Five Handgun Manipulation Skills: For a 2A Lifestyle

Sometimes, when people become interested in shooting firearms, the first thing they want to do is head to the range and start shooting. If this is just a one-time thing to “try it,” I guess I understand. However, if these people are interested in living the Second Amendment (2A) lifestyle of owning and carrying firearms, I believe there is a lot more that should come first. Following are the five handgun manipulation skills that can easily be practiced at home (with an unloaded gun while adhering to the four firearm safety rules), which I think are essential to becoming a respected person in the 2A community. 

Sponsored by Springfield Armory

Five Handgun Manipulation Skills

1. Picking it Up

It seems so simple. If the pistol is sitting on a table, pick it up. Sure, you can remove it from the table and get it into your hands any way you want. However, I offer these suggestions if you want to look like you know what you are doing and make those around you feel a bit more relaxed. 

• Pick the pistol up with your dominant hand in a way that allows your grip to form. 
• Keep your finger straight and off the trigger along the side of the slide. 
• Don’t point it at anything you don’t plan to kill or destroy. 

2. Working the Slide

You have to be able to wrack the slide and lock it to the rear if you are going to shoot a firearm. Here are some tips to make it a little easier. 

• It’s a two-directional movement. You pull the slide back with your support hand while you push the gun forward with your dominant hand. 
• Decide what works best for you, the “pinch and pull” method or “over-the-top.” Note: Gun instructors from the world-renowned Gunsite recommend always using the over-the-top method, since you can still manipulate the slide even if you’re fingers are sweaty, bloody or damaged, because you’re using the whole hand.
• Learn to lock your slide to the rear while keeping the muzzle pointed down range. This may mean rotating your upper torso to obtain better leverage. 

3. Loading It

Knowing how to load your pistol correctly will help you when you start live fire training and begin working on your speed. Here are some easy tips to get you started before you even shoot your first round. Again, use dummy (inert) rounds or just dry fire for this one.

• Your pistol should remain in your strong hand when you are loading it.
• Place your index finger alongside of the front of the magazine and guide it to the magazine well. Feel for it. This way, you can do this procedure in low light or no light.
• Firmly insert the magazine. There is no need to “slap” it in. That may allow it to fall out because you’ve removed your hand before fully inserting it. 
• Chamber your first round by racking the slide the way you practice.

4. Unloading It

Always shooting your handgun until it’s empty is not a way to train. You need to know how to safely unload your firearm. 

• Pointing the gun downrange in a safe place, remove the magazine by pressing the magazine release button with the thumb of your dominant hand. 
• Rack the slide back and forth several times (if bullets continue to come out, you forgot to remove the magazine.)
• Lock the slide to the rear. 
• Visually inspect the chamber. Look away and check it again. 
• In fact, put your pinky in there and feel for it. If it’s low or no light, you’ll need to do this maneuver. Also, check the magazine well to make sure it’s empty.
• Let the slide forward on an empty chamber.
• Press the trigger while pointing the muzzle in a safe direction. 

5. Running the Safety

Learning to manipulate the thumb safety every time takes practice. 

• The thumb safety is disengaged once the muzzle is level as you are pressing out and lining up the sights.
• It MUST be engaged as you return to the high ready and holster. 
• Note: If you place your thumb beneath the safety when firing, there is a good chance it may bump up and engage on recoil. This will prevent you from firing your next round.

I could add many more handgun manipulation skills to this list; however, I feel these five are the most important. The ability to manipulate your firearm on autopilot is imperative.

Springfield offers several concealed carry firearms. Find one that works all day long for you here.

Springfield Armory firearms used in the article: 

• Hellcat Pro OSP 9mm handgun with Shield SMSC
• 1911 DS Prodigy AOS 9mm handgun with HEX Dragonfly

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  About Michelle Cerino

  Michelle Cerino, aka Princess Gunslinger, first entered the firearms industry in 2011 as co-owner, president and trainer at a national training company. She immediately began competing in both 3-Gun and NRA Action Pistol, becoming a sponsored shooter. Michelle is currently a columnist and Managing Editor of Women’s Outdoor News, as well as owner of Pervenio LLC. She also manages social media for Vera Koo and GTM Original. Michelle encourages others to step out of the comforts of home and explore. View all posts by Michelle Cerino →

   

The Conversation

2 Comments

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  Dave LaPorte says: May 30, 2023 at 1:56 pm

  Hi Michelle! Great article and good information for anyone that may need a reminder of do’s and don’ts to prevent a negligent discharge. On a day when the weather is too foul to head to the range, an at home practice session of “Administrative Gun Handling” using dummy ammo could be just as beneficial as shooting. In reference to point #2; I find for some women that lack the upper body strength (or in the case of a friend of my wife that also has arthritis in her fingers) using the over the top grip with the body turned sideways from down range allows them to put more of their shoulders into working the action. My wife’s friend was able to operate my Ruger SR9c and full size Glock 21 using that method. My former neighbor struggled with her Ruger LC9 and would have her husband load it for her until I showed her this technique. What seems to be hard for newbies to learn is making sure the slide is released completely so that it snaps forward freely regardless of which method is used. They tend to want to hold on for some reason causing feed failures. The sideways turn and release come with practice.

  A personal word about Administrative Gun Handling; I have read several firearms experts that say that ADH should be minimized. I disagree and feel that proficiency with ADH increases muscle memory and lowers the risk of a negligent discharge, and is just as important as putting rounds on target. I believe it helps ingrain a culture of constant safe practices regardless of circumstances and enforces Col. Cooper’s Four Rules of Gun Safety. I have observed what I would call lapses of safety happening more AWAY FROM THE RANGE than on it because everyone is acutely aware of the mix of firearms and live ammo. One instance I was involved with last fall was poor muzzle discipline with a suspect’s firearm by law enforcement while on an EMS call.

  Since no live ammo or firing is used, I would also count dry fire practice and holster draw/re-holstering as ADH.
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  Michelle Cerino says: May 31, 2023 at 6:21 am

  Thank you so much was your comments. Time spent working with your firearm and practicing manipulation skills is never wasted.