What's your fav setup? Strong side and cross draw rigs or weak side? Anyone using a pair that isn't matched in length? Photos?

I have not spent enough time working on my weak hand shooting but I would love to get there.

Back when I used to participate in CAS, used a double rig with right and left hand holsters carrying a matched pair of 5 1/2" SAA clones. My favorite shooting style for competition was gunfighter, using the pistols in each hand and alternating between them for each shot. I did a lot of work with both hands and could shoot equally as well with either. Often I was even a bit more accurate with my weak hand, though usually slightly slower with it. I need to put some more time in shooting since the ammo shortage, used to shoot every day, now only about once a month.

For me it's more of a gratutitous range exercise in making a lot of noise and blasting a bunch of ammo. It's sure fun, but it requires a lot of patience for good work.

It's definitely a separate gun belt situation, I just don't see any good way to keep the pants hoisted with six pounds of gun attached.

One alternative would be a belt mounted holster and a chest rig, a la Chesty Puller. Come to think of it, I don't know that I ever worked too seriously on that, and now my CP rig lives in IL with a disabled Marine.

Second, it's a double action question for me. Which means, weak (left) hand gets gun with the smoothest action, otherwise I'll end up missing the side of the barn. So barrel length is immaterial.

Third, sight picture. That is, alternating eye dominance. It's a weird trick, but I can do it pretty well with a bit of effort. It's easier to start with completely difference sight pictures, e.g., hands at 2 and 10 o clock, move head and swap eyes. It's not hard, but takes repetition to coordinate.

Fourth, it's fun, so load 'em light and make sure you've got a well proportioned grip for the offhand, or a least a T-grip, if you like 'em.

I'd say start with K-22s if you have a nice match for that beautiful Masterpiece of yours.

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Br.

I shoot SASS. I use two Ruger OM 45 Colt 7.5". Holsters on both sides hung from a cartridge belt. I only shoot strong handed because of left hand limitations.

We shoot weak hand in our pistol league for one round. I've put in a lot of time working on it and, like Brian, may be more accurate. I think it's because my off hand hasn't (yet) developed any bad habits. I have troubles with some triggers in my strong hand, even with rifles, so I do shoot a fair bit left-handed. I carry my Wart Hog in a left-handed IWB holster Rob built for me and did once carry a Blackhawk in a left-hand cross draw on a hunting trip. Haven't done the 'gunslinger' thing yet.

I shoot SASS matches (member since 1991). Most of the time I shoot two Colt Buntline Specials (.45 LC, 12-inch barrels). I wear them on two strong side holsters, right and left, (Cattleman style, courtesy of Rob). Don't recommend it as a speedy way to shoot, but I love the look.

Also use the same set up when I shoot the 5 1/2 in. .38 and .357 Second Generation Colts. Every now and then, I use a rig that carries the left-hand gun in a cross draw rig. Have to be careful about violating the 170 degree rule when drawing that gun.

Scribe

double Buntline rig would qualify! Good point on the cross draw method requiring more safety diligence.

Thanks for your reply.

that makes sense to me.

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and I would love to have a double K22 rig.

Thanks for your reply.

for you to feel good with your weak hand?

It took me a full year to feel reasonably competent with two hands, shooting 12 rds/day with a K22. Each of those rounds was hit 16 times, fired the cylinder full, then dry-fired three more times around, ejected the cases, rotated them 90 degree, dry-fired four times around, ejected the cases, rotated them 90 degrees, dry-fired four times around, repeated twice more.

This dry fire routine rotated between strong hand bullseye stance, weak hand bullseye stance, two handed Weaver stance, drawing from holster to each of these positions. The targets also varied from paper, to swinging 2"x4" steel, to 8" steel disks, to whatever seemed like it would fun at the time. I started at 10 yards with 50' bullseye pistol targets, eventually moving to 25 yards with 50' indoor smallbore rifle targets, then to 1" square steel swingers for airguns or the hanger bolts for the 2"x4" steel swingers.

After three years of steady practice I was shooting equally well with either hand, even shooting to the same point of impact at 50 yards, double action, one-handed, with my 629 Mountain Revolver. My eyesight has deteriorated with age enough to make shooting at the bolt heads at 25 yards rather difficult, but for fun the other day I dry-fired a full cylinder in the 629, with a penny balanced on the front sight and did not knock it off.

The ammo shortage definitely cut down on my shooting as well, am lucky to shoot once or twice a week, with 5 or 6 rounds at a session. Another problem is my K22 needs to be sorted out, after untold thousands of rounds it no longer indexes properly with two cylinders. This will be the second time I have had to fix the timing, no big deal, just a bit of a fussy job.

you put a good amount of effort into it and it sounds like your efforts were paying off.

It's nice to hear you shot the K22 so much it went out of timing. They are meant to be used that much but so few do.

This will be the second time for the timing to need fixing on the K22, it is a pre-model number Combat Masterpiece. The 629 Mountain Revolver has also been shot enough to require it going back to the factory to correct the timing. They have made me a serious fan of S&W because of their incredible accuracy. The K22 will shoot into 3/4" at 25 yards with several brands of ammo. The 629 has fired several one-hole groups at 25 yards and has more than held it's own out to 275 yards, against all manner of fancy handguns, including Freedom Arms and custom Rugers. Some may say they are weak for having to be re-timed, I say shoot over 6000 rounds through your favorite magnum handgun and get back to me. Don't have even the slightest idea of how many rounds have gone through the K22, best guess is north of 25,000, and other than minor timing issues, it still shots great.

I have no idea how many rounds though my pre-war K22s...like you it's a lot and I love them.

I do occasionally use my CPS and a belt holster, both for strong hand draw. I also made a couple double IWB rigs from my Field & Stream pattern rh & LH holster/mag pouch combos. And I have no idea why this is loading upside down... I have a 6.5" M29 nin a strong side cattleman and my 5: 629 in a chesty... a 2" J is in the lh front pocket.

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Of the Troops & For the Troops

The old Combat Masterpiece I bought the other day was likely a cop gun in it's earlier life. Grips replaced, finish much worn, but the timing and lockup are as tight as new. I have no doubt it will shoot better than I can hold it.

Wish S&W still made them that way.

Hey Rob, you didn't tell us you went to Australia.
Up side down and all.....

I only carry 2 guns when Momma and I are traveling and/or coming home late.

What is carried varies with the situation.

I one time carried a pair of Bird Head 45 Vaqueros in Rob's leather and actually became proficient with both hands. Reloading is a must unless you have unlimited funds.

For several years I practiced what I call "point shooting" and became proficient to the extent that people asked me to teach them the technique. I never approached McGivern but I was confident to a greater distance than I would allow hostility to approach.

Things changed in the world a couple of elections back and I had people asking me to teach them to shoot DA revolvers and (shudder) Glocks <<< is that a banned word?

The DAs were no problem but the Glocks were a PITA...... perseverance allowed me to master them to the degree I required.

Again.... the world is changing guys... and not for the better.

Packing 2 guns is always wise especially if they only contain 5 or 6 rounds.

Predators run in packs and a man "occasionally" misses..... low light... not enough time to aim.... failing eyes and reflexes.

Carrying 2 bottom feeders is fine (and legal here) also.

Do what you hafta do.

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If so, that's pretty cool.

Yes, it was for concealed carry.

I love them but the sights get smaller every year.

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