One Hand or Two? Instinct vs. Training What Actually Works in a Defensive Gunfight

by Jeff Young

A question that occasionally comes up in firearms training circles is whether shooters should default to one-handed shooting because it is “instinctive.”

It’s an interesting claim—but it doesn’t hold up when we look at how people actually perform in real defensive encounters.

There Is No “Instinctive” Way to Use a Firearm

The word instinct usually refers to behaviors that humans are born with—things like reflexes or survival responses.

Firearms do not fall into that category.

Handguns have only existed for a few hundred years. That is nothing in terms of human biology. There is no built-in instinct for how to operate a firearm any more than there is an instinct to drive a car or use a computer.

Those are learned skills, and firearms are the same.

That means the way someone performs under stress will almost always reflect how they were trained and what they practiced, not some hidden instinct.

What Real Defensive Encounters Show

Across many documented civilian defensive shootings, one trend shows up repeatedly:

Trained individuals tend to use a two-handed grip and bring the firearm to eye level.

Why?

Because it provides:

• Greater control of the firearm

• Better recoil management

• Faster follow-up shots

• Higher hit probability

In defensive encounters, hits matter far more than speed alone.

When shooters bring the firearm to eye level and use both hands, accuracy improves dramatically—even under stress.

A Real-World Example

One documented incident occurred inside a convenience store and was captured on surveillance cameras.

An armed robber entered the store and approached the clerk. As he closed distance, he drew a handgun from under his hoodie.

The clerk immediately sidestepped, presented her handgun with both hands at eye level, and fired a single shot.

The round struck the suspect in the upper chest. The attacker fled the store without firing a shot.

The most interesting part of the story is the clerk herself.

She was a 43-year-old immigrant who had never handled a firearm before receiving training just weeks earlier. She had no prior gun culture influence and no habits to “unlearn.”

When the moment arrived, she simply did what she had been trained to do.

Training—not instinct—determined her response.

At Lone Pine Tactical, we focus on simple, reliable techniques that hold up under stress.

For defensive handgun use, we emphasize two primary responses:

1. Two-Handed, Eye-Level Fire

When the threat is beyond arm’s reach, the default is:

• Both hands on the firearm

• Gun brought to eye level

• Controlled, accurate fire

This method gives the shooter the best chance of delivering effective hits quickly.

2. Retention Shooting

If the attacker is extremely close—within arm’s reach—bringing the gun fully up may not be safe or possible.

In that situation, we teach retention position shooting, which allows the defender to fire while maintaining control of the firearm during a close-range confrontation.

3. One-Handed Shooting

One-handed shooting absolutely has a place in training.

However, we treat it as a contingency skill, used when:

• One hand is injured

• One hand is occupied (child, flashlight, phone, etc.)

• Movement or cover requires it

If both hands are available, using both hands provides the greatest control and accuracy.

Simplicity Wins Under Stress

Defensive encounters happen quickly and often unexpectedly. The techniques that hold up best are the ones that are:

• Simple

• Repeatable

• Practiced regularly

When training reinforces a clear default—two hands on the gun when possible—students tend to perform more effectively when it matters most.

Training shapes behavior. Practice builds confidence. And confidence leads to better decisions under pressure.

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Lone Pine Tactical

Training responsible, confident defenders in Southeast Idaho.