I am fair using two hands, but I want to get proficient using one. Can anyone offer some advice on what I need to focus on? I seem to wiggle alot as I try to steady it for the shot.
Ruger71
It's never going to be like in the movies where you can shoot into a 1" group from 50 yards with one hand. But the best way to improve with one hand is to practice, practice, practice.
The way I was taught, in order to fully face the target, is to basically assume a position just like your two handed stance, only using one hand. You then turn the gun at a slight angle towards where the other hand would be, tilt left for a right hander, right for a lefty. This shouldn't look like a hollywood "sideways" hold that you see from gang members. It should be about a 45 degree tilt or a little less. The theory is that the structure of your arm supports the weight a little easier than if the gun is straight up and down.
Try that, see if it works for you, it was the way I was taught, but it is certainly not the only way. Good luck.
The way I was taught, in order to fully face the target, is to basically assume a position just like your two handed stance, only using one hand. You then turn the gun at a slight angle towards where the other hand would be, tilt left for a right hander, right for a lefty. This shouldn't look like a hollywood "sideways" hold that you see from gang members. It should be about a 45 degree tilt or a little less. The theory is that the structure of your arm supports the weight a little easier than if the gun is straight up and down.
Try that, see if it works for you, it was the way I was taught, but it is certainly not the only way. Good luck.
Ruger
As colorhunter said,the stance is all important.Your individual stance will depend on yourr height,weight,proportions,etc. with the least amount of strain on the muscles It may not be exactly like the stance of the man next to you on the line.
you must have the greatest amount of equilibrium and stability
Your head position must allow for the most efficient use of the eyes,while sigting and shooting
Most shooters face the target at about 45 dedrees,but some do shoot very well,facing front and facing over the shoulder.
Do whatever works for you.
Good luck
Frank
FYI We managed to shoot some fine scores that way.
As colorhunter said,the stance is all important.Your individual stance will depend on yourr height,weight,proportions,etc. with the least amount of strain on the muscles It may not be exactly like the stance of the man next to you on the line.
you must have the greatest amount of equilibrium and stability
Your head position must allow for the most efficient use of the eyes,while sigting and shooting
Most shooters face the target at about 45 dedrees,but some do shoot very well,facing front and facing over the shoulder.
Do whatever works for you.
Good luck
Frank
FYI We managed to shoot some fine scores that way.
Put your pistol/revolver up like your going to shoot at a target. Don't try to point it at anything just put it up like your going to shoot where it feels the most comfortable. I like to get guys to do this with their eyes closed (gun unloaded and checked to make sure). Just put it up where it feels comfortable.
Now open your eyes and look down the sights. Now just turn your stance so the gun and your sights and your eyes line up with the target. You should be able to close your eyes lift the gun up from waist level and it should be aligned to the center of the target. Try that a few times til it's aligned every time with the center of the target. This is your most accurate stance.
Most of us that have been in the handgun target shooting business work on grip strength with a raquet ball or tennis ball or some type of grip exerciser to increase grip strengh.
Practice with a 22 target pistol, such as a Ruger MKII or MKIII. This allows you to shoot a lot for a reasonable price and gets away from any flinching problems that can cause accuracy problems. I don't know one good target shot that hasn't put thousands and thousands of rounds thru a 22 pistol.
My 2 cents.
Now open your eyes and look down the sights. Now just turn your stance so the gun and your sights and your eyes line up with the target. You should be able to close your eyes lift the gun up from waist level and it should be aligned to the center of the target. Try that a few times til it's aligned every time with the center of the target. This is your most accurate stance.
Most of us that have been in the handgun target shooting business work on grip strength with a raquet ball or tennis ball or some type of grip exerciser to increase grip strengh.
Practice with a 22 target pistol, such as a Ruger MKII or MKIII. This allows you to shoot a lot for a reasonable price and gets away from any flinching problems that can cause accuracy problems. I don't know one good target shot that hasn't put thousands and thousands of rounds thru a 22 pistol.
My 2 cents.
Thanks for the tips, I'll give them a try. Revolvers are all that I own at this time. To me, one handed is the way that a handgun is intended to be used, that is why I have the desire to learn this way. I won't argue at all that if two hands are easily used, it will greatly improve accuracy. My Single Six is more comfortable to shoot than my 45, it may be the caliber, but the grip feels different to me. I am wanting to try a Vaquero because it feels good in my hand (the grip). I can hit about a 10"-12" circle at 25 yards one handed with my SS and probably 24"-30" with my BH. I did move up to 15 yards and use two hands on my BH and put three that a half dollar would touch (they were 4" high). I am hoping to get started reloading in the next couple of months so I can afford to shoot the BH more. I shoot the SS fairly regular. Thanks for the advice.
Here's how I started my grand daughters and in fact started myself when I was younger. Start close with a 22 pistol/revolver, say six to 10 feet at the most. Shoot a hole in the target, then shoot what's left in the cylinder or clip into that one hole. Soon your going to find yourself shooting small one hole groups. Move back a few feet and continue. It won't be long you'll be shooting small groups at 25 feet, move back some more. Starting close gives you control and as group size shrinks your ability and confidence go up bunches. The grand babies still can't outshoot me, but it won't be long.
Good luck.
Good luck.
You're going to experience wobble using one hand. The longer you hold the shot, the more wobble. Try to release the shot within say, 8 to 10 seconds. If you can't, put your arm down, take a break and try again rather than force the shot. If you continue to hold and force the shot with a lot of wobble, you will get a "flyer".
Sight alignment is the single most important factor in shooting a handgun accurately. So long as you can maintain sight alignment, you will get off a good shot. Sight alignment is the alignment of the front and rear sights, and does NOT include the target. You do not have to have a perfect sight picture (front sight, rear sight, and target) to get a good hit on the target providing your sight alignment is perfect. If your sight alignment is off, you will get a "flyer".
A former coach at the Naval Academy used to teach new shooters how to shoot handgun by having them shoot into a blank target. Not having a bull to look at forced the shooters to concentrate on sight alignment. When targets were provided with a bull, the shooters continued focusing on sight aligment resulting in more hits on the bull. This is no "bull".
Maintain a consistent grip. It should be firm but not to the point where your hand goes numb or starts to tremble. The tighter the grip, the smaller the group. More practice will strengthen your hand muscles to where a strong grip is no longer an issue.
Good advice from the other shooters. Keep practicing and you will learn to shoot one handed with respectable scores. Best wishes.
Sight alignment is the single most important factor in shooting a handgun accurately. So long as you can maintain sight alignment, you will get off a good shot. Sight alignment is the alignment of the front and rear sights, and does NOT include the target. You do not have to have a perfect sight picture (front sight, rear sight, and target) to get a good hit on the target providing your sight alignment is perfect. If your sight alignment is off, you will get a "flyer".
A former coach at the Naval Academy used to teach new shooters how to shoot handgun by having them shoot into a blank target. Not having a bull to look at forced the shooters to concentrate on sight alignment. When targets were provided with a bull, the shooters continued focusing on sight aligment resulting in more hits on the bull. This is no "bull".
Maintain a consistent grip. It should be firm but not to the point where your hand goes numb or starts to tremble. The tighter the grip, the smaller the group. More practice will strengthen your hand muscles to where a strong grip is no longer an issue.
Good advice from the other shooters. Keep practicing and you will learn to shoot one handed with respectable scores. Best wishes.
Marshal Kane beat me to it.
The West Point Cadet Pistol shooting instructer gave a class to all League shooters at the begining of the shoot.
Shooting at a blank target was one of the first things that we did.
Frank
The West Point Cadet Pistol shooting instructer gave a class to all League shooters at the begining of the shoot.
Shooting at a blank target was one of the first things that we did.
Frank
The way I was taught to shoot one handed you do not hold the pistol on target at all thus no wobble . You draw with the barrel pointed up at about a 45degree angle centered over your target and bring the barrel down and squeeze the trigger when the front sight hits the bullseye on the way down . Been doing it that way since those grueling Special Ops training days and all I can say is you dont want to be on wrong side of my pistol. Good luck and have fun.
I shot a lof of pistol/revolver matches in the 70-80's. Here are some things I learned:
The fewer muscles you use the fewer muscles get tired. Try holding your pistol in the classic military stance and put most of your weight on the back foot. This will enable you to roll your shooting shoulder into a cammed in place lock.
Grip the pistol with your middle finger and the back of your hand only. (fewer muscles again)
YOu are going to wiggle, just wiggle the same every time. Don't be afraid to let the gun come down to the rest after each shot.
Tie your boots together and put the laces over the muzzle of your pistol. When all is safe, (EMPTY, REALLY EMPTY) get some snap caps and practice squeezing the trigger at the same wiggle every time and you will be surprised how light and easy it is to hold it w/o the boots.
If you can start with a small caliber it is easier to stay on target.
BUILD YOUR UPPER BODY. If fatigue stes in prior to you finishing your string, you are doomed.
The fewer muscles you use the fewer muscles get tired. Try holding your pistol in the classic military stance and put most of your weight on the back foot. This will enable you to roll your shooting shoulder into a cammed in place lock.
Grip the pistol with your middle finger and the back of your hand only. (fewer muscles again)
YOu are going to wiggle, just wiggle the same every time. Don't be afraid to let the gun come down to the rest after each shot.
Tie your boots together and put the laces over the muzzle of your pistol. When all is safe, (EMPTY, REALLY EMPTY) get some snap caps and practice squeezing the trigger at the same wiggle every time and you will be surprised how light and easy it is to hold it w/o the boots.
If you can start with a small caliber it is easier to stay on target.
BUILD YOUR UPPER BODY. If fatigue stes in prior to you finishing your string, you are doomed.
Slim
I am glad that this is good. try several stances.
Don't rush your shots
Remember that you are trying to find the sweet spot where you can drop the hammer.
One of the reasons that I am not still competing is that I never got back to conditioning myself after a layoff. Being STRONG is the best way to get steady.
I am glad that this is good. try several stances.
Don't rush your shots
Remember that you are trying to find the sweet spot where you can drop the hammer.
One of the reasons that I am not still competing is that I never got back to conditioning myself after a layoff. Being STRONG is the best way to get steady.
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