Firing a Handgun one-handed

jon_1uk · December 2011

Just watched QOS again and noticed bond holding his walther as what I suppose is the "correct" way ie two handed grip,
Don't recall Roger Moore doing much of that.
Can those of you out there who have a proper handgun tell me an accurate shot can be had with using just one hand ?

Coldheart96 · December 2011

Don't know about anyone else, but it's part of our quarterly qualification to shoot one-handed using strong and weak hand. Distances range from 1 to 25 meters for our qual course.

Le Samourai · December 2011

Sure, you can shoot a handgun accurately one-handed. And anyone who shoots handguns absolutely should learn how to shoot them one-handed. That being said, for better accuracy and control, two-handed is the better way to go.

Also, Moore did on occasion use a two-handed grip, albeit a rather awkward, inefficient two-handed grip. Ditto for Brosnan. In fact, Moore used a two-handed grip in several of his gunbarrel openings.

Daniel Craig is the only Bond actor to really hold a handgun properly. He has a good, solid, two-hands thumbs down grip. As far as I know, he's also the only Bond actor who did some actual live-fire training, and it shows.

James Suzuki · December 2011

the gun they're holding is a walher ppk not a desert eagle, have you seen welcome 2 the jungle, he holds a shotgun in each hand

Mr Beech · December 2011

The next Hitman game will be using one-handed firing, for style I assume. Looks pretty awesome, plus he manages to make kills. My understanding is that it is generally done at closer range because it is quite doable, but less guaranteed than two handed.

Mr Martini · December 2011

Here in the U.S. there's a reality show called Top Shot. In the season finale, one contestant fired a AK47, one handed with his strong arm, at a whiskey bottle about 100 Feet (could've been yards to) away. This was his choice. It's all part of how the show works. One type of weapon is used for the main competition and is usually a gun. Then in the elimination competition another type of gun is used. In the season finale the contestants had their choice of weapons, targets and distance. More than one person used a gun one handed. The AK47 shot was the coolest though.

thesecretagent · December 2011

It's all down to the shooter. Most CQB courses teach dominant and weak hand firing, double handed etc. Minute of angle precision shooting is always done one handed at arm's length. This, interestingly, is when greater accuracy is achieved, however it is not a combat scenario. In a real combat situation, or a practical competition or range discipline, you may not have time to position your body for a double-handed grip. This is when single handed ability comes in. Also, in say a bodyguard's duty, he will ultimately be controlling the VIP by one hand either dragging them by the collar, opening a car door and shoving them through or covering them whilst pushing their head to the ground, leaving only one hand free to fire.

Anyway, I have a mission to embark on now. The suit is on (Santa suit that is!) and I'm about to go covertly into what could be a hostile environment (if they wake up!) and plant two devices (presents!). Experience has taught me that the targets are light sleepers and ready to leap into action at the slightest noise...

Merry Christmas!!!

jeffch · January 2012

On the show Mythbusters, they compared the accuracy of several popular movie hand gun positions. They found that the 2 handed and one handed technique are pretty much the same as far as accuracy. But shooting from the hip, which a lot older movie heros did including Connery as Bond, was by far the worst and horribly inaccurate.

thesecretagent · January 2012

Sounds interesting. I for one put in similar scores both one or two handed. Worst of all is sideways gangster style. You see it in films and on tv, but I've yet to see anybody hit a target with it. No wonder youth drive by shootings have such a low death rate.

)

Thunderpussy · January 2012

http://youtu.be/wXDXh5rPMn0 -{
This would be close to what I would look like as Dirty Harry.

Stephen Fry firing a .44 magnum.

minigeff · January 2012

Being in the communist republic of England, I'm not allowed a proper pistol.

However, when I started shooting in '98, I started out shooting target air pistol. My target pistol can put pellets through the same hole at 10m, and as per competition rules, it's single handed only.

I progressed to club junior, club, and then county junior champion by 2000

Not used the old girl in a while but I'm sure I could still manage to point it in the right direction.

As for shooting from the hip (with either pistols or rifles), I've never done it and certainly wouldn't recommend it anywhere other than a suitable safe range with others aware of what you're gonna try.

I'll leave the 50 yrd ppk headshots to the make believe movie world

)

Jedi Master · January 2012

I don't have any experience with guns but I do have a friend who regularly shoots handguns competitively, and in all her photos she's firing one handed, with her other hand grasping her belt for stability. I don't know how common that is but it show that it is possible!

Also here is the "cumbersome" Roger Moore firing 2 handed:
http://images.amazon.com/images/G/01/dvd/james-bond/3/foryoureyesonly1_lg.jpg

JediM

thesecretagent · January 2012

minigeff wrote:

Being in the communist republic of England, I'm not allowed a proper pistol.

However, when I started shooting in '98, I started out shooting target air pistol. My target pistol can put pellets through the same hole at 10m, and as per competition rules, it's single handed only.

I progressed to club junior, club, and then county junior champion by 2000

Not used the old girl in a while but I'm sure I could still manage to point it in the right direction.

As for shooting from the hip (with either pistols or rifles), I've never done it and certainly wouldn't recommend it anywhere other than a suitable safe range with others aware of what you're gonna try.

I'll leave the 50 yrd ppk headshots to the make believe movie world )

Air guns, both pistol and rifle are far more accurate at close ranges. The pellets simply exit the barrel more controlled and spinning slower. Live rounds need about a dozen meters or so to stabilise. As a kid I've lit matches with air rifles with open sights standing up. With live rounds a bullet in the bullseye is something to be very pleased with, and vee bulls are far more common.

auxair · January 2012

Two hand grip or "Weaver" stance was not the mainstream until early 1970's - remember ALL (well, almost all) the WWII / cowboy movies and those 50's/60's TV shows (Untouchables, Dragnet, FBI etc), hence it could be said that Connery and Lazenby were totally correct in the way they handled their PPKs.

thesecretagent · January 2012

auxair wrote:

Two hand grip or "Weaver" stance was not the mainstream until early 1970's - remember ALL (well, almost all) the WWII / cowboy movies and those 50's/60's TV shows (Untouchables, Dragnet, FBI etc), hence it could be said that Connery and Lazenby were totally correct in the way they handled their PPKs.

You're quite right. Connery looks pretty cool with his one handed stance, hard to imagine him walking about like Jack Bauer in 24.

Welcome aboard btw. -{

minigeff · January 2012

thesecretagent wrote:

As a kid I've lit matches with air rifles with open sights standing up.

that's nothing, once when i was 5, a mozzy looked at me funny, so i shot one of it's legs off with a GAT, AND the foresight was missing! AND the mozzy was flying!

thesecretagent · January 2012

I bow to you. Anybody who can hit something smaller than a house with a Gat is a superior marksman.

)

The best I've done is a bumble bee in flight with a Webley Tempest (about eight feet away) with one shot taken. My best friend still talks about the shot all these years later!!!

Firing a Handgun one-handed

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