Issue 13 Preview – One-Handed Stoppage Drills Mike Seeklander Join the Conversation At RECOIL, we review every product fairly and without bias. Making a purchase through one of our links may earn us a small commission, and helps support independent gun reviews. Read our affiliate policy. Find out more about how we test products. Photography by Henry Z. De Kuyper Learn How to Clear a Pistol Malfunction When One Arm Is Out of Action If, like me, you study after-action reports of gunfights, you may notice a theme that pops up more often than we’d like. When faced with someone armed with a handgun, there’s a tendency to focus on the actual weapon rather than person wielding it, thereby perceiving the gun itself as the threat. As we tell gun-control advocates all the time, the gun is merely an inanimate tool — but our lizard brains want to take over and target the gun, rather than striving for center-mass hits. If you’re on the receiving end in a fight, there’s a good chance that your dominant arm may be rendered inoperative if the bad guy manages to connect. So it behooves us to practice with both hands. And despite the remote chance of getting into a situation in which we have to deal with a stoppage while injured, it pays dividends to practice this very worst-case scenario — if for no other reason than it builds confidence in our own abilities and makes for a well-skilled shooter. Besides, if you do wind up wounded while some nutjob advances on you, you’re going to feel pretty stupid if all you can do is stare at your weapon and bleed… We covered basic malfunction drills in RECOIL Issue 9, and it’s worthwhile to go back and refresh your memory before advancing to one-handed techniques. So after you’re comfortable with using both mitts on the handgun, load up your magazine with dummy rounds and try the following skills. Tap, Rack, Ready This is the primary method of clearing a malfunction. Here’s how to do it one-handed: 1. Take your finger off the trigger and place it alongside the frame. 2. Tap the bottom of the magazine against your thigh on the same side that you’re holding the firearm, or on another firm object to ensure that the magazine is seated properly. 3. Rack (release) the slide by hooking the rear sight against a hard object, such as a gun belt, the corner of your pants pocket, your holster, the heel of your boot/shoe, or the edge of a wall. Push down firmly with the firearm so that the slide is pushed back and the slide catch is released. You must be careful not to allow an object to interfere with the slide going completely forward or a subsequent failure to feed malfunction might occur. 4. Ready to resume threat engagement or active threat cover measures. For the rest of this article, subscribe here: RECOIL Issue 13 Why you can trust RECOIL Since our founding in 2012, RECOIL remains the premier firearms lifestyle publication for the modern shooting enthusiast. We deliver cutting-edge coverage of guns, gear, accessories and technology. We go beyond basic reviews, providing no B.S. buyer’s guides, hands-on testing and expert analysis on everything from firearms and survival equipment to watches and vehicles. Our reviewers are the backbone of our operation and come from diverse shooting backgrounds: Former law enforcement, military veterans, competitive shooters, seasoned hunters and plain old firearms enthusiasts. Furthermore, we’re not just gun experts, but dedicated journalists who adhere to the strictest standards of our profession. At RECOIL, editorial independence is the foundation of everything we publish and the cornerstone of reader trust. Our editors, writers and content creators make all editorial decisions independently, free from outside influence. That boils down to: advertisers don’t dictate our coverage, the outcomes of our reviews or what we recommend in our buyer’s guides. First and always, our commitment is to our audience—ensuring every review and article is accurate, unbiased, and driven by real-world experience. Whether you’re selecting your next firearm, upgrading your gear, or exploring the latest innovations in the shooting world, RECOIL provides the trusted insights you need to make informed decisions. Learn more about our Editorial Standards and how we review products. NEXT STEP: Download Your Free Target Pack from RECOILFor years, RECOIL magazine has treated its readers to a full-size (sometimes full color!) shooting target tucked into each big issue. Now we've compiled over 50 of our most popular targets into this one digital PDF download. From handgun drills to AR-15 practice, these 50+ targets have you covered. Print off as many as you like (ammo not included). Get your pack of 50 Print-at-Home targets when you subscribe to the RECOIL email newsletter. We'll send you weekly updates on guns, gear, industry news, and special offers from leading manufacturers - your guide to the firearms lifestyle.You want this. Trust Us.
