Are you prepared to shoot weak handed?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Glad that you escaped relatively unscathed. I have a cousin who flipped his gravel train like that avoiding a car that ran a stop sign and now is permanently disabled.

Regarding weak handed shooting. Thankfully, I can shoot weak handed as well as I shoot strong handed. For some reason when I hold my firearm in my off hand it just feels right. I practice with it diligently to stay good at it.
 
I'll admit I haven't practiced shooting a handgun with my weak hand in awhile. But I grew up shooting left handed, it wasn't until I was in college that I discovered what eye dominance is and that I was fortunate enough to be left handed and right eye dominant so I began the painful practice of learning to shoot with my right hand.

It wasn't that painful, for whatever reason my right arm is stronger so I had already re-taught myself to throw a ball right handed while in jr high. And now I can do most things with either hand, like use a fork, swing a hammer, cast a fishing rod, etc, so whenever I shoot left handed I always do better than I expect to.
 
I do train a little with my weak hand. And actually some pistols just feel better in that hand (1911s being a prime example). Also, my BUG is carried for a weak side draw. I figure it opens up some options that might otherwise be unavailable.

If my dominant hand were disabled for an extended period of time, I'd have my full-size 1911 on my belt. It's relatively big and heavy, and the capacity isn't terribly high. But, I can draw it and shoot it okay weak hand only. I find trigger control is the biggest obstacle for me when shooting weak hand only, and the 1911 trigger helps with that. I'd also carry my BUG, because reloads or jams would be much harder to deal with.
 
I am right handed / left eye dominate and shoot primarily left handed. It's really an advantage as weak hand shooting is quite easy for me.
As Mr Farmer pointed out, weak hand draw from a 4 o'clock (8 o'clock) carry doesn't happen with any degree of speed. I think the best solution is a weak side BUG but I very rarely carry one.
 
OK, I will display my ignorance. I am left-handed and have always (even in the service) shot left handed. When switching to one's weak hand do you also have to switch eyes?
 
Fine Figure of a Man said:
I am right handed / left eye dominate and shoot primarily left handed. It's really an advantage as weak hand shooting is quite easy for me.
As Mr Farmer pointed out, weak hand draw from a 4 o'clock (8 o'clock) carry doesn't happen with any degree of speed. I think the best solution is a weak side BUG but I very rarely carry one.
Click to expand...
Same and my entire life. Currently I have no problem drawing a gun or shooting a gun opposite hand and I am 70. Both hands, wrist and arms work just fine. Shooting a handgun from my left hand I do need to sort of think it through much like bringing a rifle into my right shoulder but physically there is no challenge.

Ron
 
I call this my "Okee" drill after my old squad leader. He was a bear for making sure we could qualify on the M240B with either hand. While I may not be responsible for a full auto machine gun anymore, I still practice shooting left handed on my handguns.
 
MI2600 said:
OK, I will display my ignorance. I am left-handed and have always (even in the service) shot left handed. When switching to one's weak hand do you also have to switch eyes?
Click to expand...

I still use my good eye (left) when shooting pistols with my right hand.
 
A natural lefty, I have gone through classes carrying on either hip. Being able to run from either side goes a long way.

As for eyes, I use the side I am shooting from...left with left, right with right...

This does not work for me with long guns...left is the only side that works...ESPECIALLY...with a shotgun...
 
460Shooter said:
Good point. I can shoot with my off hand and was put to the test in a training class. Accuracy suffered and I was a bit slower, but still scored 100%

However your post makes me realize I should have at least one wrong handed holster on hand for my carry gun.

Good point, and good post. Heal fast man.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that is a consideration. I broke my wrist and dislocated my elbow on my right hand in highschool and basically spent a year doing everything wrong handed so I can shoot fine offhand (just a bit slower) and used to bat switch (more power from the left side).

But yeah, I dont have a lefty holster. Probably would go to the jframe in my left pocket if it came to that
 
Im pretty good at it, practice both sides one handed and flashlight drills holding the flashlight high above my head.
 
right-hand, left-eye dominant. broke my right clavicle a few years back ... now own as many lefty holsters as righties. Train 50% of the time shooting lefty. More accurate from that side, just not as fast (45 years of training from one side is hard to overcome).
 
I'm used to both hands for handguns. Being also a swordsman, you place your revolver in your left hand when your other is equipped with a sword. I'm accurate with both, and I don't see a difference, only that some days I do find I'm more accurate right handed than left. A single action revolver is pretty ambidextrous, but a modern handgun is not. But with a semi-auto, I can release the mag with my left index finger fine, but thinking about it I'd have to sling shot the slide to let it down. I always drawed it left handed, and transitioned to right hand after a reload. I should practice left handed reloads on semis thinking about it.
A modern double action revolver, this is not a option. (Too bad top break actions aren't a thing anymore ..)
 
AF- glad you are "ok". That's a serious poo sandwich! As far as weak-hand shooting, I occasionally send a few rounds down range this way, but I am far from "proficient" at it.
 
Armored farmer said:
I turned my semi over dumping a load of wet ag lime. I saw it going over in the mirror. Seat belt already off when I rolled up my tarp. I was still clutch the wheel when the the dust settled and i was laying on the passenger window.
View attachment 906916 View attachment 906917
My lcp was in the pocket of my bibs.
I got a sprained shoulder out of the deal...the best we can tell without going to ER during covid 19.
Click to expand...

Yeeouch! Glad you didn't get hurt worse, AF!
 
Regarding shooting weak handed, yes I shoot a couple magazines weak handed with any defense type handgun on each range outing. I can hit close range silhouette targets, but it ain't pretty.

Drawing would definitely be my biggest problem. Now, if I had an injury to one arm or hand before getting dressed for the day, I'd simply set up my draw for the weak side.

I've dislocated my thumbs on both hands in my life and gripping anything with strength just isn't possible for about two weeks, in my experience.
 
Man, that had to have been scary, riding that thing down. Sorry to hear it. Being injured is never any fun.

In my case, the question is "which hand is the weak hand?"

I'm right handed, and shot that way for years, until an incautious moment with an impeller pump took off the tip of my trigger finger. I had already been shooting with either hand in SASS, so it wasn't much of a reach to learn to run an auto lefty. Now I carry lefty.

In fact, it actually solved a problem I'd always had: I'm left eye dominant.

Now that my fingers are healed, I can shoot righty, too, though the reach to the trigger on some guns is awkward, as that finger isn't as long as once it was. (It's ironic that a 1911 has a longer reach than a double action K- Frame, but so it is.) I've still got a ton of muscle memory that remembers how to shoot on that side.
 
Hi...
I had a stress fracture in my right wrist some years ago and couldn't shoot with my right hand one whole spring and summer.
Learned to shoot left handed and got pretty good at it out to the 7yd mark. Never could hit consistently beyond that range without a rest.
Still shoot a few rounds left handed every now and then. Easier with a DA revolver than with my 1911s, which do not have ambidextrous safeties. SA is very slow when I shoot with my left hand unless I use my right hand for support.
 
This thread has started me practicing weak hand shooting, left, with an American Classic air pistol I recently bought from Amazon. I hold a pistol two handed and with the red dot I can hold a group fairly well.
It’s a given I don’t have a red dot on a CCW but this practice is a start.
 
Yes I'm fairly ambidextrous, about the only skill not ingrained weak hand is sweeping the safety on the draw. But I almost exclusively pocket carry and all pocket guns are of the point click variety.
If I do belt carry strongside I still pocket carry weakside
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

mikelj
  • Locked
Learning to shoot with the weak hand
Replies
13
Views
944
sota
S
T
  • Locked
Should have been shooting weak handed
Replies
21
Views
1K
mountainclmbr
M
T
  • Locked
Weak-Hand Safety on the Mag Release?
Replies
3
Views
531
Feanaro
Feanaro
S
  • Locked
Can you draw and engage your CCW weak hand?
Replies
24
Views
1K
Fiv3r
F
K
  • Locked
Weak-Hand Drills For Pocket Carry
2
Replies
29
Views
950
YammyMonkey
Y
Back
Top