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Shooting one handgun from each hand is a great idea if you are out on the shooting range and looking for a new challenge. For defensive use against multiple attackers, dual pistols (or akimbo ) allows you to target two enemies at once, have a higher rate of fire, hold twice as much ammo without having to reload and have a backup pistol if one jams. The downsides are that there is less accuracy and you have to hold each pistol with one hand.

  1. This technique can be used with revolvers or pistols. The pistols should ideally be the same, or at least similar in size, weight and firing ability.
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  3. Make sure you are equally good at shooting accurately with both your left and right hand.
  4. No matter what you've seen in John Woo movies, the human eye can't accurately aim two pistols at once, so use point shooting. This will lower your accuracy, but the alternative is painfully slow shooting.
  5. If you fire both pistols in different directions, check in advance that there's nothing that would be dangerous or irresponsible to shoot in the direction you aren't looking. And naturally, shooting in a direction without looking will be very bad for that hand's accuracy.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What's the best way to grip two pistols?
    Roger Judd
    Firearms Instructor
    Roger Judd is a Firearms Instructor based in Mesa, Arizona. Roger and his team at Concealed AZ have been teaching NRA, Arizona Concealed Carry, group and individual firearms training classes as well as promotional, corporate, TV & media machine gun events since 2008. As an NRA Instructor, Roger specializes in teaching people how to safely use rifles, pistols, and shotguns.
    Firearms Instructor
    Expert Answer
    The trick depends on the type of handgun you’re using. For semi-automatics, focus on getting a firm, high grip with your dominant hand and use your support hand to steady the pistol from underneath or the side. With revolvers, you have to be very careful not to place your fingers too close to the cylinder since gases can escape and cause finger injuries. If you’re firing two pistols at once, aim to keep a similar grip on each, making sure your wrists and arms are aligned to handle the recoil. Think of it like gripping a sturdy tool, like a hammer—you want a solid hold, but not so tight that you lose flexibility. Every time you fire, the pistol will have a bit of bounce-back, so adjust your grip to stay in control.
  • Question
    How to reload with dual handguns?
    Cros Saint
    Community Answer
    You basically have to drop one of your weapons to reload. That’s another reason why dual handguns aren’t recommended.
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      Tips

      • It can feel awkward if you finish one pistol before the other, so try to use each one as much and make sure they have the same capacity.
      • It is a good idea to have modified your weapons with wrist straps, so that when you must reload, the other handgun remains in reach. Don't put a wrist strap on a desert eagle or any other type of magnum, though, because the strap might injure your hand or wrist from the recoil.
      • There are extended magazines available for more efficiency. There are restricted in many places so check your local laws for more information.
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      Warnings

      • This is probably not allowed at most shooting ranges.
      • While reloading will take a lot of practice, never "sight-rack" or "sight-cock" (using your belt or side of your leg to pull the slide of the pistol back after changing magazines.) This is a dangerous practice that can lead to self inflicted injuries or death.
      • Reloading is harder for lack of free hands.
      • Always wear hearing and eye protection when shooting, and practice proper firearm safety .
      • NEVER DUAL WIELD HIGH POWERED HANDGUNS! Dual wielding these may cause fractures to your arms or your shoulder. If your going to dual wield any guns, try to make sure its ammunition is NOT .50 Action Express, .44 Mag, or .357 Mag because this is some of the most powerful ammunition.
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      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about firearms safety, check out our in-depth interview with Roger Judd .

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