doing anything without the availability of both hands, but you might want to try a revolver. Operation is simple and the only malfunction drill is to pull the trigger again. With a semi-auto, malfunction drills require manually operating the slide, which may pose a problem for you. If you're stuck on a semi-auto I'm sure you'd find a way around that, but a revolver might be a good place to start. As usual, I'd also recomend starting with a small caliber, .22 long rifle, until you get the hang of things. Good luck! And one more thing, don't be shy about asking more questions. The one thing we all here like discussing is guns. So ask and give us something to talk about!

Chris
 
Sam:

Your story is a touching one. My suggestion is for you to go to a range that rents different kinds of guns and try them. Altough guns are easier to control with two hands I believe that you can figure out away to compensate. From a defensive point of view you want to find something that you can shoot multiple times so if this is your goal I woud stick with 38 specials or 9mm they are quite easy to control with one hand and get them back on target for your second shot. Most importantly like any other sport practice practice practice. If you practice you will beable to compensate only shooting with one hand and will be better than 80% of the shooters out there.

Good Luck and keep us posted:)
 
Welcome, samlynas!!
There is so much good information and company here that you may find yourself, as I do, regulating the amount of time you allow yourself to sit in front of the screen.;)

As far as one-handed shooting.....it so happens that we were practicing one-handed reloads this weekend. Another THR member was there and, once he gets back on-line, may decide to convey his impressions. It was a refresher for some of us and new to others, but here is my experience.

Reloading from slide-lock is the easiest, as you can drop the mag, tuck the firearrm into your armpit, reach your back-up mag and insert it, then hit the slide release.

As 1991guy stated, operating the slide with one hand is problematic. It can be done by placing the front sight on your belt, a wall, etc and pushing to chamber a round. You should imagine what this will do to the sight and your guns finish if you decide to practice this often :what: Some malfunctions require great force to clear, so keep that in mind.

Revolvers have the advantage of simplicity, and speedloaders may make it feasible……only you can decide if you have the dexterity to open the cylinder, dump the cases and operate the speedloader.

Whatever you choose, make sure to ask plenty of questions. There are some knolwegable people here and I have learned a lot from them
 
As R. Lee Ermey said in the movie "Full Metal Jacket"....."Private Joker has guts, and guts is enough!"

I've known three people that only had one hand, and all three were shooters. They learned how to adapt to their situation, and didn't think that it was a handicap. One had lost his entire left arm in an auto crash, but he was a handgun AND rifle shooter!
His full-time job was as a machinist, and he was able to do better work than his co-workers that had both arms and hands!

I'd suggest that you become a member of the NRA, and to ask them if they have any suggestions. The reason why is because the NRA is such a huge organization, and I'm almost 100% sure that some of the members have missing limbs.
 
As 1991guy stated, operating the slide with one hand is problematic. It can be done by placing the front sight on your belt, a wall, etc and pushing to chamber a round. You should imagine what this will do to the sight and your guns finish if you decide to practice this often
Click to expand...

That's why you use the REAR sight to rack the slide with a one-handed reload. You can use the edge of your holster, kneel and pinch the slide between thigh and calf, or even use your belt to operate the slide.

You can also kneel and press the rear sight against the heel of your shoe. One hard push down and away does the trick.

A fixed sight is best for this; you risk popping the rear sight blade right off of an adjustable sight.
 
Back at ya....
kneel and pinch the slide between thigh and calf
Click to expand...

In New England this time of year we are wearing layers, making it difficult to kneel and capture the slide. Also, the thigh/calf method wasn't feasable in 6" of snow. ;)

I've lost some skin using the rear sight method in the summer, but it can be done.....just start slow.

Front sight also seemed to me the easiest way to control the muzzle direction, since when I used the rear sight on my belt I found myself sweeping my side.

More practice is required
 
welcome. i hope you get all the answers you're looking for and stay to return the favor.

i agree that a revolver is probably best for defensive use at least. assuming you have a prosthetic, it should be no difficult chore since very little dexterity or strength is required by the off hand in loading and unloading the revolver. i don't know your personal situation but if you do not have a prosthetic it could be slightly more difficult but still very doable.

a wise man once said "there's a reason they're called 'handguns' and not 'handsguns'" handguns are designed to be used one handed. loading and unloading shouldn't present any big problems when you're at the range. there also should be no real obstacle for you in using rifles or shotguns, though pump actions may take you a while to get the hang of.

one thing that hasn't been mentioned is that there are alot of talented gunsmiths out there and alot of after market accesories such as oversized charging handles for ar-15s and extended slide releases and mag releases for just about every pistol on the planet. some of these may be worth looking into.

as always, i strongly recommend a safety course and you should talk to knowledgeable people and never be afraid to ask questions.
 
everybody,

wow, that's a load of information in a very short space of time. i take the point about ease of clearing malfunction with a revolver, but have a feeling that reloading it would be pretty difficult. depending on how the smooth the slide is/isn't on an automatic, i have a feeling i would be able to use the friction of my forearm around the point of the elbow to work it. am i right in thinking that some automatics don't require that motion as the first shot of a new clip has the dual-function of cocking and firing?

encouraging to hear that rifles and shotguns should present no problems in the long-term. and ichopinbloc, i take the point about customizing to overcome handicaps. i hadn't thought of that, but it's a good point.

thanks again,

sam
 
Some great information already provided. Let me make two additional recommendations.

First, you can shorten your learning curve considerably by getting some training. Jeff Gonzales, of Trident Concepts (http://www.tridentconcepts.com/index.asp) has expereince teaching people who have lost the use of one-hand. His strong-hand only course is a reflection of that expereince.

Similarly, Bill Rogers' school (http://www.rogers-shooting-school.com/) makes no distinction between, two-handed, stong-hand only or weak-hand only shooting. Consequently, there is a great deal of knowledge regarding about shooting with only one-hand. Rogers' rifle class includes one-handed shooting and weapon manipulation as well.

While many shooting programs incorporate one-handed shooting, few address it as thoroughly as the two I mentioned. If you have the means and the inclination, a course from either of these two would be well worth your time.

Second, equipment selection will be important. Both of the instructors metioned are stand-up individuals. I am sure both would be happy to provide recommendations based on their experience. I believe you will find contact information on their websites.
 
I don't know your specific situation, but would/could a prostetic hand play a support role in weapon handling? It seems that you could possibly design a prostetic that was tailor made for certain jobs. . . trying to think outside the box.
 
I would probably suggest either a revolver, or a large caliber (.40, 10mm, or .45) automatic, in order to reduce the possibility of a limp-wristing jam. Revolvers can't jam from a loose wrist no matter what, and automatics with a stronger recoil impulse tend to function more reliably. Even if your right arm is stronger than most people's right arms, it's probably not as stable as an average person's weaver or isoceles grip.

From personal experience, it seems like it's totally impossible to get a properly-maintained Glock 23 to fail due to a limp wrist. I've tried shooting it with all lubricant removed and underpowered ammo (WWB, 165 gr @ <1060 fps), with my arm so totally limp that I almost got bonked on the head with the pistol a few times, and it worked without a hitch.
 
i'm not actually in any state. i'm british, but i have, uh, quite a lot of free time on my hands (hand?) until about next september, so i can spend time in the states as and when may be necessary. i could travel between different schools, but hopefully they would be in roughly the same part of the country to minimize travelling time and costs.

prosthetics, i don't have anything decent. you'd be surprised how crappy they all seem when you actually have to ask yourself if you'd be happy strapping something to your arm and wandering around with it. it'll certainly be worth bearing in mind if something a bit better comes along, though.

blackhawk 6, i will check those two schools out. if they can offer more specialist instruction, i'd be willing to pay over-the-odds for it. thanks a lot.
 
ryan,

i understand that semi-autos have a greater risk of malfunction than revolvers, and would be more difficult to clear with one hand. presumably what you're saying (forgive my ignorance), is that the further the weapon recoils each time it fires, the greater the chance of something jamming. am i reading you right? is that generally true for firearms with complex mechanisms? that's something i'll have to think about. i suppose i should probably try both...

sam
 
Actually, it's kind of the opposite. What operates a semiautomatic handgun is the force of the recoil pushing against the slide and the slide spring. With cartridges that create a relatively small amount of force, like .380 or .32, a limp wrist can absorb too much of the force for the gun to function. With .40 and up (especially .40 caliber Glocks, since they use the same weight recoil springs as the 9mms), there's usually enough force for more reliable function, unless the recoil springs are on the strong side. A slightly reduced power recoil spring may help as well, but you don't want to get the springs so light that the slide batters the frame.
 
am i right in thinking that some automatics don't require that motion as the first shot of a new clip has the dual-function of cocking and firing?
Click to expand...
Um no, not really ... when you insert a mag into an empty gun then you need to rack the slide to load the first round into the chamber (with the exception of some "tip-up" models designed expressly for women and others with weak hands).

I'd go with a revolver if I were you (even if I were me which I am :D ).

A self defense encounter probably won't require a reload anyway, and I bet you can come up with something creative that fits your situation. (you could just carry two guns ;) )

Also, even without a hand prosthetic, it seems you could steady your shooting hand with your arm/wrist.
 
If you do find that you like pistols better than revolvers, you might consider the Beretta 86 Cheetah, a .380 ACP pistol with a tip-up barrel that allows you to load the first round into the chamber without needing to rack the slide.

25008.jpg

http://www.thearmedcitizen.com/gunpages/beretta86.htm

I think if I only had one hand, that'd be my first choice. Decent capacity (9 rounds with chamber loaded), light recoil (easy to control one-handed), very accurate, and you can do everything you need to do with one hand. The fact that it's fairly heavy will also help minimize failures induced by limp-wristing, though since you are going through life with one hand, I suspect your wrist is stronger than the average person's anyway.

Revolvers are simpler to operate one-handed, but they are not necessarily so simple to reload one-handed. A revolver that uses moon clips will be easier to reload than one that requires a speedloader, since most speedloaders require a rotary motion to release...meaning you need a second hand to keep the cylinder from spinning. And since the average defensive revolver only gives you five or six shots to start with, your chance of needing to reload is slightly higher with a revolver than with a 9-shot semiauto, I'd expect.

Here's how I'd reload a an empty Beretta 86, starting from a closed slide:

(1) Eject empty magazine, if one is present (at the range, eject onto a bench; in a crisis, just let it fall).
(2) Flick lever to flip up barrel.
(3) Stick gun in holster as far as it will go with barrel tipped up (or hold it against your body with your other arm).
(4) Grab magazine from belt pouch and push top round into chamber with your thumb (like loading a revolver with a speed strip).
(5) Insert magazine.
(6) Reclose barrel and draw.

If the slide has locked back on an empty magazine, it's even easier; just eject the empty magazine, holster the gun (or hold it against your body with your other arm), insert the full magazine, hit the slide release lever with your thumb, and you're good to go.

86d.jpg


Loading magazines will be tricky, but you can get one of those magazine-loader tools that may simplify things...and you can load magazines at leisure, not while in a crisis, and have all the loaded mags you want.

If it malfunctions, you can clear the chamber by fingering the barrel tip-up lever and letting the bad round fall out of the chamber (or hold the gun against your body with your other arm and pull the round out with your finger). Not fast, but doable.

But I'll second what everyone else has said here--try different guns and see what works for you. You may even find that you shoot a lever-action rifle (Winchester 94, etc.) pretty well, since you don't do anything with the non-trigger hand except support the rifle, and it sounds like you can probably do that. A Winchester 94 in .357 magnum with a red-dot sight on a scout mount would be a very effective gun indeed, though you'd probably be more vulnerable to a muzzle grab than the average person would be.
 
juggler said:
Back at ya....

In New England this time of year we are wearing layers, making it difficult to kneel and capture the slide. Also, the thigh/calf method wasn't feasable in 6" of snow. ;)

I've lost some skin using the rear sight method in the summer, but it can be done.....just start slow.

Front sight also seemed to me the easiest way to control the muzzle direction, since when I used the rear sight on my belt I found myself sweeping my side.

More practice is required
Click to expand...

True, very true...somehow the fact that the heel reload does not work well in a snow bank escaped me.:what: :D

There IS an alternative that might help out with the one handed slide operation, here...

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/productdetail.aspx?p=6821&s=

While it will alter the profile of the slide somewhat, you might be able to trim it and use the remaining protrubance to rack the slide against holster or belt.

Uh oh, I just realized something---where would the rear sight go? :confused: :eek:

Well, with a normal rear sight--not a tapered model like the Novak sight--a belt or holster rack would be OK--but the pinch might still be there.

Like others have posted, however, a revolver would probably work better in this instance for you. May I suggest something like a 625, with some extra moon clips handy?

If you decide on a semiauto, however, the use of a good quality holster with relatively stiff sides or a reinforcement will help tremendously in one-handed drills. Here, a Fobus holster, or a fairly heavy IWB comes to mind.

With regard to the firearms involved, a Glock with stock springs and either factory or night sights can be readily operated with one hand--plus, you have increased magazine capacity in an ergonomic package.
 
Interesting.

Which is missing, strong hand or weak hand? Right hand or left hand? Most pistols are set up for right handed shooters, few are fully (both slide and magazine catches) ambidextrous.

understand that semi-autos have a greater risk of malfunction than revolvers, and would be more difficult to clear with one hand.
Click to expand...

Greater risk? Not so sure of that. Different kinds of failures bettween the two (you won't get a stovepipe on a revolver, nor will the cylinder bind on an autoloader). I suspect an autoloader will work better for you.
 
i have a feeling i would be able to use the friction of my forearm around the point of the elbow to work it.
Click to expand...

do what you have to do in an "event" but remember to let the barrell COOL before trying this at the range :)
 
just to give you the necessary info, i lost the hand in a car crash, but still have all the arm and the wristbones. i can bear a fair weight with it, but trying to control the recoil on a rapidly-firing weapon could be difficult. as for a rifle, i don't know how steady i could hold it, though i'd say i'm a fair bit stronger than average for my size (180 cm) on my right side, which should help.
Click to expand...
My brother has his hand, but little or no use of it. When he shoots long guns, he mounts the gun to his shoulder and uses his "bad" arm to support the forend. He's fairly accurate with scoped bolt rifles. I've seen him hit bowling pins pretty reliably out to 100yds. He controls an AK-47 fairly well, but hasn't taken it seriously enough to work on his marksmanship with the open sights.

Handguns are a problem with him and he can't properly handle any semiauto that I've been able to expose him to. He's better with revolvers, but still awkward in the loading/unloading process.

Chris
 
I also thought a prosthetic would help. Plenty of hard surfaces and ledges to hook a rear sight on (or custom smith some kind of interface) and a claw, if designed properly, would hold the gun for a good hand to reload.

Have you considered some kind of socket attachment so you can attach a small gas chainsaw for backup? :evil:
 
are you looking for a gun for Self defense or just targeet shooting? For self defense, I would pick a reliable 9mm,as it will have the largest mag. capacity. You could always have a holster made to rackt he slide on the outside of the holster. I have seen 1 holster you just push the semi auto down and it racks the slide too. (don't remember where , sorry) revolvers seem way too ahrd to reload easily 1 handed. Good luck, you can do it.
 
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