On the matter of being competent with each hand, I am reminded of the incident in Metro Dade, FL, in about 1986, often known as the FBI Miami Shout-Out,” or similar. Several agents were struck in the hands or arms. I also remember two of my Houston PD colleagues, personally known to me, who took hits in their arms. Yes, either or both of our upper limbs may become instantly disabled or compromised.
I was born with somewhat of an advantage, being left-handed, but right-armed. I write lefty, but throw righty. My left hand was/is better with most finely-detailed work, but my right arm and hand had more brute strength. (Had. Not “have.” Aging* changes things!) In 1983, I decided that I would carry “primary” on my right side, because drawing the then-mandated S&W L-Frame, from the then-mandated low-slung duty rig, was not unlike throwing. Long-stroke double-action trigger-pulling seemed to be one of those things that either hand could do equally well. As I occasionally added/transitioned weapon systems, I made it a point to be competent with each hand as the “primary” hand. Notably, my left hand seemed to have an edge, with pulling Glock triggers, a trend which continues.
Importantly, I choose defensive handguns which are handguns, not “handSguns.” For a while, when I was mandated to use one of four authorized duty pistols, I was dismayed to find that each was a handSgun, either being too big in grip volume, or having a too-long reach to the trigger, or both. The Glock G22, in what was then the 3rd generation, had more grip volume than I liked, but, I could reach the trigger, so, was my duty pistol from April 2002 to November 2004. I switched to the SIG P229 when I became aware of the option of an OEM slimmer trigger, which my index finger could reach. The P229 grip was right at the ragged edge of being just too big, in width/volume. I could shoot the SIG better than any auto-pistol I had ever used, except for the 1911. The “cure” arrived, with Gen4 Glocks, having less grip volume than Gen3 Glocks.
*Forty-one years later, long-stroke double-action trigger-pulling, with my much-favored medium-to-large revolvers, has been suspended, due to arthritis moving into the second joints of each of my index fingers. 2024 is going to be a time for significant changes in what I will/can still shoot. I will not carry that with which I cannot train.