When you watch a movie in which a character shoots a pistol, there's a good chance that they'll do so one-handed. This technique can seem easy in the fictional world, but it's not a habit that you want to adopt when you handle a gun in real life. If you've recently become a pistol owner and you want to learn the basics of shooting, enrolling in a basic pistol shooting class is a good idea. You'll learn everything you need to know about shooting your firearm in a proper, accurate, and safe manner. Here are some reasons that your teacher will emphasize keeping both hands on the pistol while you shoot.

Steadiness

Using both hands to hold your pistol instead of one hand allows you to keep the gun more steady. Pistols can weigh more than you realize, which can make them challenging to hold with just one hand. After a few shots, that arm can begin to get tired, which can make it difficult for you to keep your pistol aimed at your target. The gun will feel considerably lighter in weight when you're holding it with two hands, allowing you to keep the gun steady and the barrel pointed exactly where you want it.

Recoil Control

When you pull the trigger of your pistol, the recoil causes the firearm to move. If you were to shoot your gun with one hand, you'd find that the recoil is difficult to control. The "jumping" nature of the gun means that it may take you longer than you'd like to get the gun back under control and aimed at your target. With two hands on the pistol, you'll find that it's much easier to control the recoil. If you want to fire the gun multiple times in short succession, recoil control is imperative.

Gun Retention

If you ever face a situation in which you need to use your pistol to protect yourself or your family, having two hands on the firearm will give you a better chance of retaining it. When you're engaging one or more assailants, you can't let your pistol come into their possession. With just one hand on the gun, it's a lot easier for someone to wrestle it out of your grasp and use it against you. Doing so will be considerably more difficult when you have two hands firmly on the pistol. Sign up for a pistol shooting class to learn this and more.

For more information and training, contact a training program such as Peach State Firearms Training to sign up.