Do you practice shooting offhand?

[Black Adder LXX]

As I've been reading here at THR, I've noticed from time to time folks referencing shooting <with their weak hand> as a part of their regular practice regimen. Anybody here that does it, why? Also, do you practice shooting <with your weak hand> with your dominant eye, or do you try to switch? Example; I'm lefty, with left eye dominant. Practice shooting righty with left eye or right?

 

[mavracer]

I do most of my handgun practice off hand,because if you can shoot good groups off hand you'll shoot better from a rest. as to eye domanance I learned to shoot left handed when I was ~12 shooting skeet after ~50 rounds my right shoulder would start to hurt Dad smarted off and said "shoot off your other shoulder ya big baby" so I did closing my right eye.now fast foward 25 or so years I'm shooting IPSC and theres a weak hand stagethe guy timing me asked If I knew I closed my right eye and used my left when shooting lefty.I had never noticed up to that point .
now when I shoot right hand right eye left hand left eye.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I zero a handgun from offhand -- handguns will often shoot to a different point of impact from a rest. As for general shooting, I rarely use a rest -- and then it's usually something like crossed sticks for long range work.

 

[gravis86]

Umm... All my shooting is offhand.

 

[Craig_AR]

"...referencing shooting offhand as a part of their regular practice regimen. Anybody here that does it,..."

Yes. With my CC/SD/HD .38 SP and .357 revolvers.
Not so much with my .22LR custom RH grip target pistol. I have done it with the .22, and that big thumb support ridge HURTS digging into my left palm.

" why?..."
So I can if I ever need to.

Also, I am using the NRA Marksmanship Qualification Program as a personal curriculum for developing my shooting skill. The Basic Practical and Marksman levels only require a two hand strong hand course of fire. Beginning with the Marksman First Class level, there is a weak hand (the term NRA uses instead of off hand) stage course of fire required for each level. Marksman First Class and Sharpshooter require two hand firing, strong and weak hand. Expert and DIstniguished Expert both require one hand both strong and weak hand stages.

I am new to this, so I am still working on my Marksman First Class.

craig

p.s. Oops - I did not realize "offhand" has its own meaning. I thought (think) Black Adder was actually referring to weak hand. As I said, I'm still new.

 

[shadowalker]

Do you mean offhand or weak hand? Weak hand shooting involves shooting with the non dominant hand. Offhand shooting means shooting without a rest.

Currently all my handguns are for defense so except while testing hand loads for accuracy almost all shooting is offhand.

I practice shooting two handed and also practice strong and weak hand only shooting, most my weak hand shooting is currently done at 7 yards or less.

 

[Rexster]

I rarely shoot with a rest, unless trying to sight-in or verify POI of a new load. I shoot quite a bit one-handed, too, as I work police patrol at night, and the other hand is likely to be occupied. I do practice as both a lefty and rightie.

 

[DMZ]

I always shoot off-hand.

The gravel pit I shoot at is gated, so there is little opportunity to set up a rest, and I would rather not shoot prone lying on the weeds and gravel.

 

[Shooters Plus]

I try to practice weak hand shooting each time I go but I admit I still shoot poorly weak-handed only.

 

[HammerBite]

What, exactly, is the Real and True definition of "offhand?"

 

[Vern Humphrey]

What, exactly, is the Real and True definition of "offhand?"

Standing, unsupported (that is, without an artificial support.)

 

[HammerBite]

Standing, unsupported (that is, without an artificial support.)

One hand or two, or does it matter?

 

[sdj]

I zero a handgun from offhand -- handguns will often shoot to a different point of impact from a rest.

In my experience, I have found this to be 100% true. It's the oddest thing, but it holds true for me, too.

I have moved away from 2 handed over the last several months. The more I read and learn, the more I'm convinced that should the real-world self defense situation ever arise, it is very unlikely that conditions will be good for shooting.

So, I have been shooting as much weak-handed as strong-handed. Having moved away from a 1911 to a G32 (for now, anyway...), it seems that now is a good time to re-inforce correct technique, mindful practice and balanced movements.

I rarely soot from a rest.

Good luck.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

One hand or two, or does it matter?

Depends on the rules of the game. For example, in classic Bullseye competition, you can only use one hand, "duelist style." But in general conversation, with no particular game specified, it means simply standing, with no artificial support.

 

[HammerBite]

Vern . . .

OK. Thanks.

 

[massglockman]

i sometimes shoot with my left just for saftey's sake just in the rel world u might not be in the best circustances so u must practice difficult shooting so ill be better prepared if i am forced to draw in the streets

 

[M2 Carbine]

Do you practice shooting offhand?

99% of the time.

Also, do you practice shooting offhand with your dominant eye, or do you try to switch? Example; I'm lefty, with left eye dominant. Practice shooting righty with left eye or right?

I switch hands a good bit and switch eyes once in a while.

I can shoot almost as good with my left hand as my right but I'm not as fast left handed.

I switch hands often when practicing with a laser.

 

[bluto]

All my pistol shooting is done offhand. My rifles, on the other hand, are almost always shot from a rest.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I do almost all my practice shooting offhand -- I consider the bench a tool for sighting in, testing new loads and so on, but not a good substitute for standing up on your hind legs and shooting at game.

 

[Geronimo45]

I thought 'offhand' referred to shooting with the non-primary hand alone, for a while (you know - using your 'off' hand to shoot). For SD-ish shooting, I think offhand's most likely to be used. Also more challenging. If you can get good shooting offhand, you ought to do great with a support.
I do the overwhelming majority of my shooting offhand.

 

[Erik]

All of my pistol shooting is done offhand.

Virtually all of it from the holster.

 

[weisse52]

My shooting is 99.5% off-hand. Only exception is when I buy a new gun. After a couple hundred rounds I setup a rest to test accuracy.

And I practice both hands, strong hand and weak hand each time I go out. Just in case!

 

[gcrookston]

All offhand here, except for rifles, where my preference is prone.

 

[Black Adder LXX]

Okay, I had to work today, and came back to realize offhand had a meaning that I didn't realize. What I mean is shooting with the weak hand, which is why I referenced changing eyes. Sorry about my 'ignant' terminology...

 

[Geronimo45]

Sorry about my 'ignant' terminology...

Ha! That'll teach you to intepret the English language literally!

As mentioned above, I thought the same thing for months, so my mind was boggled when I heard people talking about shooting their rifles offhand.

My primary hand has historically been the right (albeit with a lot more left-hand uses than most righties). But the right hand tends to get chewed up by semi-automatics. So I go with the left, so much so that it's the primary shooting hand nowadays. But I also have a very right-dominant eye. I do have fun when I shoot.