One handed shooting for self defense.

B

B.N.Real

New member
I just read an excellent article that detailed the benefits of one handed shooting as far as self defense goes.

Obviously those of you who have been doing this for decades are groaning in disbelief right now.

But I have done the two handed death grip of stability to my pistols as I shot them at the range ( for as many decades) and there were so many good things said about why this was simply the wrong technique for defensive shooting,I would like to read what you think.

Especially with small self defense handguns,I would think that a two handed grip can become a tactical mistake if you ever have to engage a hostile deadly threat person.

This kind of goes with the two eyes open thing as well.

Right now,I am a right eye open and left eye closed shooter with a two handed death grip on my handgun.

Looks really like I should simply get on with it and retrain myself as a two eyes open with a one handed grip on my handgun.

And actually get good like that by practicing at the range that way.

Your observations and opinions are all appreciated.
 
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I've just been practicing my point shooting when I go to the range.

I don't bother with sights anymore.

I figure I probably wouldn't use them in a SD situation anyhow.

From about 15 feet to start, and then move the target out further as I get more into my shooting session.

But what the hell do I know?

I do know that I am getting better all the time. Anything within 15 yards is toast right about now. Pretty consistently too. My groupings aren't all that, but I'm hitting the silhouette where it would hurt.

No sights necessary.

But that's with my single action. I pick up a semi and I couldn't hit the broadside of a barn from inside. Nothing points so handily like those singles.
 
I agree, I thinks its best to learn as many different ways of shooting as you can. If I had more time and money, I'd go to the range much more often. I am like you, I shoot for accuracy and not really for practicing for self defense. If you shoot a lot more at the range, you will become bored and try different ways of shooting. Maybe someone will post some ways to practice self defense at the range. But, in a true self defense situation, you really don't know how you are going to react. I believe it is most important to trust and really know your weapon. That probably means shooting it one handed or shooting from the hip.
 
I agree, I thinks its best to learn as many different ways of shooting as you can.
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I still need to practice shooting with my weak hand. I have enough trouble with my strong hand.:)


I am like you, I shoot for accuracy and not really for practicing for self defense.
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I only go for groups when I'm testing a new load or bullet I cast.

But, in a true self defense situation, you really don't know how you are going to react.
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That's why I just point and shoot. I figure in a SD situation, my eyes will dilate, my fine motor skills will go to crap, and tunnel vision will set in. But with a single at closer ranges, it's so easy a caveman could do it. Bang, bang, bang!..lol

I don't even need to be remotely relaxed to hit something.

Who knows though, I'm the only guy that shows up to the range with a single action. Everyone else has Glocks, XD's, or 1911's. I feel like I'm being watched by everyone at the range, just blasting away in a rather carefree manner. Odd man out.

It's the guy with the semi auto that can pointshoot that I would fear greatly!
 
Thanks for all the replies and links.

I am feeling safer already.

Looks like this old dog has to learn some new tricks.

I'm up to the challenge.
 
VonFireball,

Have you tried shooting/point shooting with your non dominant hand? You may be suprised how much better you do than you think. I started practicing one handed shooting with my non dominant hand using point shoot and aiming and i was suprised to see how well i did.
 
VonFireball,

Have you tried shooting/point shooting with your non dominant hand? You may be suprised how much better you do than you think. I started practicing one handed shooting with my non dominant hand using point shoot and aiming and i was suprised to see how well i did.
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I haven't yet. I'm gonna start bringing enough ammo to shoot equal amounts with both hands.

Basically, I just one hand it at about chest/shoulder level where I feel comfortable and go to town.

At home I just practice pointing from carry position (unloaded of course) at different objects such as light switches and other small items. Once I'm in the fire position I check my sights. More and more I find myself being near dead on aim just by pointing.

I also practice two handed so I can use my thumb for rapid firing since I'm just shooting a single action. I need more work on that though. My gun could use a bit of tweaking as well.

As for semi auto and DA revolver guys, I think there is more work involved because the guns don't point as accurately and naturally as a single action. I find myself pointing high a lot with them. I think it has to do with the grip angle. I dunno though, for guys that shoot them regularly I think that their familiarity with their weapon will give them a good head start on it.

More than anything, I just find it a very enjoyable way of shooting.

As for self defense, I would hate to be the criminal when confronted with a top notch point shooter. It's such a fast way to get rounds off accurately enough. I think that is the key in a SD situation. Accurate enough, fast enough, and without to much thought to it.
 
I have to agree with everyone here that close range shooting must be done without the urge to 'draw sights first'.

There simply is'nt time.

To have myself programmed to what me and the pistol are capable of at close range is the most important thing here.

I am in the market for a keltec 380,the dinkest of self defense pistols and a close range one if there ever was one.

I will be doing one handed point shooting with this gun with both strong and weak hand extensively.

But I won't wait until I get it,

My other pistols of easier long range shooting,I will practice that way as well.

I like those that said on some of the linked sites ,"The point is to be able to survive the firefight long enough to be able to bring sights into bear if necessary."

Tough young lady on one of those linked sites.

Great example of how all of us should shoot close range.
 
For those proponents of one-handed shooting, I have but one question - is it easier or more difficult to disarm you when you are holding your pistol or revolver with just one hand?
 
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While it's much easier to disarm a person that only has one hand on their gun, sometimes the other hand is busy opening doors, working a flashlight or "stiff arming" a person to make them get back.

One needs to practice two handed, one handed, strong hand only, and weak hand only shooting. I myself drew a BUG one night with my weak hand while deflecting a blade with the strong hand.

Biker
 
csmsss said:
For those proponents of one-handed shooting, I have but one question - is it easier or more difficult to disarm you when you are holding your pistol or revolver with just one hand?
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And so what? The point is that there may very well be times when you won't be able to use both hands on the gun for any number of reasons. If that happens and you can't shoot accurately with one hand, you are up the spout. So shooting strong hand only or weak hand only just better be in your bag of tricks.
 
For those proponents of one-handed shooting, I have but one question - is it easier or more difficult to disarm you when you are holding your pistol or revolver with just one hand?
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Who said I've only got one pistol?...lol

Soon as I get good with both hands, it'll be a two fisted affair...lol

Why don't you come and try!:D...j/k

I wouldn't want to disarm anyone holding a gun, even if I had a gun of my own. That's someone else's job. I'll leave it to the pros.

One needs to practice two handed, one handed, strong hand only, and weak hand only shooting. I myself drew a BUG one night with my weak hand while deflecting a blade with the strong hand.
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Exactly.

Even point shooters should be good at using their sights as well. There is the possibility you might need them at some point or in a given situation.

Vonfireball,

Well, good luck starting then, its a lot of fun.
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Thanks bro. Being good with two hands would be the ultimate goal as far as I'm concerned. Then I'll just need a third arm for reloads.:)
 
And so what? The point is that there may very well be times when you won't be able to use both hands on the gun for any number of reasons. If that happens and you can't shoot accurately with one hand, you are up the spout. So shooting strong hand only or weak hand only just better be in your bag of tricks.
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I'm not an idiot. I realize that any number tactical scenarios can arise which may require one to hold and fire one-handed; my point was directed at the OP and any others who seem to think that a one-hand hold was preferable to using both hands. In all instances, it will be more difficult for your adversary to knock a firearm from a two-hand hold than a single-hand hold. If you cannot keep your firearm secure in such a situation, you're better off not having it at all.
 
my point was directed at the OP and any others who seem to think that a one-hand hold was preferable to using both hands. In all instances, it will be more difficult for your adversary to knock a firearm from a two-hand hold than a single-hand hold. If you cannot keep your firearm secure in such a situation, you're better off not having it at all.
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Well, I do grip my single action pretty loosely. That's how they shoot the most accurately for me. If I'm fighting to keep it from rolling up I can't hit a thing.

I do practice two handed point shooting. My real weakness is my off hand.

I think you made a valid point. Practicing two handed point shooting is a good idea. Right hand, left hand, both hands. Practice makes perfect.
 
As Biker noted above, we really need to practice a variety of things, not think ahead of time that one solution is going to miraculously be the one that works for the problem we encounter.

That being said, we have a lot of video evidence (LE and surveillance) that people who have been trained to (and practiced) 2 handed shooting almost exclusively have reacted with 1 handed shooting in close range defensive situations. I think that it is better to have practiced or this ahead of time, given the behavioral propensity for it in real situations even when the 2nd hand is observably available. Add to this phenomenon the fact that the second hand may not actually be available and it should be obvious that we need to practice one handed techniques.

-RJP
 
When I shoot, the only two things I concentrate on are the target and the front site; the rear sights are a blur. If you are using proper form everything should line up pretty well just naturally. A bright colored front site does wonders for front site acquisition when drawing and really helps with rapid shots.
 
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