Shooting sideways

[atxgun]

I had never tried shooting sideways movie style before, until yesterday. It is obviously a stupid way to fire your weapon. However I was curious if I could even hit my target at 7 yards doing so. So at the end of my regular drills I loaded up 5 rounds in my Springfield XD to give it a try.

I was actually hitting the target in that holes were being placed in the paper, not that I was able to have a specific point to have well targeted. Sure enough 3 rounds into it the RSO is banging on the glass telling me to stop. I was very embarrassed.

How in-the-wrong do you think I was to do that? How many Hail Mary's and Our Father's should I say for penance?

[WildBill]

It is obviously a stupid way to fire your weapon.

I agree.

How in-the-wrong do you think I was to do that?

I think you answered your own question.

How many Hail Mary's and Our Father's should I say for penance?

I assume that is a rhetorical question.

[JNMAR]

I've only ever been to a public indoor shooting range once in my life and that was to qualify for my CHL. Other than being bad form are there "rules" against it? If it's not endangering others or myself then, why?

[WildBill]

I've only ever been to a public indoor shooting range once in my life and that was to qualify for my CHL. Other than being bad form are there "rules" against it? If it's not endangering others or myself then, why?

If you don't have full control of your gun and the direction of the bullets that you are shooting, then it is bad.

[puma guy]

I had never tried shooting sideways movie style before, until yesterday. It is obviously a stupid way to fire your weapon. However I was curious if I could even hit my target at 7 yards doing so. So at the end of my regular drills I loaded up 5 rounds in my Springfield XD to give it a try.

I was actually hitting the target in that holes were being placed in the paper, not that I was able to have a specific point to have well targeted. Sure enough 3 rounds into it the RSO is banging on the glass telling me to stop. I was very embarrassed.

How in-the-wrong do you think I was to do that? How many Hail Mary's and Our Father's should I say for penance?

Recite the Second Amendment 5 times and tomorrow go buy a new gun!

[AddyLO]

Had I been in the stall next to you, you and I would have had a conversation. Probably a very brief one.

[atxgun]

I've only ever been to a public indoor shooting range once in my life and that was to qualify for my CHL. Other than being bad form are there "rules" against it? If it's not endangering others or myself then, why?

If you don't have full control of your gun and the direction of the bullets that you are shooting, then it is bad.

I don't know that I felt any less control compared to regular one handed shooting. Another line of thought is if you need to use your weapon you may not be in a position to have you feet at the right angles, shoulders squared, both hands with a firm grip, etc. Is it inconceivable one cannot practice alternative positions while remaining safe?

[atxgun]

Had I been in the stall next to you, you and I would have had a conversation. Probably a very brief one.

Part of my thought process was there was no one in the stalls around me. Setting a bad example for others was a concern.

[AddyLO]

Is it inconceivable one cannot practice alternative positions while remaining safe?

Couldn't agree more. I think this type of training is VERY important. But there are places to do that. Must public indoor ranges are NOT the place.

I'm a huge believer in EVERY shooter at any given range acting as their own range officer. If anyone sees anything they do not feel comfortable with it is their responsibility to say something. I would expect others to do the same to me. I'm not saying you WERE putting others at risk, but if others feel uncomfortable (and evidently the RSO himself felt so) then there is reason enough to stop the activity.

[JNMAR]

I've only ever been to a public indoor shooting range once in my life and that was to qualify for my CHL. Other than being bad form are there "rules" against it? If it's not endangering others or myself then, why?

If you don't have full control of your gun and the direction of the bullets that you are shooting, then it is bad.

I don't know that I felt any less control compared to regular one handed shooting. Another line of thought is if you need to use your weapon you may not be in a position to have you feet at the right angles, shoulders squared, both hands with a firm grip, etc. Is it inconceivable one cannot practice alternative positions while remaining safe?

LOL at least you were hitting the paper which is better than the lady on my right at the range. She was a little scary. There were two guys in my CHL class who were sort of having a shooting competition while qualifying. One was standing to her right and she put two holes in his paper...in the white area no less, of course that counted as his misses so he lost the round needless to say he wasn't very happy. Once outside, I overheard him tell here that if he ever decided to be a BG, he hoped she was doing the shooting at him.

[LarryH]

I believe a large part of the reaction you got, both here and at the range, stems from the association of that "technique" with gangbangers.

If proper care is taken, it should (repeat, should) be no less safe than standard techniques.

I agree that a public range would not be the best place to experiment, unless you were to talk with the rangemaster/range safety officer ahead of time.

[boomerang]

You need these. http://www.topglock.com/images/hnsbig.jpg

Actually, using something like Stressfire techniques, I bet I could pass the CHL range test with a horizontal Glock.

[atxgun]

You need these. http://www.topglock.com/images/hnsbig.jpg

Actually, using something like Stressfire techniques, I bet I could pass the CHL range test with a horizontal Glock.

Thanks, I was trying to find that image to post

[Embalmo]

Well yea-But even if you go out of your way to be careful and do it for the sake scientific experimentation, there will possibly be some boneheads who will get ideas that aren't so safe like thrusting the gun forward in a punching motion with the gun tilted sideways like it's done in the movies.

I just bought and viewed the 1st season of the Sopranos and there's a scene where Christopher keeps correcting his hip hop associate to tilt his gun up.

I wouldn't try it unless...

Whoops-Boomerang beat me to the punch-I didn't look at the link. Theoretically those sideways sights would work. I'd like to try them out.

[E.Marquez]

Had I been in the stall next to you, you and I would have had a conversation. Probably a very brief one.

Yes sir it would have been brief, with a thanks for your concern now go away.

Holding a weapon weak hand, out of position, laying on my side, or even upside down is no more or less dangerous then another hold method.. ,, You coming over to my lane is,, stay away unless invited. So long as a shooter is maintaining muzzle awareness, not flagging another shooter and his rounds are impacting down range, there is no safety violation.

Now I will say I wait till on the range alone or at my home range before I practice one hand FTF, FTE and reload drills.. As that does in fact cause the muzzle to be pointed in directions not normally acceptable in range safety rules.