Survival Rifle-Shooting Techniques: Operating a Rifle With One Hand

I’m an avid believer in practicing skills that might be considered extreme, such as one-handed survival shooting skills. With all the high-quality training available today, it’s common to find instructors teaching one-handed manipulations with a handgun. But one-handed manipulations with a rifle are an often-overlooked skill that should be addressed, especially for those who may only be armed with that weapon. Back in my Marine Corps days, the only weapon a private through Staff NCO was issued was a rifle. Transitioning to a handgun during a fight was not an option because we didn’t have them!

Even these days, I run across members of the U.S. Military who might only be issued a rifle, or even more commonly, may choose not to carry a handgun on an operation for some particular reason. And how about the civilian gun owner who chooses to grab a rifle to defend his property? He certainly might need to know how to manipulate his rifle with one hand.

The statistical answer is “not often.” So why train them? Because if the worst-case scenario occurs, you must possess these survival skills, and if you don’t, your life may be in jeopardy. You don’t have to practice one-handed skills every time you shoot, but I do strongly recommend that you learn them (from a qualified instructor) and practice them routinely, so you are confident you could perform them under stress. I believe in dry-fire practice as a means to a higher level of skill, and the good news is that almost everything required from a skill perspective can be practiced with some dummy rounds in a safe area of your home (remember the dry-fire rules!).

Safety Note: One-handed survival shooting is a high-level manipulation skill that must be practiced correctly and safely. If you do not have the knowledge to practice these techniques, please find a qualified instructor to teach you the skills that will allow you to practice them safely. Training one-handed survival techniques includes the possibility of pointing the muzzle in an unsafe direction, so ensure you get quality instruction if needed!

Tuck the buttstock under the arm to control the vertical movement of the rifle.

This is often the best choice if you are smaller or lack significant upper body strength. Tucking the buttstock under your arm and maintaining control with your hand on the pistol grip are the best ways to control the rifle. This position is limiting in that it does not allow you to mount the sights or optic in front of your face.

Mount the rifle to your shoulder and use your chin (strong cheek weld) to control the rifle.

This option is my personal choice. It allows me to continue to use the sights on the rifle since the buttstock is mounted in my shoulder. It does take more strength than the other technique, but is effective if you can make it work.

You’re in the middle of a fight with only one arm, and your rifle stops functioning. What now?

Transition

Depending on the distance to the threat and the situation, transitioning to your handgun might be the best option, especially if you are fighting in your house or a building. Knowing how to draw and manipulate your handgun with the support hand is key here, so ensure you have those skills too. Phase I: Tap, Rack, Ready

It’s possible you may have only your support hand available. To transition, simply draw the handgun after guiding the rifle out of the way. If you’re using a rifle without a sling, that could be problematic — and you will have to accept the fact that retaining the rifle is impossible. Remember that the rifle is no longer operational, and until you survive the immediate fight, it’s useless. If cover and distance are available, attempting to get the rifle running will often be the best option.

If transitioning is not a logical option, fixing or reloading the rifle is your best option. Let’s discuss the techniques for these options.

One-Handed Malfunction Clearance

There are two malfunction clearances that I will define as Phase I and II malfunctions. Each will fix almost any malfunction you might have occurring.

Phase II: Lock, Rip, Work, Tap, Rack, Ready

This is assuming you have already tried a Phase I, or observed a malfunction that you know a Phase I clearance will not fix.

One-Handed Reloads

Performing a reload with one hand will require the same securing method (between the knees) to maintain control of the rifle. Another option that works if mobility is a concern is simply letting the rifle hang from the sling while performing the following motions, but be aware that using this technique offers much less support of the rifle, and the muzzle direction might be unsafe when operating the bolt. Reloading key points:

– Releasing the magazine with the right hand in operation: Hit the magazine button with your index finger and let the magazine fall out of the gun before securing the gun between your legs.

Check Your Gear

One of the first things we cover in our one-handed manipulation and shooting blocks of instruction at USSA is gun and gear set-up. The type of holster, magazine pouch, sling, and other gear that you wear will affect how you operate your gun with one hand. Test your equipment trying different one-handed techniques, so you know their limitations, and find ways to work around any problems you might have. This takes time and dedicated training, and absolutely must be done to ensure you don’t end up having to figure it out during an actual fight.

Select the Right Technique

Techniques are usually best chosen by finding ones that are consistent and simple, but you will have to know several in order to operate with only one hand. The reason for this is that certain techniques simply will not work in all situations. I always teach multiple techniques and discuss with students when each might be used during our one-handed survival shooting class. Try not to limit yourself to firearm techniques only, and think outside the box when it comes to surviving with one hand. I often stress that a gun solution is not always the answer. It’s best for you to utilize a physical technique to shift the fight in your favor before trying to reload your gun or clear a malfunction with one hand.

Train for One-Handed Manipulations

I absolutely must stress the importance of getting training from a qualified instructor if you are unfamiliar with these techniques. Do not go to the range and attempt any one-handed technique until you have trained that technique with an unloaded firearm with dummy training ammunition. In classes, I stress hours of dry practice first, then a simple live-fire drill that allows the user to test all the techniques during live fire.

Conclusions

Manipulating and shooting with one hand are difficult skills to perform under stress. If you’re in a situation where a one-handed survival technique is needed, things have gone from bad (just having one hand in the fight) to worse (now having to fix a non-working gun with one hand). Figure out how to survive the situation in the comfort of your home with dry fire, or on your range during live-fire training before you end up in a fight for your life needing these particular skills. Don’t be caught unprepared!