Stong Hand, empty or not

[SuperiorDG]

This is something I do all the time. When I have something in my strong side hand I will move it to my weak side hand. I do this just in case I have a situation where I need to go to my gun. I've heard that under a body alarm response we tend to hold anything in our hands tighter so to prevent this reaction I keep my strong side hand empty. How many of you ever think about this? Is it something anybody else does?

[Ronin13]

I always do this- plus force of habit since in the Army you had to keep your right hand open (if possible) for saluting. [Beer]

[zteknik]

I always do this- plus force of habit since in the Army you had to keep your right hand open (if possible) for saluting. [Beer]
Exactly!!
The brass look at you funny when your shifting between hands to salute!![Coffee]

[Sawin]

Yes, this has absolutely crossed my mind, and has become habit over the past several years. Especially when I'm walking, or in an area I'm unfamiliar with. Even at work or church, there is rarely anything ever in my right hand for any length of time. Maybe a cup of coffee every once in a while, but usually they're both free.

[Monky]

Right hand is typically clear.. I'll carry 8 bags of groceries with my left arm dragging.. but my right will be clear :)

[SuperiorDG]

Good to hear I'm not the only one who thinks about this kind of stuff. [Beer]

[Wulf202]

now start using a fork and drinking glass with your off hand.

[SuperiorDG]

now start using a fork and drinking glass with your off hand.

I'm lucky, I am left handed and shoot right. [UZI]

[Whistler]

Never thought about it but noticed it's automatic now that you've mentioned it.

[Wulf202]

I'm lucky, I am left handed and shoot right. [UZI]

ambidextrous myself, right eye dominant.

[Monky]

now start using a fork and drinking glass with your off hand.

I do use my fork in the left hand, the knife is in the right [Dinner]

[spqrzilla]

What? And drop my gun?

[gnihcraes]

right is always clear, as much as possible anyway. See many violations of this every day. (professionals)

[blacklabel]

I keep mine clear including making sure that my family is always on my left hand side.

[Lex_Luthor]

I try not to carry anything with my feet, in case I need to kick someone in their face...

[Ronin13]

I try not to carry anything with my feet, in case I need to kick someone in their face...

-Said originally by Chuck Norris. [LOL]

[Heep72]

now start using a fork and drinking glass with your off hand.

I am going to try this! Although I am worried about a fork through my lip and a lap full of water. My beer drinking habit should help with this. Beer after beer in my left hand......I will be a pro in no time! [Beer]

[encorehunter]

I carry everything in my right hand...but I shoot with my left, so it works out.

[Irving]

I try not to carry anything with my feet, in case I need to kick someone in their face...

Thread winner!

This is like that topic I started once about carrying wings on one hand, and a case of beer in the other. Which do you carry with weak hand, and which will you have to drop?

[Ronin13]

Thread winner!

This is like that topic I started once about carrying wings on one hand, and a case of beer in the other. Which do you carry with weak hand, and which will you have to drop?

Being 50% of Irish heritage I'd carry the wings in my strong hand- Dropping alcohol is a sin. [Coffee]

[SideShow Bob]

Back when I was into competition shooting, one of the training stages that would rotate through the competitions was to be standing at the shooting line with both hands holding 2 filled grocery sacks (when paper sacks were still used)
At the buzzer, do with the sacks as you pleased, draw and engage 3 BG targets. 1 at 1 yards, 1 at 5 yards one at 7 yards with 2 shots each.
You couldn't imagine the number of contestants that tried to one hand both sacks with their weak hand then draw. They didn't want to waste the groceries by dropping them.

[Scanker19]

I always do this- plus force of habit since in the Army you had to keep your right hand open (if possible) for saluting. [Beer]

You can tell the officers that don't want to salute every joe on post, because they'll move something to their right hand. It's like "I got ya sir, tracking".

[Ronin13]

You can tell the officers that don't want to salute every joe on post, because they'll move something to their right hand. It's like "I got ya sir, tracking".

[LOL] Yep.

I hated walking the main drag at Bagram, you have to salute EVERY O you walked by- even foreign officers (how are we supposed to know?). You could tell some were so fed up with it that they just kinda did a piddly little wave where their hand barely touched their hat/face. We always took alternate routes. [Tooth]

[YammyMonkey]

It's pretty common to look at this through a gun-centric lens, but the real issue we have to consider is not do I keep my gun hand free, but rather, what is the problem I'm most likely to face. A typical criminal assault it is not going to happen at distance. The assaulter isn't going to stand at 10 yards and demand you unhand your wallet.

So you have your groceries in your support hand and some mope starts in about needing the time...next thing you know he's closed the distance and you have his pistol suck in your gut while he whispers a sweet something in your ear about giving up your wallet. Having your gun hand freer isn't going to do you any good because the gun is not an appropriate response. In the majority of scenarios, which hand is free is inconsequential.

If the gun is the answer, which hand do you use to clear your cover garment? Think about the process & set your priorities appropriately. Don't just rely on old regurgitated sayings.