Many years ago I learnt a valuable lesson in the differences between one and two handed shooting with my 6" barrelled 686.

I found that a 6 o'clock hold one handed at 25 meters had the same point of impact as a two handed "dead on" hold at the same distance.

The reason is obvious. With a two handed hold the support hand holds the gun steady on target preventing muzzle rise, while with a single hand the muzzle is free to come up under recoil.

This last week I have been suffering from a mild back strain that has kept me off the range. With our North Island IPSC Handgun Championship starting next Friday I was missing out on some valuable range time, particularly as for most of the past few months I had been shooting my 9mm instead of my main competition .45 in preparation for a two day IPSC/Steel match at the start of the month.

With our ranges officially "closed" due to already being set up for next weeks competition I arrived at my club early today. I had the range to myself so setting up an 8" steel plate on a stand alongside an already setup stage I proceeded to ensure I was "sighted in" at ranges from 10 out to 25 meters. Once finished I moved back to the 10 meter mark and fired a couple of rounds weak hand only at the plate. The first round went high, above the plate, the next two still high but hitting the plate about half way between the centre point of aim and the top.

On the set up stage next to me were two 6" square plates on stands. Taking aim weak handed at the closest I fired only to see my round go into he backstop above the plate. Two shots later, aiming at the base of the square, the plate tumbled off the stand. Shifting my aim to the further small plate I repeated the shot. Aim at the base of the plate and watch it tumble.

At that point I called it a day, put away my gun and ammo and started to get ready for the working bee arranged for final setup.

But it reminded me of the importance of aiming lower one handed than when shooting two handed.

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