Duelist vs 3-point

[Homesteader]

I spent a lot of time up at my land recently, and had lots of chances to make smoke. A buddy of mine came up once, and we spent several hours throwing lead with pistols.

There was one thing I noticed that really intrigued me: I found that I actually shoot better duelist / one-handed style than using the police 3-pt stance. We did it again and again, and the result was always the same. And it also seems that I shoot as well - one handed - with my left as with my right.

I don't claim to be a great shot, but this has really floored me. Particularly since I have had modern training. We got to where we were making great sport of it, swinging targets and switching hands and such. I can't really account for it.

I am left eye dominant and right handed. Does this have anything to do with it? I'm really very curious. I don't believe I've used either method long enough over the other to make a difference.

All ideas are welcome. Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

I spent a lot of time up at my land recently, and had lots of chances to make smoke. A buddy of mine came up once, and we spent several hours throwing lead with pistols.

There was one thing I noticed that really intrigued me: I found that I actually shoot better duelist / one-handed style than using the police 3-pt stance. We did it again and again, and the result was always the same. And it also seems that I shoot as well - one handed - with my left as with my right.

I don't claim to be a great shot, but this has really floored me. Particularly since I have had modern training. We got to where we were making great sport of it, swinging targets and switching hands and such. I can't really account for it.

I am left eye dominant and right handed. Does this have anything to do with it? I'm really very curious. I don't believe I've used either method long enough over the other to make a difference.

All ideas are welcome. Thanks for any suggestions.

You and I have a lot in common! I'm also left eye dominant and right handed! I have to shoot duelist-style in the NRA Qualification Program. I'm not ambidextrous, but I shoot PPC which requires both weak-hand and strong-hand only technique. Where we differ is shooting freestyle (both hands). There is a way to use your pointer of your weak hand to hold-up the trigger guard and balance the revolver while using the strong hand to hold-up the 4.5 pound gun and squeeze the trigger. The shape of the grips on a black powder hand gun are different enough to warrant a mention here as well. They're designed to flip up in your hand with the recoil, unlike centerfire arms!

As far as stance, you might have been taught something that doesn't work just right for using black powder. The eye dominance issue could be at fault as well. A solid free-style position starts at the feet, and you have to be comfortable as you stand in front of the targets. Once you starting shooting weak hand, you'll always want to practice that drill for a while just in case! I did an IPSC match last night where one scenario had strong-hand, and one had weak-hand only shooting. I practice with both.

I might have more to add later......

Dave

 

[R.M.]

Shooting one handed positions the sights further from the eye. This will make the rear notch appear smaller I believe. Any time that I've tried two handed, I noticed that the rear notch was way too wide for my liking.

 

[David Teague]

I think it comes down to the fact that the early style firearms are designed around the duelist stance/grip and the new high tech semiautos are designed around a Weaver stance.

I shoot my cap & ball, cartridge conversion, and 1873 Colt reproduction duelist stance and do quite well with it.

I shoot my 1911a1 & Springfield XD Weaver stance (along with offhand right & left) and they do quite well with the Weaver stance.

When I've used the Weaver with the cap & ball, cartridge conversion, and 1873 Colt reproduction revolvers my groups open up. :redface:

Shot today, 10 yards, Body shot with a with a 1871 Conversion Colt on a 1860 Army frame cal 45 Colt loaded with Black Powder loads, duelist stance (50 rounds). Head shot with a Springfield XD cal 40, Weaver stance (10 shots).

First time out after taking the winter off, groups will tighten up as the summer progresses.

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

Nice IPSC target! I use them as well!

For me, when I use my Walker, I use the pointer of my left hand to steady the weight/heft of the huge revolver by placing it under the trigger guard. I then extend my arms as much as possible. Since I'm using tri-focal progressives for glasses, I tilt my head to get all of the sight picture, then squeeze the trigger. From 25 yards, on a B-19 target, I'm usually in the high 80's, and have shot a 93x100 on occasion. So I guess my "system" has overcome both the sighting problem and the weight of the revolver. Your mileage may vary.......

Good shooting starts with good feet position. A modified Weaver, where one foot is slightly closer to the target than the other, is somewhat more stable for some folks--myself included!

One must be comfortable position-wise, with proper foot position for their body type, regardless of the position chosen/dictated by the match rules. Learning how to make your body feel comfortable in multiple positions is something that is only learned by doing. If your feet are "wrong" your groups will open-up....especially at targets 35-50 yards away with a pistol.

Keep 'em in the A-Zone!

Dave