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  #1  
Old 08-19-2009, 01:36 AM
Revolver_Fan Revolver_Fan is offline
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Does Anyone Really Shoot-Practice Using Their Weak Hand/Side? Does Anyone Really Shoot-Practice Using Their Weak Hand/Side? Does Anyone Really Shoot-Practice Using Their Weak Hand/Side? Does Anyone Really Shoot-Practice Using Their Weak Hand/Side? Does Anyone Really Shoot-Practice Using Their Weak Hand/Side?  
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Default Does Anyone Really Shoot-Practice Using Their Weak Hand/Side?

Sorry - incorrectly posted to this forum - off-topic.

I've tried. I suck...if I am going to be brutally honest about it.

There is absolutely no way that I can shoot with any confidence of adequate control, let alone adequate accuracy, using my weak hand/side. Of course Specials are a lot easier than Magnums. Magnums are just plain ugly.

I've been advised that it's a matter of conditioning (both strength and coordination), but it seems no matter how hard I try or how much I practice, I just plain suck. Strength probably has improved, but coordination is a completely different animal.

Some have told me it's mental while others have stated it's technique. Whatever it is I don't get it cause I ain't got it.

Last edited by Revolver_Fan; 08-19-2009 at 01:38 AM. Reason: Apology - Posted To Wrong Forum - Off-Topic
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Old 08-19-2009, 01:50 AM
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I do all the time. A good start is to build up some muscle memory. Practice with a UNLOADED firearm and do it often. Practice bringing the pistol up and lining up the sights keep at till its natural and it comes up to sight every time. Then do trigger work. Single action first, cock, check sight picture,squeeeeze. Got that down work on double action. Bring the pistol up slowly squeeze the trigger keeping the sight picture level(many ppl twist the gun) Keep at it till you got it. I cannot stress enough that the firearm is checked and cleared before starting these drills. What I used to do with double action autos is place a dime on top of the slide and practice pulling the trigger and keeping the dime from falling off if its falling off your twisting. Hope this helps remember Safety First.
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Old 08-19-2009, 02:52 AM
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if you shoot for self defensive practice you'd be a fool not to do so with your "weak" hand.
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Old 08-19-2009, 03:51 AM
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Yes I do, back when I shot IPSC matchs we had to do weak hand. This got me into the habit of keeping these skills alive. You never know how or why your strong hand will be out of action and it pays to be able to shoot with your off side.
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Old 08-19-2009, 05:38 AM
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Default Weak Hand

We certainly do. There are documented cases of agents in gunfights where it was necessary due to the loss of the strong side, which saved their lives. It's part of our regular quals.
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Old 08-19-2009, 08:01 AM
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I do, but not as often as I should.
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Old 08-19-2009, 08:14 AM
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I qualify 4 times a year and a string with the weak hand is part of the course. I practice that way regularly. Also need to be competent at getting the gun out of the holster and reloading with the weak hand. This can be tricky with some autos if not practiced. Believe it or not, tilting the gun a bit with a "gangster tilt" seems to help me some when shooting with my weak hand. Talk to Cowboy Action shooters who shoot "Gunfighter" class, with a gun in each hand, and get tips on shooting accurately with the off hand (no gangster tilt there!)
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Old 08-19-2009, 08:16 AM
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I do, but I'm ambidextrous so the difference between strong and weak side is minimal. I have a warm up routine I do with a 22 revolver. 50rds left hand SA, 50 rds right hand SA, 50 rds left hand DA, 50 rds right hand DA, 50 rds two hand DA, 50 rds two hand SA.

After that I'm ready for some serious practice with what ever center fire handguns I've decided to practice with that day.
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Old 08-19-2009, 08:21 AM
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I'm coming back to shooting handguns after a thirty-year hiatus. The CPL instructor now and my father earlier were adamant about practicing with the weaker side. After only a couple of months, I've seen improvement just going to the range every couple of weeks. I don't know that I will ever get to even 70% of my proficiency on the good side but that's the goal.
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Old 08-19-2009, 08:38 AM
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I do it for deer hunting, you never know when the deer or hog sneaks up on the wrong side! Changing hands makes it the right side!

Takes more concentration but can be done.
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Old 08-19-2009, 08:45 AM
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Support hand shooting is a very important part my shooting/training regimen. It is not easy, but the challenge is well worth the effort. Before I lost the tips of two of my fingers on my support side hand I used to shoot Bullseye. A severe dose of "tennis elbow" in my strong hand put me out of competition for a while. I made a set of left handed grips for my High Standard and started shooting "backwards". This was an enlightening experience in retrospect. I had to retrain all the basic elements of stance, natural point of aim, timing, grip, etc. for the other side. This caused me to focus on the fundamentals of shooting. After a while, I was shooting expert scores with my left hand. After about a year, I shot a match strong side and found to my amazement that my scores had improved.
Now, having the additional challenge of partially missing digits, I devote some time at every session to support side shooting. Magnums.....NO. Not yet. Had to make some minor changes in my battery to accommodate the new digit layout, but I find that the time spent doing support side drills directly positively impacts my strong side skills.
Easy? Nope. But the rewarding stuff usually has a challenge attached.
BTW, most of my shooting these days is 3 gun and IDPA. I am also a training junkie. Adapt and overcome. You can do it.
Steve
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Old 08-19-2009, 09:22 AM
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Every time.

Be safe.
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Old 08-19-2009, 10:40 AM
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Absolutly I do.

Whenever I break in a new firearm, I shoot it week hand.
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Old 08-19-2009, 10:49 AM
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If you suck at it so badly, then there's the sign that you need to work on it more.
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Old 08-19-2009, 11:10 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vanilla Gorilla View Post
If you suck at it so badly, then there's the sign that you need to work on it more.

That's me.
I'm like the OP and do poorly weak handed (left). I've been shooting J frames in 22 cal to get the hang of it and will work up to the 357 cal I want to be proficent with.

Just work on it, find a way to practice. You may not be as good as you are with your strong hand, but you'll improve.

GF
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Old 08-19-2009, 12:51 PM
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Default Shooting With Support Hand

Just to add one more for strength of numbers, "Yep", I shoot one-handed support hand & then resting my support hand on the forearm of my "strong arm". Might be injured & unable to grasp the revolver/pistol with my strong hand, but might be able to raise that arm up to rest the wrist of my support hand on.

Geez! Was that clear?

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Old 08-19-2009, 01:26 PM
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The short answer is yes and likely not enough.

We all suck when we start, strong or weak handed, the trick is not to get discouraged while improving through practice to achieve mastery (or some acceptable degree of it).

I'd just stand closer to the target, like 3-4 yards and start from there. That will build confidence and technique as you develop the skill to move back, ultimately to 10-15 yards. It's more defensively realistic too. Anything that happens will likely happen fast and close-up since otherwise we'd simply walk or run away. That's what defensive shooting is all about.

...and practice practice practice.

/c
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Old 08-19-2009, 01:30 PM
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absoultly!
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Old 08-19-2009, 01:38 PM
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Yes,
Every time.

Raise your weak hand and point your finger at the target. If it naturally has a tilt to it use that angle.

Also, lean way into it and roll your shoulder in to absorb the recoil and not wave around so much.

Good luck,
Munster
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Old 08-19-2009, 02:28 PM
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I definitely practice with my off hand. I'm not great with it, but I'm a lot better than before I started practicing.
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Old 08-19-2009, 03:03 PM
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always. i practice DAO, single handed, both eyes open, at the range and at home (dryfire). it may take several hundred rounds and a lot of C O N C E N T R A T I O N !!

stay focused on the front sight and the target. DO NOT anticipate the shot. continue to "improve" your front sight image as you squeeze the trigger. the shot should come as a surprise.

i am right eye and hand dominate. when i shoot with my left hand, i cant the revolver slightly (35 - 40 degrees) to bring it in line with my eye sight

i only have limited sight in my left eye but, with practice, i am now able to put six rounds within a 4 inch circle. at 30 feet, using either hand.
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Old 08-19-2009, 03:45 PM
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I practice shooting weak side alot. I wasn't very good when I first started shotting like that. Just remember to keep practicing and don't get frustrated when you are doing it. It is one of those things that takes time to learn.


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Old 08-19-2009, 05:42 PM
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Yes, also, I'm blind as a bat without my glasses, so I also include some practice at close range without my glasses. By the way, one thing that really helps me a lot are laser grips. If you have a J frame revolver, you have 2 choices: LaserMax and Crimson Trace. If you have any other frame size, or any other brand revolver, you're talking Crimson Trace laser grips. I have both brands and neither is perfect, but they have more advantages than disadvantages.

Best of luck,

Dave
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Old 08-19-2009, 06:18 PM
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I found that simply practicing the shot with either hand was not enough. I alternate, shooting 5 RH, then 5 LH, etc. I found that simply shooting the revolver was not enough to build coordination and confidence, so I practice loading and unloading the revolver, picking it up and putting it down, drawing from a holster, etc. also with alternating hands. I also practice all the above with only one hand, holding the revolver between my knees, sometimes tucking it into my belt to load it, to have prepared for whatever eventuality. I also switch hands when I mark my targets, write RH on one, then LH on the next, whatever I can do to build that coordination.

It takes a while, but it'll come- with patience.
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1x2
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Old 08-19-2009, 06:20 PM
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I do for all of the posted reasons.
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Old 08-19-2009, 06:22 PM
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Not only do I practice with my left as well as my right...

......... I practice shooting two guns at one!

ok... not really.. But yes I do practice with both hands
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Old 08-19-2009, 07:33 PM
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+1 to all the reasons to do it. start close to the target,no more than15 ft. start 2-handed and get someone to help coach during this process. it's harder for the shooter to see what they are doing wrong sometimes than an observer. start with a light recoil gun,22 or k-frame 38 with wadcutters. don't get discouraged, everyone has a problem with this at first and some take longer than others to hit anything. 3 last things,practice,practice,practice as often as you can. better to shoot more often than more rounds less often. good luck and let up know how you come along.
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Old 08-20-2009, 11:34 AM
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I have days when I go to the range I call Lefty days. I will only shoot with my left hand on those days.

I shoot mostly .22 LR but try to shoot some centerfire on those days.

It is a challenge but I have found I get better with practice. Work on it and see if you don't get better over time.
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Old 08-20-2009, 11:49 AM
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Just did it last week at the range and always include it whenever I go. As a retired law enforcement officer and firearms instructor over thirty years, I can't stress enough the importance of firing accurately with weak hand. Revolver Fan at the top of this thread gives you excellent advice on buillding up strength, coordination and muscle memory. Just like any skill you've ever attained, handwriting, throwing a baseball or skipping a rope, practice-practice-practice. Rome wasn't built in a day.
Best of luck and don't get frustrated.
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Old 08-20-2009, 11:54 AM
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Yes. I've done it for years, but not as much as I should. When I was very active in USPSA, any major match would have some weak-hand work, so it was a necessity. Further, one never knows if the strong hand may be incapacitated or otherwise unavailable at the eruption of social festivities. One thing one learns with enough weak hand practice is that the weak hand may not have learned the same bad habits as the strong hand, such as flinching, trigger jerk, heeling, etc., and at least in slow fire, accuracy may even improve.

I'm just beginnning to pick up the amount of my weak side practice, since I have more nerve damage and carpal tunnel syndrome in my strong hand.
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Old 08-20-2009, 12:28 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Revolver_Fan View Post
Some have told me it's mental while others have stated it's technique. Whatever it is I don't get it cause I ain't got it.
Sir, I ain't got it, either, despite doing a little weak-hand shooting most every range trip. I manage OK in single-action (revolver or auto) at close ranges, but double-action and magnum loads are still somewhat ragged. I'm persistent, though, and it seems the more I do it, the "less bad" it gets.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

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Old 08-20-2009, 12:52 PM
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Yes, and I advise all my CCW students to practice some with the weak hand. Many are long time shooters that have never fired a gun with the weak hand. It is just one more part of realizing your safety is your responsibility. I also advise them to practice some in low light conditions.
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Old 08-20-2009, 01:07 PM
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Yes, I do. I'm actually a slightly more accurate shot shooting with my left (weakside) hand that I am shooting with my right hand. The reason? I'm cross dominant, meaning that my left eye is my shooting eye. When I line up my sights shooting left handed there's a straight line from my left eye to the front sight. When I shoot right handed, I have to tilt my head to the right in order to line up my left eye with the front sight.

My first advice to anyone who wants to learn how to shoot weak handed is to dryfire several thousand rounds with the weak hand or until it feels comfortable to shoot from the "wrong" side. That will improve your muscle and trigger control and train your brain not to feel as if something's terribly wrong when you attempt to shoot with your non-dominant hand.

My second piece of advice is to get your hands on a .22 revolver, preferably a Smith model 17 or 617. Then, take it to the range and shoot as many rounds as possible with it with your wrong hand. Pay no attention to accuracy, at first, just concentrate on trigger control and gripping the gun. When that feels comfortable you may then start working on accuracy.
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Old 08-20-2009, 02:19 PM
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Does Anyone Really Shoot-Practice Using Their Weak Hand/Side? Does Anyone Really Shoot-Practice Using Their Weak Hand/Side? Does Anyone Really Shoot-Practice Using Their Weak Hand/Side? Does Anyone Really Shoot-Practice Using Their Weak Hand/Side? Does Anyone Really Shoot-Practice Using Their Weak Hand/Side?  
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I'm one who doesn't bother with weak hand shooting. In years past I've made a few attempts and was fair at it out to 10 yards.
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Old 08-20-2009, 02:53 PM
Joe in SC Joe in SC is offline
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Does Anyone Really Shoot-Practice Using Their Weak Hand/Side? Does Anyone Really Shoot-Practice Using Their Weak Hand/Side?  
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Yes, I practice weak hand, but as many here have said,"Not enough!" I have been doing this off and on for about 30 years and I can do fairly well left handed. Not good enough to be confident though. Hope I never have to try it in real life.
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Old 08-20-2009, 02:53 PM
glypnir glypnir is offline
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Does Anyone Really Shoot-Practice Using Their Weak Hand/Side?  
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I'm just about as good left handed as right. Unfortunately, that's not very good. I've been falling off on the weak side shooting, and I need to get back to it.

I also practice weak side with rifles, at least semi-autos. Haven't tried my bolt action yet

That way both shoulders hurt the same amount the next day.
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Old 08-20-2009, 09:13 PM
teufelhunden teufelhunden is offline
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Does Anyone Really Shoot-Practice Using Their Weak Hand/Side? Does Anyone Really Shoot-Practice Using Their Weak Hand/Side? Does Anyone Really Shoot-Practice Using Their Weak Hand/Side? Does Anyone Really Shoot-Practice Using Their Weak Hand/Side? Does Anyone Really Shoot-Practice Using Their Weak Hand/Side?  
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I busted my right hand in a fight in high school and, because I had no skills or power with my left hand, I received a thorough beating. After recovering, I took up boxing and learned to punch hard with both hands. Now I try to work all defensive skills with both sides of my body.

I usually finish up my range time with some malfunction drills (I shoot semi autos most of the time), followed by one handed shooting, both strong hand and weak hand.

My groups from my weak hand are almost as good as those with my strong hand. However I'm working these drills at fairly close range, and I'm only shooting .40 S&W and .45 ACP. I suspect I will find it harder with my new DA .357.

Many of the videos I've seen of actual shootings indicate that one-handed shooting is surprisingly common in real-life, especially when the shooter is responding to a surprise attack, and doesn’t have time to assume a “proper” stance.
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Old 08-20-2009, 09:51 PM
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VAdoublegunner VAdoublegunner is offline
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Does Anyone Really Shoot-Practice Using Their Weak Hand/Side? Does Anyone Really Shoot-Practice Using Their Weak Hand/Side? Does Anyone Really Shoot-Practice Using Their Weak Hand/Side? Does Anyone Really Shoot-Practice Using Their Weak Hand/Side? Does Anyone Really Shoot-Practice Using Their Weak Hand/Side?  
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I do every range session. It is a natural outgrowth of shooting Cowboy Action Gunfighter category, where you are firing sequentially with a gun in both hands. So, I practice weak hand with DA revolvers and autos at least some every range outing unless I'm accuracy testing or doing long range shooting. Because of increased centerfire ammo and reloading costs, I practice more often with a pair of 5.5" Ruger Single-Sixes these days.

Shooting with a gun in each hand can be a lot of fun. With single actions, it is not so difficult and easy to score decent groups once you get the muscle memory down, even with larger calibers. With a pair of autos it can be more difficult to do well, and I find it slower than SAs, at least if I want to do it well. I have two HK USPc pistols in 40 S&W that I have used on occasion. Interesting, but autos seem more prone to twisting torque in my weak (left) hand and are far more difficult to learn to shoot well than SA or DA revolvers.

Of course, the most fun to be had is when you are firing a pair of Ruger Old Army revolvers with full BP loads with both hands. The recoil is not bad, the guns are heavy, so they are easily controllable and can deliver excellent accuracy. The smoke, fire and boom are just outrageous!! It makes it worth having to clean 2 BP revolvers.
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Old 08-20-2009, 09:54 PM
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devildog66 devildog66 is offline
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Does Anyone Really Shoot-Practice Using Their Weak Hand/Side? Does Anyone Really Shoot-Practice Using Their Weak Hand/Side?  
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Absolutely, I work draw, reloads, and shooting with weak hand. It ain't pretty but necessary.
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Old 08-21-2009, 02:14 AM
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2000Z-71 2000Z-71 is offline
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Does Anyone Really Shoot-Practice Using Their Weak Hand/Side? Does Anyone Really Shoot-Practice Using Their Weak Hand/Side? Does Anyone Really Shoot-Practice Using Their Weak Hand/Side? Does Anyone Really Shoot-Practice Using Their Weak Hand/Side?  
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I've done quite a bit both in cowboy action shooting as well as IDPA matches. Of course I also "cheat" when I do it. Having had corrective eye surgery for lazy eye at an early age, I can switch eye dominance. So in cowboy matches when I shot Gunfighter class with an SA revolver in each hand, I never had to deal with right eye dominance and left handed shooting.

I'd suggest starting and practicing with a .22. I've noticed the same thing as VAdoublegunner, my 1911's seem to torque more in my weekhand than a single action revolver.
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