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Is one hand shooting ok for the CHL exam? Just wondering. I always shoot my revolvers one hand. But someone told me that is not the "proper way to shoot."

...I, too, was taught to and did for most of my life shoot with one hand...our instructor showed us the new thumbs together hold and strongly encouraged it...it helped me shoot better...so I often shoot that way now...but one-handed may be the only choice because of location, cover, or having to hold a light in the other hand...I'd practice with both...but qualify with two hands...gives you an edge...

as long as you're safe and can make your hits, hold it how you want.

However, I gotta ask, are you planning to qualify with a revolver? I'd STRONGLY recommend you qualify with a semi-auto, even if you plan to carry the revolver.

Texas goofy law stills distinguishes between revolver and semi-auto for licenses. So if you qualify with revolver you can ONLY legally carry revolver. But if you qualify with semi-auto, you can carry either type.

A-R wrote:as long as you're safe and can make your hits, hold it how you want.

However, I gotta ask, are you planning to qualify with a revolver? I'd STRONGLY recommend you qualify with a semi-auto, even if you plan to carry the revolver.

Texas goofy law stills distinguishes between revolver and semi-auto for licenses. So if you qualify with revolver you can ONLY legally carry revolver. But if you qualify with semi-auto, you can carry either type.

I have never figured out the disparity between shooting a semi-auto vs a revolver. The only thing I can come up with is the potential for an inexperienced shooter too empty the magazine by accident as a consequence of the light trigger pull in single-action firing. But some revolvers with 'trigger jobs' are about the same!

terminatr wrote:Is one hand shooting ok for the CHL exam? Just wondering. I always shoot my revolvers one hand. But someone told me that is not the "proper way to shoot."

Yes, it's fine, your choice. I'm a one-hander, too.

When I practice, I use one hand, then both hands. Then will swap out and use my off-hand only using one hand. You never know which hand you may have to shoot with due to an injury or cover configuration.

Just don't hold it sideways......

StewNTexas wrote:When I practice, I use one hand, then both hands. Then will swap out and use my off-hand only using one hand. You never know which hand you may have to shoot with due to an injury or cover configuration.

Just don't hold it sideways......

Shoot whatever's going to get you 250/250!

Actualy placing a little sideways rotation can help lock up your arm and provide a better platform.

...well, think about this. What if you were incapacitated in some way with one hand/arm - or didn't have a hand/arm. Could you work a semi-auto? Nope. How would you cycle the slide after a mag change? That person could use a revolver though...

We took a class and there are some "different" ways to operate your SA should you become "one handed" all of a sudden. We practiced a lot of shooting "off" handed, off handed reloads, drawing from the holster off handed. It was a great class with a lot to think about and practice (with an unloaded gun).

knljr wrote:...well, think about this. What if you were incapacitated in some way with one hand/arm - or didn't have a hand/arm. Could you work a semi-auto? Nope. How would you cycle the slide after a mag change? That person could use a revolver though...

Sorry, but you are dead wrong on this one. All but one of my pistols can be racked by hooking the rear sight on a belt, boot, etc. Also, there is at least one member of this forum who only has one hand and shoots semi autos regularly.

knljr wrote:...well, think about this. What if you were incapacitated in some way with one hand/arm - or didn't have a hand/arm. Could you work a semi-auto? Nope. How would you cycle the slide after a mag change?

I have only practiced three ways but I'm pretty low speed - high drag. The tactical types probably know dozens of ways.

knljr wrote:...well, think about this. What if you were incapacitated in some way with one hand/arm - or didn't have a hand/arm. Could you work a semi-auto? Nope. How would you cycle the slide after a mag change? That person could use a revolver though...

I could still manipulate a semi-auto without one arm.

The ability to do so is simply a matter of training.

I'd like to see him rack the slide on my P7 without ripping the belt loop off his pants or pulling his pants down.

The simple fact is - with some training or creative thinking almost anything can be done. But, not EVERYONE can do it. And, while there are certainly weapons that have easier slides to maniplute, there are others that aren't - like my HK P7, for example. With a revolver, anyone can do it at anytime. Some may do it faster than others - but there's no slide to rack and no 'creative thinking' that has to come into play. Since that's not the case with every semi-auto...it seems to make sense to me. Now, whether I agree with it or not is a different story...

I didn't make this up - the question was asked in my CHL training course and several people including the instructor brought this up. I'd like to know DPS's reasoning behind it - certainly it's not just operational characterstics of the weapon. There has to be something else to it.