One-hand defensive shooting -- G&A article

[Susan West]

One handed shooting, good thread, but in all i have read i would like to see people talk about distance and the speed whith wich they draw and shoot, i is critical to hit said target. Yes i know i live in another country, yes i am a girl, but i have watched in horror when as a training officer i require people to draw a pistol strong hand, transfer to "weak" hand and fire 2 shots, the distance i require is 10 meters, 33 odd feet. The target is standard IPSC. I then repeat the situation using strong hand draw and shoot, (again 2 hits on the target) and compare the times and hits on the target. I then repeat the shoot using a wall, and require the shooter to use strong hand (left side wall as protection) if right handed, then repeat using (right wall) weak hand 2 shoots. A very rewarding excersise.
I ask in this situation for 15 meter shots, using any standard 1911 or other, standard ammo, 1100 fps. Speed without accuracy is meaningless, (a waste of 2 rounds) accuracy without speed is pointless.

[Texan29]

Excellent Article! Thanks for sharing!

[jtkratzer]

Same guy?

[FrankRizzoXD40]

Great article! Thanks for sharing.

I am going to practice shooting one-handed more often now.

Frank

[jtkratzer]

I will practice shooting one handed more, I do some now, but I strongly disagree with teaching point shooting as the primary and most important method of "aiming."

I see it as very damning in court trying to justify why you didn't use your sights when being the defendant in a lawsuit where you missed your target but struck a bystander. I just don't see it going well having to explain that you point shoot and don't use sighted shooting with the sights.

I firmly believe that if you're shooting a gun that fits your hand with a grip angle that's natural for you, aiming with the sights should be identical to point shooting. For me, the XD and 1911 both point and the sights line up properly whether I'm intentionally lining the sights up or not. I feel comfortable that in an up close situation, I could bring the gun up to eye level and place shots on target. If there's ever a situation where a justified shooting is necessary at more than 15-20 yards, the sights are absolutely necessary for most people to place accurate fire down range, especially in an intense fight for your life situation. I've seen a video where a guy shoots a 1911 without sights at 50 and/or 100 yards without sights on the gun and still hits a steel plate, but you don't see where on that plate.

For the average Joe civilian like myself, there's simply too much liability to fire a weapon at another person without at least training to use the sights. I'm not a lawyer nor an expert, but using point shooting as my primary shooting method is not a risk I'm willing to take.

Have I shot without specifically using the sights? Yes. Have I shot at distances where the gun is not extended fully and using the sights is impossible? Yes, but the majority of the time, I at least take a quick glance to make sure the sights are at least close to lined up.

One handed shooting is important. I can shoot from behind cover with one hand and expose less of myself than using a two handed isosceles, but I can also place faster, more accurate rounds on target with two hands. When the situation comes down to it, you do the best you can to stay alive.

[jmsstnr]

Article is worth the read.

Some similar information here, link from a thread at DefensiveCarry:

What Really Happens In A Gunfight?

Something else: Point Shooting Home Study Course. - DefensiveCarry CCW Forum

[ScottyT]

Interesting and good points above kratzer, thanks for that.

I was able to run through 50 rounds Saturday morning, most of which was one-handed. I was surprised how well I did. I had no troubles point-shooting from 10 yards and hitting 90% or more on an 8-inch target. As strange as it may sound, I think most of my training for one-hand and point-shooting comes from playing airsoft, where at those distances my airsoft pistol is just as accurate and I almost never use the sights.

I also tried a little crouching and moving with a bit more mixed results, but overall it was a great day shooting. the 40 rounds through my Mosin M91/30 was icing on the cake!

[jtkratzer]

Originally Posted by ScottyT

Interesting and good points above kratzer, thanks for that.

I was able to run through 50 rounds Saturday morning, most of which was one-handed. I was surprised how well I did. I had no troubles point-shooting from 10 yards and hitting 90% or more on an 8-inch target. As strange as it may sound, I think most of my training for one-hand and point-shooting comes from playing airsoft, where at those distances my airsoft pistol is just as accurate and I almost never use the sights.

I also tried a little crouching and moving with a bit more mixed results, but overall it was a great day shooting. the 40 rounds through my Mosin M91/30 was icing on the cake!

Sounds like a fun day...