handguns for one hand shooting

[kcub]

I think this must have started in the days of cavalry with cap-and-ball horse pistols. Ne, earlier still perhaps with single shot flintlock pistols again fired from mounted horse in the day of the three-cornered hat.

But what about today? What handguns do you like or perhaps expect to shoot one handed? Perhaps a console or glove compartment gun you have for defense against a car jacking?

 

[darkgael]

One

Well...with the exception of a couple of 15" Encore barrels, I shoot all of my handguns one handed.
Pete

 

[B.L.E.]

I shoot most of my pistols one handed but my Smith and Wesson model 41 has a grip with a thumb rest made for one handed shooting in bullseye matches. So does my Gamo Compact target air pistol. The Gamo can't even be shot left handed because of its grip design.

 

[rgrundy]

I am required to shoot all mine one handed at matches sometimes so I practice. The easiest are the 1911s with the ambi-safety. It works as a thumbrest.

 

[sgms]

Well these are in my match box and are only one handers but I also practice one handed, left and right hand with all of my ccw pistols. I agree with rgrundy, the 1911 is the easiest SD pistol to one hand for me as well.

 

[dgludwig]

Of course, if you plan on shooting in Bullseye matches all shooting must be done with one hand. And, really, most handguns ever made were designed to shoot with one hand. If two hands are employed (as most non-Bullseye shooters rightly use), the second hand merely supports the hand doing the shooting.

 

[Isk]

I shoot my Ruger Blackhawk one-handed...somehow it just feels wrong in both hands.

 

[BigJimP]

I primarily shoot with 2 hands....but I do practice with one hand ...at tactical ranges ( 15 - 21 feet especially ) ...both with just my strong hand and my weak hand....with 1911's, Sig 226's, Sig 239's, S&W revolvers -- mod 19's, 27's, 66's, 686's ( 4" barrels on the revolvers mostly in .357 mag).. ......its a good drill once in a while.

 

[BlueTrain]

Well, I don't know. I only have two pistols myself. One for each hand.

 

[Bob Wright]

When the target is far away and/or walking around, I use the top one with both hands. If close up and not too small, I use the bottom one with one hand.

And if the situation is really serious, I use this one handed:

Bob Wright

 

[kraigwy]

I do a huge majority of my shooting one handed with my 642 pocket revolver.

Both strong and weak hands.

I figure (based on my 20 years in LE) if I need a revolver, chances are I will only have one hand available.

You normally will have something in the other hand, or, behind cover, one hand means less of you exposed to the target., Right hand if on the right side of the barricade, left hand on the left side of the barricade.

 

[Sharpsdressed Man]

If you can hold it up, I'd say any of them. That's basically how they are designed.

 

[JC57]

I always practice one-handed, with each hand, with every gun I own. I figure if I ever really need it to save my life, I will be much better served by keeping as much of my body behind SOMETHING than standing up squared off to the target with a two-hand stance.

Former law enforcement so they drilled that into us pretty well during the years of qualification.

So my answer to the original question is - all of them.

 

[bluetopper]

I was taught that if a handgun was meant to be shot with two hands it would have two handles on it.

 

[Buzzcook]

If I "can't" shoot it one handed, then I don't want to shoot it at all.

 

[warningshot]

Big bore double action revolver, hands down, period, end of story. 41s are good, 44s and 45s are better. A local department had two undercover guys get in a shoot-out inside a Taxi Cab with one creep. The driver had no idea what was happening. Carjackers...if you can't do it with 6 then you won't have the time to manuver yourself out of harms way.

 

[barnbwt]

My five-seven is a joy one-handed, simply because it's so light. And my CZ-52 actually seems to bounce back on target faster with a "dueler's" one-handed hold, than with my usual Weaver. My TRR8 .357, not so much fun single-handed; it tends to torque my wrist more than I like, but it's probably more due to the chambering than the ergonomics of the (very comfortable) revolver.

if you can't do it with 6 then you won't have the time to manuver yourself out of harms way.

That's what the other 2 are for

TCB

 

[mete]

You ought to practice with one hand as you may have to shoot that way .My biggest deer I got one handed with my 44mag. The other hand was in a cast !

 

[Clifford L. Hughes]

Kcub:

When I shot on a Marine Corp' pistol team, I had to learn to shoot one handed: one handed shooting stayed with me until I celebrated about my sixty first birithday. Between arthritis and losing strength in my arms, I had to switch to two hands. Although I don't shoot auto loaders any more, my favorit one had guns are the Colt 1911 and any of the Ruger Mark's. I shot five Smith's and they were all shot one handed untl I statred falling apart.

Semper Fi.

Gunnery Sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired

 

[WV_gunner]

Depends on weight and recoil. Recoil is a big factor for some. Weight can be another issue, more importantly balance. Hardest gun I've shot one handed is a Draco pistol in 7.62x39, the recoil isn't strong but poor balance.