Just wondering

[Lugnutz]

I'm looking into getting my CCW and have been considering where and how I will carry. I'm a lefty, I shoot with my left, but sitting here trying to visualize pulling a firearm from a holster I just keep seeing using my right hand. The more I think about it the more left handed draw seems awkward to me. Could be cause I carry my wallet in the right back pocket of my jeans. Then thinking about it more, I often will slip a wrench or screwdriver into my right hip pocket as well. I also use my right hand when I pick something up off the work bench more often than not. But not once have I visualized myself taking a shot with my right hand. I use a screw driver with my right hand and I start nails right handed and finish them off left handed! Talk about being messed up.

I know with much much practice I will get handy ( pun intended ) with my left hand or maybe even learn to shoot better from my weak hand. Just wondering if anyone else had to over come the challenge of their strong hand not being their dexterous hand.

Rick

 

[bmann666]

I've never had this problem before but just wanted to say you can always buy multiple holsters to experiment which side of your body you're more comfortable with from drawing. I realize money can be tight at times but IMO when it comes to life and death I'll spend the extra money. you can try different holsters on either left or right side, or even cross draw and whichever you feel the most comfortable with thn there's your answer.. Remember in a SHTF situation you don't wanna have to think about the draw it should be natural, and as consistent as possible.

 

[BluesStringer]

Unless you fall into the group of only about 1% of the overall population who are truly ambidextrous, there is never a good reason to try to train your strong hand to be your weak hand or vice versa. You should most certainly train and achieve proficiency with both hands, but your strong hand is your strong hand in 99% of humanity. If you do happen to truly be in that 1% of humans for whom any task can be performed sufficiently with either hand, then it would fall to which eye is your dominant eye to figure out which hand to choose as your strong shooting hand, but since you already said you shoot left-handed, then you're a left strong-hand shooter.

If you have to train your hands to do something that doesn't seem natural, my advice would be stick with your natural strong left-handed shooter status, and train to draw with the same hand, while training your right hand to function in a defensive mode instead of naturally reaching for your weapon with it. This video may help to explain what I'm saying, and if you need more information on determining which is your dominant eye, you can find lots of videos on YouTube about that too, but listen to Mr. Pincus here, as he says dominant eye has very little to do with defensive shooting, and I agree with him.

 

[gunnerbob]

Unless you fall into the group of only about 1% of the overall population who are truly ambidextrous, there is never a good reason to try to train your strong hand to be your weak hand or vice versa. You should most certainly train and achieve proficiency with both hands, but your strong hand is your strong hand in 99% of humanity. If you do happen to truly be in that 1% of humans for whom any task can be performed sufficiently with either hand, then it would fall to which eye is your dominant eye to figure out which hand to choose as your strong shooting hand, but since you already said you shoot left-handed, then you're a left strong-hand shooter.

If you have to train your hands to do something that doesn't seem natural, my advice would be stick with your natural strong left-handed shooter status, and train to draw with the same hand, while training your right hand to function in a defensive mode instead of naturally reaching for your weapon with it. This video may help to explain what I'm saying, and if you need more information on determining which is your dominant eye, you can find lots of videos on YouTube about that too, but listen to Mr. Pincus here, as he says dominant eye has very little to do with defensive shooting, and I agree with him.

+1!

I enjoy Mr. Pincus's defensive skills training presentations and agree with his style of Combat Focus Shooting and Combat Accuracy. He stresses working with what the body does naturally and then putting a gun in that mix. Don't fight your body, let it do what feels natural...

 

[Lugnutz]

Thanks for the advice and the video. I am not a 1% person. I just do so much right handed that I don't even think about I suppose. The more I think about it the more I see I don't do much with my left other than write and shoot. When I get a daily rig setup I will practice practice practice, with both hands more than likely.

 

[kyknl70]

Fo what it is worth I have an idea for you that will only cost about $30 for a completely ambidexterous holster, and will allow you to try out all basic carrying options. Of course you will need to have your weapon of choice purchased. Check out Remora IWB holsters. They are a clipless inside the wasteband holster and can be utilized righty, lefty, cross draw, appendix, inside the pocket (if your gun selection will accommodate) and could be small of the back although I have tried mine this way and there are better holsters for small of the back.
Like I said, the Remora is a cheap investment and as long as you have a way of snugging your wasteband securely, they can be worn in almost any position. This way, with an unloaded and safety checked weapon, you can stick it in your wasteband in any of the locations I described above. Then when you find out what is most natural, you can consider other holster options without jumping into a more expensive and perhaps "better" holster right off the bat. I am sure others will disagree, but to each their own.
I actually have quite a few Remora holsters and I love them. But the caveat is they are IWB and you need to have a secure wasteband to really keep them in place. I carry a Sig P238 and a S&W CS45 in them and both are acceptably comfortable for hours of carry. Additionally, you can tuck your shirt in and really hide your gun very well but can take a bit more time to draw if you ever had to. Practice, pactice, practice.
Just like everyone else, I literally have more holsters than I know what to do with, but there really is a learning curve and there isn't 1 holster to fit all situations. I only wish to help you out getting started. And had I known of Remora a long time ago, I would have started there and possibly saved a few bucks and knocked a bit of time off my learning curve.
I don't want to sound like an add for Remora, but like I said, I really like mine and a $30 investment is cheap enough to begin the learning curve. The holsters are 100% American made, have a no questions asked lifetime guarentee, awesome customer service with very fast turn around times, and come from Florida. Check them out online. I don't think you can go wrong with them.
Also remember, when it comes to holsters, cheaper isn't usually better. You spend good money on a good gun, you should give it a nice ride. I really prefer leather holsters, but I love my Remoras and use them quite often.
Remora.com and there are also several youtube video reviews for them.

Good luck, safe and happy shooting, and may you NEVER need your gun in a defensive situaton.

 

[Peggy Reist]

I've never had this problem before but just wanted to say you can always buy multiple holsters to experiment which side of your body you're more comfortable with from drawing. I realize money can be tight at times but IMO when it comes to life and death I'll spend the extra money. you can try different holsters on either left or right side, or even cross draw and whichever you feel the most comfortable with thn there's your answer.. Remember in a SHTF situation you don't wanna have to think about the draw it should be natural, and as consistent as possible.

There are actually a few holsters you can buy that you can use with either a left hand draw or right hand draw. Most of them have a clip that you can switch to the other side of it. If you really think you need to try it with both hands, it'll save you the cost of another holster.

 

[Lugnutz]

Link Removed found it!

 

[NewlyEnthused]

When you shoot, is your left hand or your right hand holding the gun(considered your strong hand)? The other hand (considered the weak hand) is not what you want to draw with.
You might use your right hand as your utility hand and be proficient with it, but, you do not want to draw with your right hand, then shift the gun to your left (or vice-a-versa).
From what I understand, it is great to be able to shoot one handed with both hands, but we usually shoot more naturally and better with one hand strong and one hand weak. This should determine what side to draw from.

Just my 2 cents (before taxes of course)