help/advice/thoughts about left vs right shooting stance

dreamer565 · Apr 11, 2025

Own the s&w m&p 9mm EZ, like the gun, and I have small hands, plus weaker strength on left side (left hand dominant, but weaker), I am also left eye dominant.

Find i can rack the slide just fine with my right hand while holding gun/shooting with left, using right hand to support the shot. Seems to make sense to me, since my left eye is also dominant.

Guess my question is am I thinking about this right? I mean my right side is stronger even if non-dominant (due to a left side injury/disease), but I feel like if i try to shoot with right, my shooting is fine, but racking the slide with the left is going to be a problem.

Want some help figuring it all out. Thoughts?

seasoldier85 · Apr 11, 2025

If you're left handed, and left eye dominant, shoot that way. What ever is more comfortable for you and allows you to run the gun and get good hits is all that matters. I assume your "stance" question refers to the Weaver? Try Isosceles and which hand you make primary won't matter.

326MOD10 · Apr 11, 2025

Not sure where you reside in PA but considering your unique situation, with the left side injury, I would suggest seeking out some competent, verified to be quality, instructor and see if you can get some one on one time.

The instructor might be able to give you some suggestions to mitigate the issues. If not then they could provide guidance that would give you the best outcome and help relieve some of the stress involved.

There are also devices out there that can be attached to the rear of a semi-automatics slide that make it easier to pull the slide back. Just not sure they are available for the EZ or not.

Sorry I can't give you more definitive answers but without being able to see and offer the best suggestions I don't want to lead you down the wrong path.

ironworks · Apr 11, 2025

Handgun shooting usually is with one hand, the stronger one. That means you can aim with the stronger eye and have no issues.
Since a handgun is designed mainly for use by one hand, they are also more accurate using one hand otherwise they would be called handSgun!
If your pistol has a hammer that could be pulled back ( cocked ) prior to racking it, it would make it easier to cock, one less spring to overcome.
Try one handed shooting with the proper grip method and you'll see better results

s&wchad · Apr 11, 2025

dreamer565 said:
... my right side is stronger even if non-dominant (due to a left side injury/disease), but I feel like if i try to shoot with right, my shooting is fine, but racking the slide with the left is going to be a problem.

Don't pull back with your left hand. Grasp the slide with your left hand and press the gun forward with your right.

dan_lo · Apr 11, 2025

s&wchad said:
Don't pull back with your left hand. Grasp the slide with your left hand and press the gun forward with your right.

Seconding this. I'm left handed, right eye dominant, smaller hands so I have to constantly compensate for weird quirks.

I don't really struggle to manipulate the slide but I've had some problems with some other stuff. Most of the time it's just finding a way to get leverage over the pistol.

*failing that because everybody has different abilities* I'd recommend at least evaluating Walther's PDP-F. The weapon is designed for folks with smaller hands and the slide is constructed in such a way to allow for very low force manipulation. I know. It's a Smith forum and I'm dropping another brand and sorry - but I have a friend who's got some fairly substantial physical limitations and I've handed him my pdp-f and he was able to perform all administrative procedures pretty comfortably.

CBStuard · Apr 14, 2025

I would take the eye dominant part out of the situation. I am right handed but left eye dominant. I just close my right eye. I will second a slide racker. This is a link to let you see what is being talked about but you need to search for one for your model pistol.
Carry Slide Racker for Smith & Wesson M&P
One of these made a huge difference for my wife whose hands are not real strong.

Hawg Rider · Apr 17, 2025

Welcome to the Forum! You have an interesting situation...left handed and left eye dominant but weak left hand. Sounds to me like you need to stay with left hand shooting and just find a comfortable shooting stance. I'm right handed and I use a hybrid stance (part Weaver, part Isosceles)- left foot just slightly forward, feet shoulder width apart, lean slightly forward with weight slightly more on the balls of my feet. As far as racking the slide, you won't find a pistol more easy to rack than the EZ. If you decide to shoot right handed and rack with the left hand, perhaps just adding a Talon Slide Grip would help. It makes racking easier because the texture keeps your hand from slipping and you don't have to grip so hard. I have some on my PC Shield Plus 9mm and it works great. It's hell to get old! Good luck!

talongungrips.com/slide-grips/smith-wesson/

Jim Watson · Apr 17, 2025

As long as you can hold on to the gun, I think you would be better off to go left all the way.
But if you had rather shoot right for a harder grasp, there is no reason not to change sides to load and rack. We had a club member who would do that. It drove me nuts at the time but I am more relaxed about it now.

Ironworks' position is really interesting. I don't think it is so, but it is interesting.

help/advice/thoughts about left vs right shooting stance

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