Off Hand/Support Hand Thoughts

[Park ranger]

Have practiced a little. More the point shooting part not drawing. Mostly with a 1911 thats right handed controls. Eye opener getting that safety off.

 

[teratos]

I aim to please.

You are a ray of f*cking sunshine.

 

[pbharvey]

Eddie Eagle would have a cow watching me shoot, draw or even think left handed.
Good advice though.

 

[Garet Jax]

Did the doctors and nurses freak out?

Not sure they were aware - never ran into them on the range

 

[Edwonbass]

As a guy that has had rotator cuff surgery (strong hand side) I can tell you, it's hard enough just trying to wipe your ass with your weak hand or in my case the left hand. Like Blaster said, there is no fighting through the pain. The damn thing just doesn't work until the it's healed for a few weeks. Lucky for me, I have to get my left shoulder done soon and I shoot right handed.
I am a righty but left eye dominant, so I at least have that going for me.

 

[TI-tick]

Wild Bill smiles.

 

[BFMIN]

They aren't popular currently because of the danger of falling on your back, but.
I.W.B. S.O.B. one with a radical (30°, or so) forward cant.
You can draw with either hand & its one of the better CC locations IMO.

 

[outrider58]

Have practiced a little. More the point shooting part not drawing. Mostly with a 1911 thats right handed controls. Eye opener getting that safety off.

To quote Joe B: A four letter word... G-l-o-c-k!

 

[dannyp]

Did the doctors and nurses freak out?

TOO FUNNY !

 

[Park ranger]

To quote Joe B: A four letter word... G-l-o-c-k!

Have two. Actually had a failure to fire with my G27 and Federal hst last week. It went off the second time. Hope there isn't any more of those in the box.

 

[alucard0822]

Good idea, although might be "low probability training". Where using limited time for training might be better used for something more likely, and usually under-developed, like to draw from the usual position with the weak hand, or point shooting in general. Of course if someone had an issue, and was going to be down an arm for awhile, would be a good idea to start practicing that. IMO training something like draw proficiency takes muscle memory, which takes repetition and consistency. You can also train for an unusual scenario, where there isn't enough time or attention to really get proficient at it, just a little bit of info to give options.

Unless the idea is to open the door to dual wielding training, if that is the case, then F-yea, kids love that s#!t.

 

[hogarth]

Good idea, although might be "low probability training". Where using limited time for training might be better used for something more likely, and usually under-developed, like to draw from the usual position with the weak hand, or point shooting in general. Of course if someone had an issue, and was going to be down an arm for awhile, would be a good idea to start practicing that. IMO training something like draw proficiency takes muscle memory, which takes repetition and consistency. You can also train for an unusual scenario, where there isn't enough time or attention to really get proficient at it, just a little bit of info to give options.

Unless the idea is to open the door to dual wielding training, if that is the case, then F-yea, kids love that s#!t.

Agree. Though I have read some secondary sources that doing "mirror training", i.e. training with everything reversed (weak hand performing functions the strong hand normally does, and vice versa) has benefits for the strong hand performing its normal functions. So there may be benefits even if it all SEEMS to be for nothing.

 

[Blaster229]

Good idea, although might be "low probability training". Where using limited time for training might be better used for something more likely, and usually under-developed, like to draw from the usual position with the weak hand, or point shooting in general. Of course if someone had an issue, and was going to be down an arm for awhile, would be a good idea to start practicing that. IMO training something like draw proficiency takes muscle memory, which takes repetition and consistency. You can also train for an unusual scenario, where there isn't enough time or attention to really get proficient at it, just a little bit of info to give options.

Unless the idea is to open the door to dual wielding training, if that is the case, then F-yea, kids love that s#!t.

Seriously? How hard is it to throw an offside holster in your pants when walking around the house drawing a gun occasionally?
And no, it isn't worth spending that time doing something else that you should be doing anyway.
Do you think about hard things all day long and think something easy needs to be difficult?

 

[Biggfoot44]

Do you suggest using carry positions that you can draw from with both hands, or a weak side back up weapon, or something else?

Obviously , I'm not Blaster .

But yes , for a BUG/ Second gun , best practices is for it to be accessible to either hand .

For a long time , with multiple guns , I used a straight Left Hand holster for the second .

From back to day one , I had made a point to learn/ practice with either hand . Eventually I slacked a little , but still made a point to do left only shooting every session .

My left only accuracy was at least as good as right only , sometimes better . Albeit , I was a little faster with right .

Then I had injury and tendon surgery to left hand . Returned to 100% by physical therapist standards , but not what it used to be . I'm now " normal person adaquate " with left hand shooting . No problem with 3yd weak hand only Qual stages , but no longer quasi ambidextrous . So as I run accross them at gun shows , I'm looking for crossdraws .

More unexpected , was how much a ( comparitively ) weaker left hand effected two hand strong hand shooting .

 

[Biggfoot44]

There are no "UNI" locations/positions to draw from using either arm.

Yes there are ! Not necessarily as easily with both , and they will have inherent trade offs , but reasonably accessible to either hand is certainly possible .

Crossdraw
Strong side belt , but fairly far to the rear at 4:30 or so . Someone with average upper body flexibility can reach behind the back with off hand for a twist draw without too much difficulty .
Ankle holster worn on inside of ankle is equally available to either hand .

( The other implied possibility of strong side hip at 3:00 , to reach accross with off hand for twist draw is highly variable. Some people can do it with some holsters . But a barrell chest , big boobs , or a Dunlop can make that a total non starter .)

 

[Mark75H]

But a barrell chest , big boobs , or a Dunlop can make that a total non starter .)

IDK if I'm trying to envision or trying not to

 

[Biggfoot44]

Eddie Eagle would have a cow watching me shoot, draw or even think left handed.
Good advice though.

PSA. If you include shooting with either hand from the start of your handgun endeavors , it is no more awkward with weak hand than stong hand , if you learn both simultaneously .

Luckily , I had already virtually memorized Sixguns by Keith before I started serious handgun shooting . ( Keith emphasized learning both hands from the start . With an eye for eventually learning the esoteric skill of accurately shooting a gun in each hand simultaneously .)

 

[Bullfrog]

IDK if I'm trying to envision or trying not to

Probably looks like Kathy Bates trying to pull start a chainsaw held in her right hand using her left to pull the cord... while wearing a bikini.

 

[Blaster229]

Yes there are ! Not necessarily as easily with both , and they will have inherent trade offs , but reasonably accessible to either hand is certainly possible .

Crossdraw
Strong side belt , but fairly far to the rear at 4:30 or so . Someone with average upper body flexibility can reach behind the back with off hand for a twist draw without too much difficulty .
Ankle holster worn on inside of ankle is equally available to either hand .

( The other implied possibility of strong side hip at 3:00 , to reach accross with off hand for twist draw is highly variable. Some people can do it with some holsters . But a barrell chest , big boobs , or a Dunlop can make that a total non starter .)

Ridiculous.

 

[Biggfoot44]

But true

Added - If the question was : What are ideal positions ro carry one & only one gun , and only draw with strong hand , those aren't ideal .

But the topic was : Whether or not there are carry modes accessible with either hand .