It’s unlikely you’ll ever have to engage with a single hand in a self-defense scenario. With that in mind, it still pays to be ready.
Shooting with one hand, especially your support hand, can be humbling. Your time, your accuracy, and control all take a nosedive.
Everything’s more challenging, but you can help prevent that performance plunge by practicing and deliberately training to be better with one hand.
One-handed drills aren’t going to be fun, and they won’t stroke your ego, but a little time each range session is an investment worth making.
Since I’m a big believer in drills, I want to introduce five of my favorite one-handed drills. None of these require substantial ammo to shoot, and each can sharpen steel.
Training with firearms can be inherently dangerous. Always use ear and eye protection, and obey the four firearm safety rules.
Thumbs Up – A One Hand Warm Up
Proper technique can make shooting with one hand easier. Our first drill allows you to set up that technique.
When shooting with a hand, it can help you bring your non-shooting hand toward the center of your body. This helps control recoil and establish a more secure stance.
Additionally, if you push your thumb up instead of around the frame, you prevent your hand from naturally canting to the opposite side. Canting creates an exaggerated recoil impulse. Prevent that by keeping your thumb pointed up.
This drill requires your gun and a magazine full of ammo. A shot timer can be used, but isn’t necessary. A shot timer can help you receive more objective data and build skills. Use a tiny target, like a B8. The drill can be fired from five to seven yards.
You’ll start with your gun in your dominant hand in a high, low, or compressed ready position —it’s the dealer’s choice. At the go signal, you’ll extend and fire two shots. Then, you’ll return to the start position but switch hands.
As you switch hands, also switch your forward leg. When shooting right-handed, position your right leg forward. When shooting left-handed, position your left leg forward. Every press should focus on proper technique, with your thumb up and nonfiring hand positioned in the center of the body.
Shoot until the gun runs dry. If using a shot timer, you should make accurate hits in less than 1.5 seconds, or that should be the goal. As you’d expect, this drill tests one-handed skills, and we shoot two rounds to help exercise proper recoil control.
Most importantly, it’s all about keeping proper form and getting used to flowing into a proper one-handed shooting technique.
The One Hand El Pres
We all know and love the classic El Presidente drill. This is a one-handed version that exercises both hands. Remember to use the proper one-handed technique throughout the entire course of fire.
We’ll need three targets spaced about one yard apart and 10 yards from the shooter.
They can be man-sized, but I prefer a USPSA A-zone to make things challenging. You’ll need six rounds per run, a holster, and a shot timer to measure your time.
You’ll start with your weapon holstered and face away from the three targets. At the go signal, turn, draw, and fire with one round with your dominant hand on each target.
After shooting each target, carefully transition the gun to your nondominant hand and assume the proper shooting position.
With your support hand, shoot each target one more time to finish the drill. The classic El Presidente calls for 10 seconds to pass.
Since that also requires twice the ammo fired and a reload, let’s use seven seconds as passing and less than five as acing the test.
The one hand El Pres works most of the same skills as the standard El Pres. You get target transitions, a draw, and accuracy under a time limit.
This time, it’s all done with one hand. The real test combines all this while assuming a proper one-handed shooting position for your support and dominant hand.
1-1-1 Drill
The 1-1-1 Drill comes from Rick Hogg of War Hogg Tactical. I’ve been to a class with Rick, and he’s keen on adding stressors to your shooting. This drill will require you to move and get your heart rate up.
The drill requires three rounds per run, a holster, and something you can do to get your heart racing. It’s not target-specific, and there isn’t a time standard, so we don’t need a timer. I always advocate a small target to stress accuracy. You’ll be ten yards from your target.
We start the drill by getting our heart rate up. You can do sprints, kettlebell swings, overhead presses, whatever you must do to get your heart rate up. With your heart rate up, you’ll draw and:
- Fire one round with both hands.
- Fire one round with your dominant hand.
- Fire one round with your nondominant hand.
Holster safely and repeat the drill as many times as you choose. The more you shoot and exercise, the harder it gets. By the fifth round, you’ll be sick of it. This drill works your one-handed skills under duress.
It forces you to use good form and put your legs, thumbs, and extra arm in the right place. That can be tough when chugging for air, but steel sharpens steel and is a great way to test yourself. Just remember to wear comfy clothes.
Switch Hitting
I wanted to offer an indoor range-friendly drill for practicing with one hand. This comes from the late and great Todd Green, and it’s an easy way to practice those one-handed skills with an accuracy stressor.
The drill requires two 3×5 cards for targets, and your count can vary depending on your skill. You’ll need a shot timer with a par time set to 10 seconds. There is no need to draw, reload, or even shoot fast, so this drill can be done in the strictest of gun ranges. Start at five yards, and if it’s too easy, switch to seven yards.
Position one 3×5 card on the right and one on the left. Start with your gun in your dominant hand. At the go signal, fire at the dominant side target until you hit the target. Then, safely transition the gun to your support hand and fire until you hit the support hand target.
Repeat this process until the par time of 10 seconds runs out. Your goal is to transition as many times as possible and land as many hits as possible.
The small targets force you to shoot accurately with one hand, and you practice transitioning from hand to hand, forcing yourself to constantly switch stances and techniques.
It sounds easy, but the small targets and constant movement, with a timer ticking in the background, make it a little more stressful than you expect.
One-Handed Bill Drill
The classic Bill Drill isn’t tough to shoot in a one-handed style. The Bill Wilson-created drill has long been a great yardstick for judging your shooting skills.
It’s a great way to judge skill and a great way to build skill with one hand.
This becomes a two-state drill, and each stage needs six rounds. You’ll use a USPSA A zone target placed seven yards from the shooter. You will need a holster and shot timer.
Start with your gun holstered, hands relaxed at your sides.
You’ll draw with your dominant hand at the beep, assume the proper position, and fire six rounds as fast as you can into the A-zone. That completes stage one. You should aim to do this in less than three seconds.
If necessary, reload your gun. Transition the firearm to your support hand and assume a ready position of your choice.
Fire six rounds with your support hand at the beep as fast as possible. We are aiming for less than three seconds with all shots in the A-zone.
The Bill Drill will stress your ability to control the gun while firing rapidly at a tiny target. Firing six rounds quickly with a single hand is brutal and unforgiving.
Check your form or slow down a hair if your accuracy and control fall apart. You’ll need to be able to track your red dot or sights, and that’s a skill in and of itself.
Just One Hand
While it’s unlikely you’ll ever need to fire with one hand, knowing how is wise.
In extreme cases, it seems like hand and arm injuries are relatively common.
We must also remember the likelihood of your hand being busy with children, calling 911, and more. If shooting one-handed isn’t comfortable, it’s time to step out of your comfort zone.
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