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Weak hand skills are analogous to carrying a spare magazine.

Learn to do it!

Learn how to clear malfunctions using just one hand also (they seem to increase with weak hand shooting).

A few years ago, I took a course just for this purpose. It also included shooting from other awkward positions such as lying on your back and firing at your target from arms length (from retention...?). It also provided means to reload and rack the slide, weak-hand.
As far as the weak hand, I was shooting a 1911 with safety engaged. I had some problems unholstering because I have a belly and have to suck it in. I was shown to lift the gun out of the holster, turn it around and place it back into the holster and pull it out like a cross-draw.
The hardest part was disengaging the safety with only one hand. While trying to accomplish this with my forefinger, I guess my middle finger slipped into the trigger guard and when I disengaged the safety, I simultaneously pulled the trigger**. Fortunately it was pointing directly at the target. After that, I had an ambidextrous safety installed but after a year or so, it broke.
Anyone have a good idea how to perform this action better without an ambi-safety? Practice seems to be the answer (with an unloaded gun!) Or install another ambi.
This is a really good subject and I hope everyone learns to do it safely!

**I acknowledge that this was a negligent discharge on my part. We had practiced unloaded several times but it apparently didn't work out the same way for me when loaded. It still bothers me to this day that I had an ND and am ever thankful I had no incidents.**

O6nop,

I respectfully disagree with you saying you had a ND. You were at a range in a class learning a new skill. You had the gun pointed in a safe direction while practicing this new skill. That is why it is important to practice in a safe place with a proper back stop and keep the gun pointed in a safe direction. Thank you for sharing.

CompVest wrote:O6nop,

I respectfully disagree with you saying you had a ND. You were at a range in a class learning a new skill. You had the gun pointed in a safe direction while practicing this new skill. That is why it is important to practice in a safe place with a proper back stop and keep the gun pointed in a safe direction. Thank you for sharing.

I do dry fire drills singled handed weak and strong hands at least 3 times a week and in every range session I incorporate weak and strong single hand drills.

I have practiced drawing my main carry gun with my weak hand but boy is that slow. Therefore I regularly pocket carry on my weak side. That makes drawing weak side go a lot faster.

I'm blind in my right eye, so I actually have an easier time with the sights when shooting left handed, either with two hands or one. It's harder to be smooth on the trigger though. I keep telling myself I should just force myself to start over shooting left handed, I'd probably be better.

One of the advantages to carrying cross-draw is you can easily draw with either hand.

My 1911 with alumi grips is set up perfect for one handed in fact i am much more accurate with one hand off hand or not

I don't have a weak hand :) Jk, one of my instructors told me that's what he says.


Anyway - for those new or having issues with one hand shooting try canting the handgun slightly inward to follow the natural pointing of your arm. If it is right hand, tilt it left, and vice-versa.

Weak hand, support hand, shoot & draw on regular basis. Just last week while on vacation I did a long afternoon shooting that included a good hr of weak hand practice.
Needful training.

When shooting two-handed, I use a weaver stance that is slightly open to my dominant side. I've started practicing one-handed and notice that I naturally open my stance to my weak side so that my shooting arm doesn't cross my body. Is this the best way to practice?

One more question - a guy at the range said that when you're shooting one-handed, you should put our other hand on your chest (like saying the pledge) so that it's not dangling. I don't know the benefit of this other than confining your mass into a smaller area thus allowing for a smaller target, but I'm new to the tactical one-handed shooting scene. Any opinions?

srothstein wrote:Now for the next important question in this line of thought. How many of you can draw your weapon from its holster with just your weak hand? For that matter, can you draw one handed at all?

I've practiced it, and I can do it, especially if I'm already on the ground.

It's another argument for carrying at 3:00, instead of farther back.

chabouk wrote:

srothstein wrote:Now for the next important question in this line of thought. How many of you can draw your weapon from its holster with just your weak hand? For that matter, can you draw one handed at all?

I've practiced it, and I can do it, especially if I'm already on the ground.

It's another argument for carrying at 3:00, instead of farther back.

That depends on whether you use a draw stroke that reaches around your front or your back.....

Excaliber wrote:

chabouk wrote:

srothstein wrote:Now for the next important question in this line of thought. How many of you can draw your weapon from its holster with just your weak hand? For that matter, can you draw one handed at all?

I've practiced it, and I can do it, especially if I'm already on the ground.

It's another argument for carrying at 3:00, instead of farther back.

That depends on whether you use a draw stroke that reaches around your front or your back.....

True, that's a good point. But reaching around the back will put the draw stroke at odds with your holster cant.

It's funny you ask...I was at the range yesterday, and just for grins I shot a magazine one-handed using my weak hand. I did fairly well...I wasn't as accurate as I am with my strong hand, but it wasn't as bad as I expected. I could tell I need to start working on it more, because the recoil from the .45 ACP was much more noticeable with my weaker hand.