North country gal

+1
... and those are essential elements in accurate shooting with any pistol. It also makes for faster follow up shots. Nevertheless, the SA police will not be around to arrest you if you use a strong hand technique to cock the pistol. I pray single action shooting never gets that regimented and stuffy. Hopefully, there will always be room for individuality. That's a big part of single action shooting.

RockDoctor

That requires a big grin and a chuckle. I can visualize some old West Texas cowboy responding to instructions on how to shoot his Single Action.

DougGuy

Oh that would scare the CRAP out of a few people ya think???? DUCK!! He's shootin' at the RANGE!!!! (insert Far Side cowboy cartoon here...)

NAASilent

Some people use strong hand and the weight of the pistol returning to target to cock the pistol. My range frowns on that, so I always use weak hand to keep the muzzle on target, and to keep a consistent grip with my strong hand.

Iowegan

It has always fascinated me how single action shooters handle their guns ... no doubt a spinoff of the old cowboy movies. For you old farts like me ... maybe you remember Jingles P. Jones (AKA Andy Devine) who was the sidekick of Wild Bill Hickok in the TV series. Jingles had the absolute worst gun handling techniques possible where he would hold his Colt SAA one handed, raise the muzzle to about ear level, cock the hammer, then push the gun out almost like he was throwing it as he pulled the trigger. It was very rare in the old movies to see a cowboy shoot anything but "one handed". Although these shooting techniques were far from realistic, they did have the "Hollywood touch" that many people try to emulate ... almost like the gangbanger movies where they fire their 9mm pistols from a "horizontal hold".

Strong hand (or one hand) cocking:
1. Muzzle is pointed in directions where you don't intend to shoot (violates Rule #1 of safe gun handling).
2. Trigger finger stays in the trigger guard (violates Rule #2 of safe gun handling).
3. Sight plane is interrupted while cocking.
4. Revolver has to be repositioned in your hand before shooting again.

Weak hand cocking (two hand hold):
1. Muzzle stays pointed in a safe direction.
2. Trigger finger is removed from the trigger guard.
3. Sight plane is maintained.
4. Revolver does not have to be repositioned,
5. Follow-up shots are much faster, more accurate, and safer.

You decide ... do you want to shoot like a Hollywood cowboy or do you want to be more safe and actually hit what you are aiming at with faster recovery between shots.

berettabone

I thought that the only etiquette, was to not shoot anyone.

LimaCharlie

I do it either way and practice both ways. Some people lock down the trigger and fan the hammer for speed. I don't for safety's sake.

laidlerj

There is a bit of a safety problem with single-hand/strong-hand cocking because the gun can end up fully cocked with (usually) the finger on the trigger before the muzzle is pointed at the target.

At the range where I shoot, there are baffles that will intercept any bullets fired at angles too high to hit the backstop, but there are a lot of ranges that don't have baffles. If you let off a round with the muzzle pointed above the backstop, the bullet could end up parked off-range, perhaps in something you wouldn't want to hit.

Just a thought...


Jim

Popsracerx

I don't think it matters very much which way you do it. I prefer to use my weak hand for what that's worth. Just get as much practice as you can.

North country gal

It's scary to be this old, but I do remember Jingles. I thought he was a hoot

weblance

Steve... I know what this boils down to... just go get that Single Ten before someone else does. You missed out on the Hunter... better get that ST or it will be gone soon. Two hand hold, cock with left hand. I told you that already, and Iowegun confirmed it. If you listen to no one else, listen to him...

onehandgunner

You people with 2 hands whine like little girls whose socks won't stay up.

North country gal

JK55

Guess I'm just old school...(or watched way too many westerns)...I cock and fire with my shooting hand, which is my right hand.

Nothing wrong with using both hands, as it's all about personal preference and what works for the individual.

RockDoctor

I remember Jingles, Gabby, Chester, Pat and numerous other "Sidekicks".

What I would like to know. Whatever Happened to Randolph Scott?