Weak Hand Shooting

Geezer

Geezer

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I have surgery scheduled on my right hand 9/18. Until I heal and recover, I'll have to carry on my left and shoot with my hand. I won't get any left hand holsters, I'll just pocket carry until I'm healed.

I try to shoot with my left hand now and then. This morning I went to the range with the plans to do a lot of left hand shooting. It didn't take long to realize that I need a lot more practice. I can do OK on a man size target at 7 yards but, I'm all over the target. I did improve as the morning went on.

I hope to get at least two more practice sessions before my surgery. I'm posting this as a reminder for everyone to occasionally practice shooting a few rounds with your off hand. You never know when your strong hand will be injured or unable to be used.
 
We do a lot of weak only shooting in Run n Gun. Seems to be a stage at every event where we apply a TQ to the strong arm and then have to work the pistol targets weak side only. Mag changes and slide manipulation can be fun.

For the actual shooting...I don't know why this works, but it seems to for a lot of folks. Place your strong side hand on your chest while shooting weak side. I don't know if it forces some voodoo weight transfer or what, but it really helps.


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Tim said:
I have drawers full of LH holsters. let me know what you're carrying and I'll likely be able to send something.
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Thanks, I appreciate the offer but, @Etruett sent me a bunch of left hand holsters in a package he sent me. I've got them to fit RGs, Lorcins, Jennings and, XCAM. I'll just pocket carry my G42 or LCP Max until I heal.
 
BatteryOaksBilly said:
Wait til you try wiping your butt with your left hand.......shooting pales in comparison.....you ain't Gotta shoot, you absolutely GOTTA do the other.
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@Geezer

Sounds like you have time to get a bidet installed.
 
Tim said:
I have drawers full of LH holsters. let me know what you're carrying and I'll likely be able to send something.
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If @Tim doesn’t have what you need, I might.
 
Tim said:
We do a lot of weak only shooting in Run n Gun. Seems to be a stage at every event where we apply a TQ to the strong arm and then have to work the pistol targets weak side only. Mag changes and slide manipulation can be fun.

For the actual shooting...I don't know why this works, but it seems to for a lot of folks. Place your strong side hand on your chest while shooting weak side. I don't know if it forces some voodoo weight transfer or what, but it really helps.


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This is all bout your brain paying more attention to your strong hand, hard for it not to as that has been it's M.O. forever. Planting the strong hand gives it something to do in your brain so you can focus on the weak hand.
 
DrPhudd said:
This is all bout your brain paying more attention to your strong hand, hard for it not to as that has been it's M.O. forever. Planting the strong hand gives it something to do in your brain so you can focus on the weak hand.
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that makes a lot of sense
 
DrPhudd said:
This is all bout your brain paying more attention to your strong hand, hard for it not to as that has been it's M.O. forever. Planting the strong hand gives it something to do in your brain so you can focus on the weak hand.
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I'll be sure to try that next time.
 
Some of my best times against the shot timer were at the table in Conway with a rag covering my gun. Pick it up one handed and shoot the plate behind the waitress. My off hand was closer to the target, I started using it and cut my times in half. Your weak hand isn’t as weak as one might think it is.
 
I follow HR Funk’s videos. I never understood why he always held his belt buckle shooting weak hand.

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Tim said:
We do a lot of weak only shooting in Run n Gun. Seems to be a stage at every event where we apply a TQ to the strong arm and then have to work the pistol targets weak side only. Mag changes and slide manipulation can be fun.

For the actual shooting...I don't know why this works, but it seems to for a lot of folks. Place your strong side hand on your chest while shooting weak side. I don't know if it forces some voodoo weight transfer or what, but it really helps.


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Placing a hand near your chest centers your weight...

A loose hand/arm can act as a "rudder" and bias your body... which can negatively act on the sight picture.
 
@Geezer hope everything goes well and a fast recovery. When I had surgery on mine earlier this year, I pocket carried or used the same sticky holster for inside the waist band.
 
Geezer said:
I hope to get at least two more practice sessions before my surgery. I'm posting this as a reminder for everyone to occasionally practice shooting a few rounds with your off hand. You never know when your strong hand will be injured or unable to be used.
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There is a disparity between your thread title and the post above, Padawan. Your off hand is not weak, it is merely your support hand. "Do or do not. There is no try." [signed] Obi-Wan, quoting Yoda.
 
We get to shoot a good bit of left hand at matches. Our local MD has stage plans that require left hand pistol on at least one target array - often switching to finish out the stage. Some times entire stages must be shot left handed. In last weeks 3 gun we even had to shoot our shotguns from our left shoulder using our left hand to fire the trigger - very awkward
 
Tim said:
We do a lot of weak only shooting in Run n Gun. Seems to be a stage at every event where we apply a TQ to the strong arm and then have to work the pistol targets weak side only. Mag changes and slide manipulation can be fun.

For the actual shooting...I don't know why this works, but it seems to for a lot of folks. Place your strong side hand on your chest while shooting weak side. I don't know if it forces some voodoo weight transfer or what, but it really helps.


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Also stepping forward with your left foot and keeping your hips square is a game changer.
 
After my shoulder surgery my right arm was in a sling for 6 weeks and weak as heck for another 3 or 4... I shot lefty. I usually do a magazine or 2 weak hand every range trip anyway so it wasn't too bad.

What surprised me was the difference in perceived recoil. Arm in a sling made me pay more attention I guess.

Shot .22 ruger mkII, .380 bodyguard, and .40 shield. The bodyguard felt worse than the shield; I was thinking of carrying the .380 because it was my "weak" hand. Stuck with the shield in a sticky holster until my right arm was better.

Try things out beforehand if you can.
 
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JohnZ: "Huh? Oh, you mean your other strong hand."
 
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Seriously though....I try to shoot at least one mag "wrong-handed" when I go to the range. Being a lefty means if I had to shoot a threat at my driver's door it would be right-handed.

I can shoot OK right handed, just don't ask me to write with my right hand.....
 
What do you do about reloading, racking the slide, etc? Is this truly one-handed operation or just shooting off-hand?
 
MrBitey said:
What do you do about reloading, racking the slide, etc? Is this truly one-handed operation or just shooting off-hand?
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There are a lot of Utube video's on how to one hand reload, find one that works for you. On most of my handguns I have an RDS, very easy to rack the slide with.
 
I didn't try for rapid mag changes... I figure by the time I run dry the wife will be in the fray and I will duck and reload.

Shoot to slide lock, drop empty mag, insert new mag, use slide release. Backup plan to use table or hard surface to rack if needed; if I'm in a one-handed gun battle surface scratches are the LEAST of my problems.
 
I’m thinking…….
Revolver dry firing…. Improve trigger, grip, steady sight pic, etc… all in one shot.

Well, lots of dry fire shots anyway. Worked wonders forty years ago. Still works today. A few dummy rounds, a safe backstop, and go.
 
To me left hand shooting always made me want to use my left eye and I am right eye dominant so that didn't work well.. I am not a close your left eye to shoot guy so it effects me and I have to work at it to use the correct eye.
Might just be a me problem 🤷 I thought I would mention it just in case it helps.
 
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