Two hands?

ZVP · September 10, 2011, 12:30 AM

Don't you think that there was more two handed shooting going on than is spoken about? It's a natural thing to want to steady your revolver for more aqccurate shooting.
Maybe they didn't follow the 3 point stance or the other specific combat holds that are popular today but I can't see a man in combat not trying to use a 2 hand hold!
I dunno, maybe they trained their reflexes for one handed shooting butto me it seeems natural to use 2 hands.
The stylised CAS "combat" gunfighter and frontiersman stance is fine and dandy for the spirit of the game but I think in real life you were far less concerned with "style".
It's intresting to try and use a proper one handed hold and I applaud anyone who can do it!!!
Me? I'm a plinker and I try all sorts of holds!
I also have tried to see how the oldtimers triggered their guns. Today it is popular to fire with the pad of the index finger on the trigger but lately I have been trying using the nook just behind the index joint in order to move the gun less.
I have found that if I creep up my "Hold" on the backstrap and use the crook of the finger, that I allow my hammer to fall in a straight arc , and it appears to help center my shots best! I discovered this with my Vaquero first, as I was shooting to the left alwsys. One day while dry-firing, I happened upon this trick and it seems to help!
ZVP

darkroommike · September 10, 2011, 01:19 AM

The Army "modern" shooting method circa 1900 evolved from the Cavalry necessity to hold the reins in one hand and pistol in the other.

Bill Akins · September 10, 2011, 01:36 AM

Rooster Cogburn on horseback held the reins in his teeth cycling and shooting a Winchester with one hand while shooting his revolver with his other hand.....but then again, Rooster was a former Quantrill CONFEDERATE cavalry man, so his skills were a bit better than the average U.S.
cavalryman's .

.

youngunz4life · September 10, 2011, 02:47 AM

I have better accuracy when shooting two handed

kwhi43 · September 10, 2011, 02:53 AM

I guess that with the light pressure to release the sear on all of our pistols
which is around 2-3 oz. there isn't any pull back on the trigger per say. It's
just a light touch. The heavest is the revolver, but it's only about 4-5 oz.
On our modern carry guns, I have shot both two handed and one handed,
and it is way more natural to me to just use one hand. I can shoot better
fast this way. I carry between my 1911 and Charter Bulldog 44. My wife
is the same and the daughter also, and she is 13. At one time in my life I had
a need to carry and the only thing I had at the time was a Ruger Blackhawk
in 45 Colt. The danger to me was so great that the FBI was called in on it.
Anyway I pratced different loads and ways to shoot. Bottom line was I shot
far better from the hip at close range say 7 yards and faster with Black Powder loads in my Blackhawk. This was with the short 4 3/4 barrel. This was
about 35 years ago. I say to use which ever you are the best at and don't
fight it. Whatever feels natural. If you are better with two hands, use it.

mykeal · September 10, 2011, 05:40 AM

With me it depends on the situation. I learned and practice a two hand isosceles with my carry gun (S&W .357 magnum Model 60, 3" barrel) because I cannot shoot the PD load (Speer Gold Dots) any other way. In that gun they're just simply to hot to control the weapon one handed.

However, I shoot all my black powder guns (with the exception of the Walker) 'duelist', because that's the hold required for competition. However, since I've never won anything....

I just like to shoot that way.

Hawg · September 10, 2011, 05:53 AM

I shoot one handed unless it's something really far away.

Chris_B · September 10, 2011, 06:20 AM

I use the most effective way that I can to hit the center of the target

Sarge · September 10, 2011, 06:46 AM

I've been shooting mostly one handed for about three years now; trying to blend the precision of bullseye (well as close as I can get) with the yank & blast of spitting distance encounters.

This mostly because in my experience, I've often had the other hand full of something or somebody when I needed to yank a pistol. I would expect that when horseback travel was the order of the day, the need to keep the animal under control, while shots were ringing its ears, may have been the driving force behind one-handed shooting.

Like most people who value their hide, I will use any edge I can get in a fight. Like our predecessors, I favor a shotgun when available. It's good to have lots of tools in the toolkit and I'm sure they understood that.

kwhi43 · September 10, 2011, 07:37 AM

Now you know that isn't true when you say you haven't won anything.
You have won mine and the rest of the fellows here our respect!!

Lee McNelly · September 10, 2011, 08:01 AM

ifn ya cant hit w one or two hands

then get your 97 out

or as they do in Mex throw a grenade

zullo74 · September 10, 2011, 08:07 AM

Try using only your weak (offhand) to shoot the pistol while holding your saber in your strong hand!

Then y'all can say you KNOW how to shoot a pistol.

Hawg · September 10, 2011, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Now you know that isn't true when you say you haven't won anything.
You have won mine and the rest of the fellows here our respect!!

True dat.

September 10, 2011, 12:30 AM	#1
ZVP Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2009 Posts: 1,102	Two hands? Don't you think that there was more two handed shooting going on than is spoken about? It's a natural thing to want to steady your revolver for more aqccurate shooting. Maybe they didn't follow the 3 point stance or the other specific combat holds that are popular today but I can't see a man in combat not trying to use a 2 hand hold! I dunno, maybe they trained their reflexes for one handed shooting butto me it seeems natural to use 2 hands. The stylised CAS "combat" gunfighter and frontiersman stance is fine and dandy for the spirit of the game but I think in real life you were far less concerned with "style". It's intresting to try and use a proper one handed hold and I applaud anyone who can do it!!! Me? I'm a plinker and I try all sorts of holds! I also have tried to see how the oldtimers triggered their guns. Today it is popular to fire with the pad of the index finger on the trigger but lately I have been trying using the nook just behind the index joint in order to move the gun less. I have found that if I creep up my "Hold" on the backstrap and use the crook of the finger, that I allow my hammer to fall in a straight arc , and it appears to help center my shots best! I discovered this with my Vaquero first, as I was shooting to the left alwsys. One day while dry-firing, I happened upon this trick and it seems to help! ZVP

September 10, 2011, 01:19 AM	#2
darkroommike Senior Member Join Date: August 27, 2011 Location: western Iowa Posts: 205	one hand or two The Army "modern" shooting method circa 1900 evolved from the Cavalry necessity to hold the reins in one hand and pistol in the other.

September 10, 2011, 01:36 AM	#3
Bill Akins Senior Member Join Date: August 28, 2007 Location: Hudson, Florida Posts: 1,135	Rooster Cogburn on horseback held the reins in his teeth cycling and shooting a Winchester with one hand while shooting his revolver with his other hand.....but then again, Rooster was a former Quantrill CONFEDERATE cavalry man, so his skills were a bit better than the average U.S. cavalryman's . . __________________ "This is my Remy and this is my Colt. Remy loads easy and topstrap strong, Colt balances better and never feels wrong. A repro black powder revolver gun, they smoke and shoot lead and give me much fun. I can't figure out which one I like better, they're both fine revolvers that fit in my leather". "To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target". Last edited by Bill Akins; September 10, 2011 at 02:42 AM.

September 10, 2011, 02:47 AM	#4
youngunz4life Senior Member Join Date: November 15, 2010 Location: United States of America Posts: 1,877	I have better accuracy when shooting two handed __________________ "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" -Admiral Farragut @ Battle of Mobile Bay 05AUG1864

September 10, 2011, 06:46 AM	#9
Sarge Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2002 Location: MO Posts: 5,457	I've been shooting mostly one handed for about three years now; trying to blend the precision of bullseye (well as close as I can get) with the yank & blast of spitting distance encounters. This mostly because in my experience, I've often had the other hand full of something or somebody when I needed to yank a pistol. I would expect that when horseback travel was the order of the day, the need to keep the animal under control, while shots were ringing its ears, may have been the driving force behind one-handed shooting. Like most people who value their hide, I will use any edge I can get in a fight. Like our predecessors, I favor a shotgun when available. It's good to have lots of tools in the toolkit and I'm sure they understood that. __________________ People were smarter before the Internet, or imbeciles were harder to notice.

September 10, 2011, 02:53 AM	#5
kwhi43 Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 2008 Location: Kansas City Posts: 1,393	I guess that with the light pressure to release the sear on all of our pistols which is around 2-3 oz. there isn't any pull back on the trigger per say. It's just a light touch. The heavest is the revolver, but it's only about 4-5 oz. On our modern carry guns, I have shot both two handed and one handed, and it is way more natural to me to just use one hand. I can shoot better fast this way. I carry between my 1911 and Charter Bulldog 44. My wife is the same and the daughter also, and she is 13. At one time in my life I had a need to carry and the only thing I had at the time was a Ruger Blackhawk in 45 Colt. The danger to me was so great that the FBI was called in on it. Anyway I pratced different loads and ways to shoot. Bottom line was I shot far better from the hip at close range say 7 yards and faster with Black Powder loads in my Blackhawk. This was with the short 4 3/4 barrel. This was about 35 years ago. I say to use which ever you are the best at and don't fight it. Whatever feels natural. If you are better with two hands, use it.

September 10, 2011, 05:40 AM	#6
mykeal Senior Member Join Date: October 8, 2006 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 2,772	With me it depends on the situation. I learned and practice a two hand isosceles with my carry gun (S&W .357 magnum Model 60, 3" barrel) because I cannot shoot the PD load (Speer Gold Dots) any other way. In that gun they're just simply to hot to control the weapon one handed. However, I shoot all my black powder guns (with the exception of the Walker) 'duelist', because that's the hold required for competition. However, since I've never won anything.... I just like to shoot that way.

September 10, 2011, 05:53 AM	#7
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,189	I shoot one handed unless it's something really far away.

September 10, 2011, 06:20 AM	#8
Chris_B Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2007 Posts: 3,101	I use the most effective way that I can to hit the center of the target

September 10, 2011, 07:37 AM	#10
kwhi43 Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 2008 Location: Kansas City Posts: 1,393	Mykeal Now you know that isn't true when you say you haven't won anything. You have won mine and the rest of the fellows here our respect!! Last edited by kwhi43; September 10, 2011 at 08:07 AM.

September 10, 2011, 08:01 AM	#11
Lee McNelly Junior member Join Date: June 9, 2011 Posts: 325	stance ifn ya cant hit w one or two hands then get your 97 out or as they do in Mex throw a grenade

September 10, 2011, 08:07 AM	#12
zullo74 Junior member Join Date: August 8, 2009 Posts: 374	Try using only your weak (offhand) to shoot the pistol while holding your saber in your strong hand! Then y'all can say you KNOW how to shoot a pistol.