Qualified an injured retiree today

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Riomouse911

Riomouse911

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One of our guys got hurt last year by a 20-something human trafficking suspect. During the encounter they ended up in a struggle for our guys firearm, and once all was said and done our guys right thumb suffered a break and some nasty torn ligaments.
The thumb was completely limp and was operated on, but it never healed correctly. Now it's fused and rigid, sticking basically straight out like a hitchhiker. As a result of this he's forever lost the gripping use of his right thumb.
As an honorably retired LEO he is authorized a CCW endorsement, so he bought a left side holster and practiced drawing, holstering, reloading and trigger manipulation (dry) left-handed for several weeks before coming in to qual.
I was impressed with his refusal to be bitter or quit. He loaded, drew, fired, reloaded, etc. my 30-round (Loaded 10-10-10 at 5-7-10 yards) retiree qual course very well for someone just learning to use the opposite side of his body (and brain.). When he was done he only threw one out of the 8-ring for a zero score on a B-27. During the qual he handled all shooting left-handed, and because of his right thumb he could only use his right fingers to draw and handle his spare mags.
He did say all the off-hand practice drills that we did on our SRT team made it easier for him to accomplish this, so there really may be a time that using your off-hand may become a reality. Even if you aren't doing tactical team training like we did, I'll suggest it's always a good idea to shoot a few rounds off-handed when you are practicing self defense shooting "just in case." Such skills may just come into play for you some day.

Stay safe!


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Looks like he's doing well with his left hand. :)

Just yesterday I took my RM380 and GP100 to the range and did the usual left hand and right hand shooting with both guns. I still need much work with my weak hand. o_O
 
I've been battling tendonitis in my right arm and it makes me aware of the need to stay proficient with the non dominant hand. I'll be headed to the range tomorrow to test a couple of new mags and plan to do a little shooting lefty as well.

Thanks for the reminder!
 
Yeah, you just never know what may happen. My wife lost 80% of her sight in her right eye when her retina detached while she was pregnant with the twins. It never did reattach properly despite two eye surgeries, so she's now left-eye dominant by default. She never missed a beat learning how to deal with the change.

It is also a testament to staying positive no matter the setbacks we face. We all will have them to one extent or another, and facing whatever it is head on and positive sure helps.

Stay safe, and a Happy and Healthy New Year to you all!
 
SteadyD said:
I've been battling tendonitis in my right arm and it makes me aware of the need to stay proficient with the non dominant hand. I'll be headed to the range tomorrow to test a couple of new mags and plan to do a little shooting lefty as well.

Thanks for the reminder!
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Yep. I got it pretty bad in my right elbow area. The pain is the sharpest when I raise my forearm quickly. I've been converting to lefty on most tasks, but haven't mastered shooting with my left yet.
 
Riomouse911, that's an inspiring story. Good for him!
I'm left handed but right eye dominate. I shoot right handed. I do think it is good to practice/drill with opposite hands. I don't as often as I should. We never know what our health will be tomorrow.
 
chicharrones said:
Yep. I got it pretty bad in my right elbow area. The pain is the sharpest when I raise my forearm quickly. I've been converting to lefty on most tasks, but haven't mastered shooting with my left yet.
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I shot about 30% of my range session left handed today. I'm at a bit of an advantage as I already do some things left handed, including shooting a rifle left handed.

The biggest impediment for me is slide racking and magazine swaps. I'm going to be working on that a bit more around the house with snap caps.
 
I'm right handed but left eye dominant. With handguns I often shoot left handed and it never seemed to bother me or affect my accuracy.
 
About 10 years ago, I had an accident with my table saw and took of the left thumb at the knuckle in the middle. The specialist that stitched me up in the ER said he didn't do reattachments and, while I could try one of the university doctors in St. Louis, I would NOT regain the use of my thumb as the joint was destroyed. It too, would have been permanently straight.
I'm lucky.
The part that comes out from the palm is still there and fully flexible. I can still hold objects but not as big as before. AND, I'm right-handed, not left. ;)
 
Good for him, it shows his character.

I have always practiced off hand shooting. Originally I did it because I just wanted to see if I could. I seem to be a bit ambidextrous and can use my left side almost as well as my right with many things.
 
Riomouse911 said:
One of our guys got hurt last year by a 20-something human trafficking suspect. During the encounter they ended up in a struggle for our guys firearm, and once all was said and done our guys right thumb suffered a break and some nasty torn ligaments.
The thumb was completely limp and was operated on, but it never healed correctly. Now it's fused and rigid, sticking basically straight out like a hitchhiker. As a result of this he's forever lost the gripping use of his right thumb.
As an honorably retired LEO he is authorized a CCW endorsement, so he bought a left side holster and practiced drawing, holstering, reloading and trigger manipulation (dry) left-handed for several weeks before coming in to qual.
I was impressed with his refusal to be bitter or quit. He loaded, drew, fired, reloaded, etc. my 30-round (Loaded 10-10-10 at 5-7-10 yards) retiree qual course very well for someone just learning to use the opposite side of his body (and brain.). When he was done he only threw one out of the 8-ring for a zero score on a B-27. During the qual he handled all shooting left-handed, and because of his right thumb he could only use his right fingers to draw and handle his spare mags.
He did say all the off-hand practice drills that we did on our SRT team made it easier for him to accomplish this, so there really may be a time that using your off-hand may become a reality. Even if you aren't doing tactical team training like we did, I'll suggest it's always a good idea to shoot a few rounds off-handed when you are practicing self defense shooting "just in case." Such skills may just come into play for you some day.

Stay safe!


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Excellent advice to ANYONE and EVERYONE who carries a firearm! I retired years ago from US Army SF..as a team commander and prior to that, a Senior NCO on my detachments, I was always insisting that my SFODA teammates practice and shoot with their off hand, whether on a stationary range or in our CQB facilities - and, I still advise the civilian students I have in my classes to do the same as a CCH/CCW instructor. I was at the range on Saturday (last reasonably warm day here in NC) and shot all 3 of my .45s ( a SW Revolver, a 1911 and a Springfield HD) as well as practicing left handed- with carbines, shotguns and bolt action rifles. It could be something as important as surviving an attack by a thug in the city to getting injured and having to fend off wild critters while out hunting or fishing. I still keep in mind the old Boy Scout Motto drilled into my head 50 years ago - Be Prepared. One thing I have noticed about myself if I begin to shoot with my left hand after having not done it for awhile - I am extremely accurate my first 8-10 shots. It must be due to a more intense focus and concentration when I first start out, however, after that, I either get cocky and lax or, my muscles aren't condition to work in tandem for longer periods of time (getting smooth movements going)and I start going all over the paper until I stop and refocus. It is a challenge and my hats off to the injured LEO that made a "comeback" using his off hand.
 
Great story - Improvise, Adapt, Overcome.

I definitely shoot most accurately with both hands. Interestingly enough, when I practice shooting single hand, both right a left, I tend to be more accurate with my left hand (I am right handed). I think you are right, @SteveChuck , I think I concentrate more when I am going left handed.

I have not practiced one-handed shooting in a while, this is a reminder that I need to do it. I also like to use snap-caps and practice one handed slide racking (using my belt against the rear sight, kicking the slide with my foot, etc). You never know what situation will arise.
 
Excellent story and congratulations to that retiree for learning to adapt.. In the firearms course I give, I require all of my students to shoot weak hand unsupported at the 5 yard line in the event that they become disabled on there strong hand during a gun battle.
 
I just had a left handed holster and mag punch pressed for my Glock19. My goal this year is to learn to run the gun completely left handed culminating with DG ratings in Advance Handgun I & II courses. It's been an interesting learning and training experience so far....
 
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