A line of British soldiers aiming their Webley revolvers during a training session, 1920.
Posted by Sad-Commission2027@reddit | ForgottenWeapons | View on Reddit | 17 comments
Bikewer@reddit
I started shooting handguns in the mid-60s, and two-handed was pretty much the norm in the firearms press at the time. However, I was in the army at the time, and we were still shooting our 1911s one-handed.
The FBI at that time was using that (rather silly) one-handed “crouch” shooting position. When I went into police work in ‘68, we were shooting two-handed, but we also trained shooting one-handed with both the strong and the weak hand.
Resident-Welcome3901@reddit
Bullseye shooting stance, required in some competitions. Fudds enjoy pointing out that it’s a superb combat stance choice than Isosceles or weaver two handed stances because it allows the shooter to better use cover and concealment, as well as being adaptable if one arm is injured. It’s an American tradition dating from colonial times we shoot from behind trees: Fudds, like the Supreme Court Conservatives, are originalists.
Large-Welder304@reddit
Aren't those gas mask bags on their chests?
tghost474@reddit
Yes
davewave3283@reddit
Before firing it was required to yell “have at you!”
Temporary_Border7233@reddit
Why does every old timey photo with pistols always have every guy look like hes scared the gun is going to smack him
Pvt_cluckins@reddit
I believe it was the predominant pistol shooting technique up to end of WW2. You flexed your elbow at that funny angle and it helped with recoil. Obviously, two hand shooting techniques took over post war. Anyone please correct me if I'm wrong.
OnkelMickwald@reddit
They didn't for a long time. During and after WW2 the "point-shooting" technique where you kinda flex your knees down low and fire your pistol from a very low position and "aim by instinct" became very popular.
Ironically that style can be seen in a lot of cowboy movies of the post-war era, but also in the classic bond flicks. I think two-handed shooting didn't start taking off until the 70s and 80s.
walt-and-co@reddit
The flexed elbow isn’t to help with recoil (and in fact tends to make it worse as you can’t lock out the wrist), but it can give a position that feels more stable and comfortable. In my opinion, a straight arm (Olympic target-style) stance is much better, but both were common at the time.
Pvt_cluckins@reddit
Thanks for the correction! I read something about this pose years ago but I couldn't quite remember what it exactly entailed on accuracy and recoil
bmbreath@reddit
Also. For bonus points. No hearing protection. Fire a gun once with no ear pro and tell me you won't flinch for a second shot
spitfire-haga@reddit
My dad served in the Czechoslovak People's Army in the 1980s and told me that their pistol firing techniques were pretty much the one-handed Olympic-style shooting. An officer once tried to hold the gun with two hands and was rebuked by the battalion commander himself, who told him to hold the pistol properly and not like in an American action movie.
Temporary_Border7233@reddit
Ive tried just stiff arming a lot of older pistols but never considered bending at the elbow because the cartridges are typically weaker than im used to. Ill have to try it and see what the difference is
walt-and-co@reddit
Those aren’t Webleys, they’re Enfield No. 2 Mk. Is.
Large-Welder304@reddit
Good eye!
justaheatattack@reddit
...lean back....
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