One Hand Racking

i was also advised to use my belt, pocket and holster to rack the slide. and as mentioned, it only works well with good protruding sights. these slick ones are difficult to catch on edges.

Jeff, I'd love to take one of those one hand classes. i was thinking of contacting the Co. sheriff, state troopers or local PD to see if anything like that was offered. not only would it be fun, but it'd allow me the opportunity to build sure confidence in my situation.
 
The only problem that i can see with the pitcured method is that it seems that one would have to set the pistol down and change grip in order to do it and then set it down again and pick it up in a firing grip. Seems like a lot of wasted time considering the other methods that have been shown.
 
I doubt it

Shorts,

I doubt they will have anything, we are the only ones who offer a dedicated and organized course for the Strong/Weak hand shooting. I will be in Seattle several times next year and I believe one of those times will include a SHO course. Join our mailing list to stay up to date on our training programs and if we do make it, hope to see you there.

Later,
 
Did I miss something here? If I knew in advance I only had one hand (like I really did) I would put a round in the chamber and cock the hammer with my thumb. Preferably a spur hammer for this, but a skeletonized one would do. Racking of course comes into play sometime. Why not place the gun between your knees and rack it with one hand?
 
Your greatest weapon

U...

The technique you describe is less than optimum compared to other options available. If you are injured or only have on extremity then anything that limits your mobility is less than optimum to us. Your greatest weapon at that point is your ability to move. Being able to fix the gun on the move is secondary.

Can you perform the technique, absolutly. Just remember where you are and what is happening.

Later,
 
Did I miss something here? If I knew in advance I only had one hand (like I really did) I would put a round in the chamber and #### the hammer with my thumb. Preferably a spur hammer for this, but a skeletonized one would do. Racking of course comes into play sometime. Why not place the gun between your knees and rack it with one hand?
Click to expand...

it is difficult to rack the slide singled-handed, even between your knees. there is a point where if you're holding the grip but apply enough pressure racking the slide backwards, the pistol is going to rotate backwards. believe me, i've tried to hold enough things with my knees as i tried to work them one-handed (again, because i AM one handed). there are tricks to things.

and as already mentioned, holding the gun with your knees and trying tomove just isn't going to work.
 
ne handed slide rack

Seems I remember that the 1911 was redesigned so a person on horseback could rack the slide by simply pushing the front lower part of the slide on the saddle horn. This is only possable with the short guide rod as on the goverment model.
 
I haven't tried it but it appears, saying that there is no round in the chamber, that cocking the piece by hammer would much facilitate racking the slide between the knees
 
Honestly, it does sound like an unsafe parlor trick to me. I can't imagine a way to one-hand rack that's not more dangerous than simply carrying condition one.
 
How do you get to Condition 1

Go,

I agree with you, but that still doesn't address the issue of what to do, if you only have one arm. How do you get it to Condition 1?

The technique I described earlier will work, it is in my opinion the optimum choice given the circumstances.

Regarding the technique in the beginning of the thread, after reading just a few lines it seemed to be less optimum than above so I didn't bother to experiement with it.

Later,
 
I think the idea would be to have it at condition one to begin with *shrug*.
If you don't normally carry cocked 'n' locked, I can see where you would find it a problem. I would say if you get caught in that situation it'd be preferable to evade the threat first (run like hell), because even if you find a way to get it cocked without violating 'the rules', you're still a sitting duck while you're doing it. In this case your first choice would almost certainly not be to get it into battery.
But for the sake of argument, let's say you can't. You absolutely must deal with the situation.
the ND rules still apply: point in a safe direction during the process, nothing in the trigger guard during the process.
In order to accomplish it, you'll need something...another limb, a rigid object, even the ground.
You'll have to go MacGyver at the moment, so practice prolly won't do much.
Using a table/branch/chair: Draw, set it down, pick it up by the slide thumb to the right, place the squeeze safety against the opposite edge of said object. Cock while loading the barrel down. set it down, pick it up.
Any other/quicker way would most likely get you shot :(
Just a guess, since I carry C1 to begin with. I imagine that you can always find a way to do it safely, but would sooner use it as a club than attempt that under fire.
My $0.02.
 
I think the idea would be to have it at condition one to begin with *shrug*.
Click to expand...
That is what I said and I think you are missing the point. For those folks who only have one extremity how do they get their weapon into condition one in the first place. We have had to work with these folks to develop a solid and safe system. The condition of their firearm is not the issue here, it is how to get into their preferred condition.
 
OOOooohhh.... :rolleyes:
I'm such a dumbass sometimes!
Ya know what, I dunno and I should.
I have a friend who has no right hand, and I've never paid attention to how he does it.
I'll get back to you.
 
I have been following this thread and its companion on The High Road with interest as I am currently typing this one handed due having a cast on my dominent arm. Indeed, prior to these threads being posted I have been experimenting with various one-handed gun manipulations (gun confirmed unloaded or with snap caps). I have the folllowing comments regarding these two threads.

1. To those few that say things like 'I've never injured my hand and see no reason to practice such stuff' -- Consider yourself lucky. At 53 I have had my hands/arms immobalized to some degree 7 times (3 times due to stupid mistakes 4 times to genetics). Regardless of the cause or whether the condition is preexisting or due to an attack, the time to learn how to operate a gun one handed is not during a gun fight. The best time to learn, if you can, is when both arms/hands work. You can practice one handed but still use your other hand if there is a problem (jams, clothing or a body part caught in the slide, etc.). Obviously this is even more critical once you have transitioned to live rounds. At this point you should have already worked out your skills with an empty gun or with snap caps and hopefully you have someone else there. Personally, I will seek professional training for this learning stage.

2. Practice with all the guns you might carry -- I realize the post on THR started as a 1911 thread but both threads have expanded to semi-autos in general. One method I've tried (barrel pointed left & ejection port down) is to grasp the slide with my left hand, place my thumb as close as possible to the back of the grip, brace the grip against my body and rack the slide. This works OK with my longer barreled Sig because my fingers are less likely to block the ejection port. With my shorter Sig this method readily induces jams and double feeds because it is difficult to keep my fingers away from the port. This would be even harder to do under stress. This operation is easier if the trigger is already back but this is another manipulation step. Obviously this would not work at all if the barrel is pointed right and the ejection port is up.

These drills are probably all the more difficult due to the guns involved. For me at least, Sigs are not real left-handed friendly and their recoil springs are notably stiffer than that of my Ruger. [I have not tried any of this yet with the Ruger as it is loaded.]

3. I have been experimenting with 4 major methods

(1) Hold grip & push slide front or front sight on object to rack slide - This requires fairly fine gun placement against an object to work.

(2) Grasp slide & use thumb preasure and body bracing to rack slide - This can work but puts you at most risk of jams & double feeds, grabing body parts with the slide, and covering the barrel with your hand.

(3) Place rear sight on heel and rack slide - Safest and best working method of these three but, as with the first two, cannot be done on the move.

(4) Catch rear sight or ejection port on clothing and rack slide - Allows movement and is compartively safe but assumes your wearing something the gun will snag on.

Nuff said.

GDB
 
Thanks, I look forward to hearing back. It is a difficult task and I am interested in trying to make it easier or more effecient.

Later,
 
GDB,

Thanks for the tips. Like you we have found that most of the methods are not very user friendly. Options #3 & #4 work the most reliably and tend to be universally applied on various defense weapons. While they do presume to have access to a fixed point, generally one may be found in the vicinty of the event, either on the body or lying around. Keep up the good work and speedy recovery :)
 
Personally, this sounds like something you DON'T want to try at home, or anywhere for that matter. It sounds like a good way to shoot yourself. I've taken to carrying a revolver with my 1911. The revolver is the backup gun.
This sounds like a much safer alternative to me. My 2 cents, for what its
worth.
 
K...

The revolver back-up is a great idea. The thread has sort of changed directions a bit and most folks agree that the original technique is a bit scary.

However, the thread has also attracted a lot of attention from folks who don't have the luxury of both extremities. So, the conversations has turned a bit towards helping them solve a problem in a safe and effecient manner.

I think that carrying a back up gun might be difficult for most of them, but hey you never know.

Later,
 
Finally someone mentioned revolver. I have a semiauto for fun, but i bought a revolver for carry. although i have ways to work around my disability, it is much more effective and adventageous to carry revolver.

for those that are worried about how dangerous it is to do things in nonconventional ways (like working firearms singled handed), we have no choice but to think out of the box. otherwise we give up doing all the things we love and become shells of who we use to be. safety is an important part of figuring out how to work a semiauto. that's why things are practiced with snap caps and training before you go to live rounds, you do point the gunin safe directions and are aware of your surroundings. there is always a risk when working with firearms. look at the all the twohanded dummies that shoot themselves, their wife or their ceiling when they're cleaning their gun sitting on their couch - they didn't even do the basic gun safety and check to see if it was unloaded.
 
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