History Main / FiringOneHanded

* Invoked and subverted in ''ComicBook/QueenAndCountry'': Russian gangsters hired to kill Tara Chace fire their guns one-handed; most of their bullets hit nothing, and one unlucky goon catches a [[MurphysBullet stray bullet]] from his ally.

* Film/JamesBond frequently fires one-handed, which is justified due to the fact that his preferred weapon for most of the films is a Walther PPK, the .32 ACP version in earlier works and the .380ACP or "9mm Short" model as of ''Film/{{Skyfall}}''.

* In ''VideoGame/HalfLife1'', Gordon Freeman holds his trusty low-powered, low-recoil Glock 17/Beretta M9 two-handed, but somehow fires the high-power, high recoil Colt Python revolver with one hand. In ''VideoGame/HalfLife2'' it's reversed, with the USP Match held one-handed (with [[ATeamFiring resultant significant drop in accuracy]]) and the ever-accurate Python held two-handed. ''VideoGame/BlackMesa'' has him using both sidearms with two hands, and as in the original game both are quite accurate.

* In ''VideoGame/TheMatrixPathOfNeo'' like in Film/TheMatrix example above, can fire a pistol one-handed if he only has one at the time.

[[folder:Visual Novels]]
* Plenty of people use sawed-off shotguns in ''VisualNovel/UminekoWhenTheyCry'', but Kyrie is the only one to wield it one-handed, which makes quite a sharp contrast among them. You can really tell that under her CoolBigSis personality, she's not to be trifled with.

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* In ''Webcomic/TheAdventuresOfDrMcNinja'', Dr. [=McNinja=] doesn't usually use guns, but he apparently makes exceptions for a ZombieApocalypse, where he wields a ''shotgun'' [[http://drmcninja.com/page.php?pageNum=27&issue=8 in one hand]] and his sword in the other.
* In ''Webcomic/TheLastDaysOfFOXHOUND'', Sniper Wolf occasionally uses her rifle with just one hand. That's a CharlesAtlasSuperpower for you...
[[/folder]]

* Averted in most {{Light Gun Game}} and controllers, most notably anything that uses Namco's Guncon or the Platform/{{Wii}} Zapper, where the guns are large and bulky enough (and the console version has controller on the front grip to be used by left hand) that the only effective way to held it is by both hands.

* In ''Manga/CityHunter'' many characters fire one-handed. {{Justified}} for Saeko and Reika, as the former tends to do it only when she has no time to actually grab it with two hands and the latter has a pocket pistol too small for a two-handed grab, with a number of other characters doing the same with low-recoil weapons (with one of them using a two-handed hold the one time he has actually time to take aim). Then you have people like Ryo and Umibozu, who fire ''{{Hand Cannon}}s'' (Ryo uses his signature Colt Python and a Colt King Cobra, both chambered for the .357 Magnum, and has a .41 Magnum revolver for special occasions, while Umibuzu uses the Smith & Wesson Model 29 in .44 Magnum of ''Film/DirtyHarry'' fame)... Then again, Umibozu is so huge he ''has'' to use {{Hand Cannon}}s and [[SuperStrength a punch capable of shattering concrete]], and Ryo himself is shown to be ''really'' strong (not to Umibozu levels, but can still pound {{Mooks}} with large gravestones)...
** This was actually {{Lampshaded}} in one occasion, where a child wanted to learn how to fire a gun to defend his teacher only to floor himself by firing Ryo's Colt Python one-handed. Ryo promptly pointed out he was still too light and weak to fire ''any'' gun one-handed (and admitted that, [[ChildSoldiers when a child himself, he could only shoot two-handed]]), taught him the correct technique, and had him switch to a less powerful gun.

* In ''Literature/FateZero'', Kiritsugu holds his Contender thus, despite the whole "[[HandCannon firing rifle bullets]]" thing.
** This could easily be justified by usage of Self-Reinforcement magecraft, albeit doing so is risky in its own right.

* ''Anime/{{Madlax}}'' does this with her two [=SIGs=]. She also goes for GunsAkimbo on regular basis - a vast improvement in [[RuleOfCool coolness]] since Kirika's lone Hong Kong stairway scene.

* ''Film/TheKiller1989'' has Chow Yun Fat firing his Taurus handgun one-handed for most of the movie [[GunsAkimbo except when he picks up two guns]].
* All the characters in ''Franchise/TheMatrix'' fire all manner of weapons one-handed, sometimes while performing various acrobatics, including one character who at one point dual-wields a pair of drum-fed automatic shotguns. This is all possible because it's happening in the Matrix, where the characters can bend the laws of physics.

* ''Film/TheProfessionals''. When facing off with a machete-wielding bandito, Creator/LeeMarvin's character is standing side-on, as per the correct technique of the time. He's shown to have consistently accurate shooting using only his .38 revolver.
* A military example is seen near the end of ''Film/SavingPrivateRyan'', [[spoiler:when Captain Miller is mortally wounded during the German siege of the bridge held by Ryan and company. As a Panzer Tiger inches ominously across the bridge, Miller can do nothing but fire his pistol in pure spite. The tank explodes...thanks to the American planes blasting through the sky.]]
* ''[[Film/TheUntouchables1987 The Untouchables]]''

* Fontaine, from ''Literature/AllTomorrowsParties'' does target shooting with a small calibre revolver, holding in it one hand.
* ''Franchise/TheDarkTower'': Roland specifically lampshades this; real gunslingers are so awesome they don't need to use the other hand to steady themselves. It's a good thing, too, because he loses several fingers early into the series, allowing him to only use one hand to shoot. [[ImprobableAimingSkills He never misses anyway.]]
* Averted by ''Literature/{{Incompetence}}''. Harry gets his hands on [[spoiler: Klingferm]]'s gun and has to use both hands to steady his aim.
* Literature/JamesBond: The situation in the Bond novels is more varied than the films.
** In Ian Fleming's original Bond stories, 007 starts with a .25 Beretta 418 before moving on to the iconic Walther PPK. He will also carry and use a .45-calibre revolver when he needs something more powerful but still concealable. In ''Literature/ForYourEyesOnly'' he uses a Colt 1911 during a stakeout - a ''very'' odd choice for a British secret agent.
** In the later books by other authors, Bond uses a variety of handguns including a genuine HandCannon: a Ruger Super Redhawk .44 Magnum revolver. In ''Literature/{{Icebreaker}}'', Bond fires this revolver one-handed from an extremely awkward position: sitting in the driver's seat of his car and shooting out the window at his target.

** ''Literature/RainbowSix'' has the main characters using a two handed stance, but at one point their pilot hits the pistol range to blow off steam and uses a one handed side-on stance. It's realistically portrayed as being a lot less accurate, but he's older than the other shooters and apparently that's how he was trained back in the day.
** Discussed in ''Teeth Of The Tiger'', in which one of the protagonists expresses a preference for firing one-handed whilst standing side-on to the target, on the grounds that this presents a narrower profile and makes him harder to hit. Whether this makes up for the reduced accuracy (his preferred sidearm is a .45ACP weapon) is a matter for opinion.

[[folder:Live Action TV]]
* ''Series/BlakesSeven'', justified most of the time by the fact they're using directed-energy weapons.

* This was tested on ''Series/{{Mythbusters}}'', and found to be reasonably accurate in comparison to the classic two-handed "Weaver" technique, and ''far'' more accurate than shooting from the hip or using GangstaStyle.
* ''Franchise/StarTrek''[='=]s phasers are usually held one handed, apart from the rifles. It helps that they are energy weapons with no recoil. Given that the weapons in Star Trek are generally not shown to have any sort of sights, it's plausible that they also have some sort of smart aiming ability as well.

* ''Series/TheWalkingDead'', Rick tends to fire his {{revolver|sAreJustBetter}} this way.

* ''TabletopGame/TheWorldOfDarkness'' games assume characters are firing pistols two-handed and has a higher Strength requirement for one-handed use.

* The first-person models for some pistols and smaller submachine guns in some of the later ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty'' games suggest that the player character holds and fires them in this manner, though this is not the case in third-person. The UsefulNotes/{{Wii}} versions tend to use this as an excuse to let the player fire them GangstaStyle as well.

* ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry''

* ''VideoGame/{{Fallout|1}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 2}}'' both had a trait that allowed you to use one-handed weapons better with an accuracy penalty to two-handed ones.
** ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}}'' and ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' play with this trope. By default, handguns are held one-handed and fired from the hip but using careful aiming (right mouse button in the PC version) makes the wielder hold the gun with both hands at eye-level as well as zooming in slightly. Also, the Gunslinger perk increases one-handed weapon accuracy.
* [[spoiler: Glas,]] in the original ''VideoGame/FearEffect'', after he loses his left arm, is forced into firing his remaining weapons one handed, making this part the hardest in the game.

[[folder:Web Original]]
* Arguably common in ''Roleplay/SurvivalOfTheFittest''; while it's rarely, if ever, outright said how a character with a handgun is actually holding it, handlers tend to assume the character is doing this instead of the proper two handed grip unless the post says otherwise or if it's a handgun such as a Wildey pistol or Desert Eagle that would be completely ''absurd'' to fire off one handed. This is, however, justified with guns like revolvers or the aforementioned Beretta M1934, which were designed to be able to be used one handed.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Truth In Television]]

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
* In ''Anime/PsychoPass'', Episode 11, [[BadassAdorable Akane]] is given a shotgun by Makishima, he dares her to shoot him, she picks it up in one hand (she had the Dominator in the other) but she misses '''twice''', and consequently, Makishima [[spoiler:kills her friend, Yuki right in front of her.]]

* In ''Manga/HayateTheCombatButler'', the titular butler shows that he is perfectly capable of this by showing up to rescue Nagi early in the series from an enormous robot with a wrapped bundle on his back. He reveals this to be an HK-MG3, which is normally a ''turret-mounted machine gun'' and simply tears through the robot's armor. Hayate is also apparently strong enough to ''easily'' wield it with one hand. Mysteriously, he also claims to have already been very familiar with the weapon somehow and seemed to have access to it before/without Sanzen'in resources.
* In one of the later episodes of the first season of ''Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex'' Motoko fires Saito's ''anti-tank rifle'' single handed. Admittedly she's a fully body cyborg (effectively a human brain in a robot body) and she only does it single handed because her other arm had been torn off, but still. Keep in mind the first time we see this rifle is when it's being bolted down before firing to keep Saito from being blown away by the recoil.
** She is also really, '''really''' [[UnstoppableRage pissed]].
** Plus, she's not actually holding the gun in place, she uses the recoil to launch up to a position [[RuleOfCool where she can brace it against her leg]], [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome allowing her to chamber another round before grabbing it by the grip to fire the next shot]].
** It also helps that she doesn't have to actually aim, since she's shooting from point blank range - repeatedly. It tells something of that armoured suit that the bullets never penetrate it, even though they deform its frame into uselessness.
*** And crushing its pilot to the point where he passes out from suffocation. She knew the bullets wouldn't penetrate--she wanted him to suffer.
* In ''Manga/PsychicSquad'', Black Phantom agent 'Beretta' wields a sniper-rifle one-handed during his first appearance. He justifies it by having [[PsychicPowers Telekinesis]], allowing him to absorb the recoil AND mentally control the bullets. And even then, he probably only did it since he was caught up in close combat - in a later appearance, when he's assassinating a target from a distance of several city blocks, he dutifully uses both hands and a tripod...
* Mami from ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' has, amongst other things, wielded muskets one-handed and [[GunsAkimbo dual-wielded rifles]]! {{Justified}} [[AWizardDidIt because she's magical and created the guns with her magic]], plus the firearms she usually conjures are [[ThrowawayGuns single-bullet rifles]], so firing one-handed while pulling out rifles after rifles is more efficient.

* Rain Spider from ''Manga/DesertPunk'' usually holds his M2 carbine one-handed.
* Umibozu from ''Manga/CityHunter'' has fired a machine gun and even a ''bazooka'' one handed, in at least one occasion ''both at the same time''. Then again, he's so huge the machine gun looks like a submachine gun in his hands.
* A United Earth Kataphrakt in episode 4 of ''Anime/AldnoahZero'' fires its 75mm assault rifle one-handed. Particularly notable since this is the only time in the series it happens; even HumongousMecha normally need to use two arms for their rifles.

[[folder:Fanfiction]]
* Averted and probably played straight at the same time in ''Fanfic/AeonEntelechyEvangelion''. Averted with Shinji, even when one of your Eva's arm is busted, firing a giant hypervelocity rifle one-handed is not a good idea. Implied to be played straight with Asuka, since she mentions that you need to reinforce your arm with the AT-field for one-handed firing.

* ''Fanfic/TheRoboutianHeresy'': During "The Cadian Apocalypse", after [[spoiler: his best friend Jurgen dies in his arms]], Ciaphas Cain (HERO OF THE IMPERIUM!) begins tearing through Traitor Astartes wielding his chainsword in one hand, and a meltagun (think a very large flamethrower) in the other. It's [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] that a gun that big should ''not'' be able to be wielded one-handed, and Cain doesn't even have the training to do it properly, but [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge he's too pissed off to let that stop him]].

[[folder:Film]]

* At one point in ''Film/{{Tombstone}},'' Wyatt Earp blows away a fleeing enemy with a double-barreled shotgun, one-handed, while riding on a horse at full gallop.
* Infamously used multiple times by [[Franchise/{{Rambo}} John Rambo]], even in the comparably understated [[Film/FirstBlood first installment]]. As badass as it looks, it's not entirely due to RuleOfCool; the M60 series he's fond of using are [[{{BFG}} full-blown general-purpose machine guns]] and not assault rifles, so [[JustifiedTrope he needs one free hand to feed the loose ammunition belt into the gun or else it would jam]].
** Arnie does likewise again in ''Film/{{Commando}}'', also for the same reason. The guns he and Rambo use weigh between 23 and 27 pounds, to give you an idea of how strong someone needs to be to pull this off.
* ''Film/TaxiDriver''
* In ''Film/TheRundown'', the Rock uses what appears to be a very large sniper rifle one handed, as well as dual-wielded shotguns.
* In ''Film/TheCrucible'', one piece of evidence used to say Giles Corey is a witch was an ability to do this.
* Ash from the ''Franchise/EvilDead'' trilogy famously uses a sawed-off shotgun one-handed, and in ''Film/ArmyOfDarkness'' uses a lever-action rifle one-handed as well. Course, he didn't have [[ChainsawGood much choice]] [[BodyHorror in the matter]].
* The most recent film version of ''Film/LastOfTheMohicans'' features the most inexplicably skilled Hawkeye yet: two flintlock longarms, two shots, two kills (and with a friendly between his two targets to boot).
* ''Film/MenInBlack'': Kay fires his BFG one handed, ''without looking'', at the alien. Because he's just that cool.

* In the Halo EU novel 'First Strike' the SPARTAN Linda achieves this with a sniper rifle, one hand, hanging upside down in the middle of a vertical descent, her other hand clutching the rope used for said descent. With perfect accuracy. Not even SPARTAN-ness can justify that level of crazy.
* In the Literature/CiaphasCain novel ''The Traitors Hand'' a couple of soldiers are doing this while moving a wounded comrade from the frontline. Though this is actually subverted since Cain notes that it hindered their accuracy. Cain himself is an excellent shot with a laspistol, and almost always uses one hand since his chainsword is in the other.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'''s Bolters/Boltguns are fully automatic weapons that fire rocket-propelled, armor-penetrating, explosive rounds. They have a pistol grip, however, so sufficiently badass characters have been known to shoot them one-handed; this was a special rule from older editions called "True Grit." Only two examples come to mind: the Literature/{{Space Wol|f}}ves, who are heroic [[FantasyCounterpartCulture Vikings in space]], and Plague Marines of Nurgle, who are so bloated with disease that their bulk allows them to absorb the considerable recoil. [[{{Retcon}} These days]], bolters aren't seen being used one-handed terribly often, though it's conceivable that they can: their construction and intended use isn't too different from an SMG (including a pistol grip), and recoil is mitigated by firing a two-stage propelled round, along by being most commonly used by a power-armoured super soldier.

* Possible in ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}'', with very high (but far from unattainable) strength. GURPS: Gun Fu adds a new character advantage that increases effective strength specifically for the purpose of one-handing a two-handed firearm in order to replicate this move in cinematic games.
* In ''TabletopGame/StarWarsSagaEdition'', one can wield a weapon with a stock with one hand, for a sizable penalty, regardless of how big the weapon really is in relation to you. Thus, a pistol with a stock (equivalent to say, a Beretta 93R) would be just as cumbersome as a full-sized rifle (equivalent to an [=M16A2=]) no matter what logic may say about size and weight.
* ''TabletopGame/{{Rifts}}'' has the Sharpshooter skill, which is only available to a select few classes (such as the Gunslinger). One of the trick shots available is the ability to fire a two-handed rifle in one hand.
* ''TabletopGame/{{Shadowrun}}'' has optional rules for wielding rifle sized guns like shotguns and assault rifles in one hand with a penalty to accuracy; trolls, due to their size, have significantly reduced penalties for doing so.

* The first few years of the ''Franchise/GIJoe'' action figures from the 80s had to be posed like this, since before the additional joint was added to the figures' arms to allow horizontal rotation they lacked the flexibility to be easily posed supporting their weapon with both hands. Of course, even after that change was made, it was common for their box art to depict them wielding an accessory in each hand and thus playing this trope straight.

* Dante from ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'' fires a ''SawedOffShotgun'' one-handed. Some of the more demonic firearms (Nightmare-Beta and Artemis) justify this by literally wrapping to his hand. The shotgun can also be justified by Dante having [[SuperStrength superhuman strength]].
* Carl "CJ" Johnson, protagonist of ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas'' can ''[[RuleOfCool dual-wield Sawed Off Shotguns]]''.
* In ''{{Franchise/Halo}}'', Flood combat forms have their non-dominant hand disfigured into a massive claw for mêlée combat, and thus wield whatever weapon they carry with just one hand--even sniper rifles and rocket launchers--with no apparent disadvantage.
* In ''VideoGame/JurassicParkTrespasser'', main character Anne uses all weapons one handed, due to her other arm being broken (read: not being programmed into the game). This includes rifles. And an ''extremely heavy metal mace''.
* In ''VideoGame/GoldenEye1997'' on the Nintendo 64, one bonus mission has Jaws coming at you with dual ''[[strike:M-16s]] [[AKA47 AR-33's]]'', which you can use if you take him down. With the all weapons cheat, this extends to everything from submachineguns to ''rocket launchers''.

* In ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'', the Heavy doesn't use his shotgun with one hand to fire, but he does [[SuperStrength twirl it around like a pistol in a taunt]].
** And thanks to a popular glitch, he's also able to spin his ''minigun'' in the same manner.
** Also, the Demoman fires his Stickybomb Launcher one-handed in first-person view.
** The Engineer and Spy both use their handguns one handed. This is considerably more impressive on the Spy's part when he uses the Ambassador, a HandCannon of a SniperPistol which looks like it should weigh at ''least'' two kilos.
** The Pyro will fire his Scorch Shot FlareGun one-handed when he taunts with it. It's also a OneHitKill at close range.
* Subject Delta from ''VideoGame/{{Bioshock 2}}'' fires his weapons with one hand, and his plasmids with the other.
* Saika Magoichi of ''VideoGame/SamuraiWarriors'' wields his musket one-handed sometimes (specifically during his musou attack, when it inexplicably fires like a ''shotgun''). Occasionally, he'll also fire one-handed, but with the gun braced against his body (mostly during his SMG-like spraying shots). Yeah, [[SwissArmyGun it's one of those]].
* In ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil5'', both Chris and Wesker fire the ''triple-barreled'' "Hydra" shotgun one-handed. With their arm fully extended. Enjoy that carpal tunnel.
* The first boss in ''VideoGame/TimeCrisis 4'' uses a Barrett M82 one-handed. This is a gun so big that most people would probably be knocked over from firing it with ''both'' hands if they don't have the bipod deployed.
* Shepard in ''Franchise/MassEffect'' fires his/her gun one handed when the target is standing very close by.

** [[spoiler:The Shadow Broker]] wields one of the heaviest and most deadly assault rifles in one hand and an energy shield in the other. And he is very accurate with it, too. [[spoiler: Of course, given how huge he is, it still looks more like a pistol in his hand.]]

* From the ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty'' series:
** Makarov at one point in ''VideoGame/ModernWarfare 2''[='=]s "No Russian" mission fires an M4 [[BottomlessMagazines far longer than he should be able to]] one-handed, which somehow manages to make an entire room full of security personnel [[StuffBlowingUp explode]]. Some DummiedOut content suggests that the [[GunsAkimbo Akimbo attachment]] would have been compatible with some assault rifles and the Thumper grenade launcher in multiplayer, along with the pistols and [=SMGs=] it can be attached to in the released game, although given that they were unfinished, it's not so much firing one-handed like it should be as it is your character [[GoodBadBugs growing a second set of arms to hold the left-side gun with]].
** ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOpsII'' allows the player to use any two-handed weapon with one hand while on horseback in the "Old Wounds" campaign mission, up to and including a .50 BMG {{Gatling g|ood}}un.
* ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'' games:
** Various pistols and [=SMGs=] are fired using only one hand, which affects game mechanics for characters who took the one-handed weapon trait.
** Prior to ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}}'', super mutants always carry and fire heavy weapons one-handed. ''Always''. Not surprising given their immense size and strength.
*** While regular super mutant variations in ''Fallout 3'' use long weapons like any human would, the ''Broken Steel'' addon introduced a new tier named [[BossInMookClothing Super Mutant Overlord]] that fires any ballistic weapon including heavy assault rifles one-handed. Strangely, their default weapons - Tri-Beam laser rifles - are significantly smaller, lighter, and don't have any recoil, but are fired two-handed for some reason.
* In the cutscene that plays when launching ''VideoGame/Left4Dead'', Francis does this with a shotgun while aiming out of the corner of his eye.
* Oda Nobunaga of ''VideoGame/SengokuBasara'' wields a SawnOffShotgun one-handed, [[SwordAndGun with a sword in the other]].
* In ''VideoGame/RedDeadRedemption'', John Marston will fire any weapon one-handed if turned far enough to the side while on horseback. This includes a rifle intended to bring down ''full-grown buffalo''.
* Plenty of people use sawed-off shotguns in ''VisualNovel/UminekoWhenTheyCry'', but Kyrie is the only one to wield it one-handed, which makes quite a sharp contrast among them. You can really tell that under her CoolBigSis personality, she's not to be trifled with.
* In ''VideoGame/XCom'', weapons that do not automatically take up both hand slots can be fired one-handed, but you get an accuracy bonus if you leave your other hand empty. The character models, however, will always show your characters firing them one-handed because of graphical limitations.
* In ''VideoGame/JaggedAlliance'', characters with the "big" character model like Grizzly and a very high strength stat can fire longarms one handed, including shotguns, assault rifles, sniper rifles, and light machineguns, and suffer no accuracy penalty for it.

** ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater'': The Boss's gun, the Patriot, is a modified [=XM16E1=] with a shortened barrel and the stock removed, effectively making it a sawed-off version of an an automatic rifle. Sigint notes that due to its modification, the gun generates a massive amount of recoil, but the Boss being able to fire it accurately just one-handed shows just how strong she is.
* ''VideoGame/DawnOfWar 2'': General Castor can fire a sniper rifle one-handed (justified with ArtificialLimbs).
* Fire the scatter gun enough times in ''VideoGame/JakIIRenegade'' and Jak will eventually hold it with one hand ''and'' GangstaStyle.
* ''VideoGame/GranadoEspada'''s Lionel von Hanen has a unique GunsAkimbo stance that features not two pistols, but a pistol ''and a rifle''. He shows no signs of straining from carrying and firing that rifle using only one arm (though he does use the other arm as support for certain skills), despite having no supernatural powers whatsoever.
* In ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'', a [[http://dulfy.net/2013/06/28/swtor-bounty-broker-association-reputation-rewards/#5 post-release pistol-class weapon]] uses the same model as one of the smallest rifles, essentially carrying it one-handed.
* Salvador of ''VideoGame/{{Borderlands 2}}'' can [[GunsAkimbo Gunzerk]] with any two weapons, whether they're pistols, rifles, or ''rocket launchers''.
* In ''VideoGame/TheMatrixPathOfNeo'' if Neo only has one shotgun, he can fire it one-handed. He also does this with a grenade launcher, though you only get one of those one at a time.
* An unintentional example in ''VideoGame/HalfLife2'': judging by the gun's first person viewmodel, Gordon Freeman fires the OSIPR [=AR2=] pulse rifle one-handed. This is strange for a number of reasons: one, he holds the much smaller and lighter SMG with both hands; two, the [=AR2=], unlike most other guns, actually suffers from pretty severe recoil. It was stated to be a design oversight.
* Balthier and Basch from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII'' fire Ivalice's rifle- and shotgun-sized guns and crossbows one-handed with no ill effects. That's despite the fact that they otherwise hold them in a two-handed grip.

* ''VideoGame/FarCry4'' allows for this as a side-effect of dedicating one of the weapon slots to "sidearms" and allowing for weapons of that category to be fired with one hand from vehicles, on ziplines, or while carrying a body with the relevant skill. Most sidearms are indeed pistols and the like, including the two smallest [=SMGs=], but the class also includes a GrenadeLauncher, an automatic crossbow built out of a two-handed SMG, and two different varieties of SawedOffShotgun.
* ''VideoGame/{{Blood}}'' series:
** ''VideoGame/Blood1997''[='=]s "GunsAkimbo" powerup allows for this, granting you a second copy of several weapons, mostly ones that would otherwise be used with both hands such as the shotgun, Tommy gun, Napalm Launcher, and with one of the expansions, the Tesla gun.
** ''VideoGame/BloodIITheChosen'' dialed things back a little - the only gun you can use two of that would raise some eyebrows is the returning sawed-off shotgun - in return for making akimbo an inherent ability that simply requires you to pick up a second copy of a gun you already have, rather than a limited powerup.
* Almost all VR games necessitates this as the controls are a pair of gun-like analog controllers, one on each hand. ''Videogame/HalfLifeAlyx'' is a prominent example, where all of the weapons Alyx used are handguns or one-handed weapons.
** And in almost every VR exception (where the in-game controllers map to hands which can attach to multiple points on a two-handed weapon, allowing it to be aimed and steadied with both hands at once), nothing is actually enforcing that a two-handed weapon be used two-handed and the lack of realistic kickback makes it perfectly possible to fire sniper rifles and the like one-handed (and [[NoScope scopeless]])... although it really does impede accuracy.
* Averted in most light-gun games and controllers, most notably anything that uses Namco's Guncon or the UsefulNotes/NintendoWii Zapper, where the guns are large and bulky enough (and the console version has controller on the front grip to be used by left hand) that the only effective way to held it is by both hands.

* ''VideoGame/Trepang2'' allows Subject 106 to use any weapon one-handed while using an enemy as a HumanShield, from pistols to submachine guns to assault rifles and even rotary grenade launchers or a triple-barreled minigun, with only a slight decrease in accuracy. Halfway through the game 106 acquires a serum that lets him take this to its logical conclusion and [[GunsAkimbo use a second gun in his other hand]]; the closest the game comes to being realistic about this is that you can't dual-wield the Bolt Launcher or Minigun. [[spoiler:Partway through the final level, 106 [[AnArmAndALeg loses his left arm]] and is forced to use guns one-handed for the rest of the level, restricting any abilities that rely on having two hands like tossing grenades or taking enemies hostage - naturally, reloading guns does not count.]]

* In ''Webcomic/TheLastDaysOfFOXHOUND'', Sniper Wolf occasionally uses her rifle with just one hand. But that's a CharlesAtlasSuperpower for you...

[[folder:Web Original]]
* In ''WebAnimation/RedVsBlue'', the Freelancers are occasionally shown firing such things as shotguns and sniper rifles one-handed. The show seems to justify this with CharlesAtlasSuperpower, as most of the Freelancers are simply highly-trained yet ordinary human beings.

[[folder:Truth In Television]]
* In RealLife, one of Eliot Ness' Untouchables, an American Indian ex football player, used a shotgun one handed. The Untouchables: the Franchise/GIJoe of their time.

* ''ComocBook/{{Batman}}'' foe the Tally Man often wields a pair of machine pistols GunsAkimbo; displaying a [[ImprobableAimingSkills scary accuracy]] with eiether hand.

* ''Film/MadMax'' is shown to be able to do this with a SawedOffShotgun. He does it most frequently in the tanker chase sequence in ''Film/MadMax2TheRoadWarrior''. Even more impressive is the fact that he's able to score a perfect
* A military example is seen near the end of ''Film/SavingPrivateRyan'', [[spoiler:when Captain Miller is mortally [[BoomHeadshot headshot]] on the [[SnipingTheCockpit driver of a moving vehicle]] while himself driving a huge truck.
* ''Film/TheProfessionals''. When facing off with a machete-wielding bandito, Creator/LeeMarvin's character is standing side-on, as per the correct technique of the time. He's shown to have consistently accurate shooting using only his .38 revolver.wounded during the German siege of the bridge held by Ryan and company. As a Panzer Tiger inches ominously across the bridge, Miller can do nothing but fire his pistol in pure spite. The tank explodes...thanks to the American planes blasting through the sky.]]

* ''VideoGame/Trepang2'' allows Subject 106 to use any weapon one-handed, from pistols to submachine guns to assault rifles and even rotary grenade launchers or a triple-barreled minigun. Halfway through the game 106 acquires a serum that lets him take this to its logical conclusion and [[GunsAkimbo use a second gun in his other hand]]; the closest the game comes to being realistic about this is that you can't dual-wield the Bolt Launcher or Minigun. [[spoiler:Partway through the final level, 106 [[AnArmAndALeg loses his left arm]] and is forced to use guns one-handed for the rest of the level, restricting any abilities that rely on having two hands like tossing grenades or taking enemies hostage.]]

** ''VideoGame/BloodIITheChosen'' dialed things back a little - the only gun you can use two of that would raise some eyebrows is the returning sawed-off shotgun - in return for making akimbo an inherent ability rather than a limited powerup.

* Averted in most light-gun games and controllers, most notably anything that uses Namco's Guncon or the ''UsefulNotes/NintendoWii'' Zapper, where the guns are large and bulky enough (and the console version has controller on the front grip to be used by left hand) that the only effective way to held it is by both hands.

* The situation in the [[Literature/JamesBond books]] is more varied than the films.
** In Ian Fleming's original Bond stories, 007 started with a .25 Beretta 418 before moving on to the iconic Walther PPK. He would also carry and use a .45-calibre revolver when he needed something more powerful but still concealable. In ''Literature/ForYourEyesOnly'' he uses a Colt 1911 during a stakeout - a ''very'' odd choice for a British secret agent.
** In the later books by other authors, Bond uses a variety of handguns including a genuine HandCannon: a Ruger Super Redhawk .44 Magnum revolver. In ''Icebreaker'', Bond fires this revolver one-handed from an extremely awkward position: sitting in the driver's seat of his car and shooting out the window at his target.

** The situation in the [[Literature/JamesBond books]] is less clear; in addition to the iconic Walther and the .25 Beretta 418 he favoured before that, he would sometimes carry and use a .45-calibre revolver when he needed something more powerful but still concealable, and in ''Literature/ForYourEyesOnly'' used a Colt 1911 during a stakeout.

* Certain bullpup weapons ([[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f76wGxg3fzw such as]] the [[CoolGuns P90]]) are easier to use one-handed than conventional firearms, due to the ammunition and chamber (and therefore much of the weight) being behind the point where one grips it. While that doesn't mean they can be accurately fired one-handed, it's still more reasonable compared to using normal firearms one-handed.

* In ''Film/TheBourneSupremacy'', Jason Bourne is unexpectedly hit with a gunshot. Cut and camera pan back to Krillik, standing on a bridge that turns out to overlook the walkway where Bourne was hit an unknown distance away, holding the gun one-handed.

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[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

* Anime/{{Madlax}}, a character from the same creators, does the same thing with her two [=SIGs=]. She also goes for GunsAkimbo on regular basis - a vast improvement in [[RuleOfCool coolness]] since Kirika's lone Hong Kong stairway scene.
* In ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamWingEndlessWaltz'', Heero twirls a gun one-handed and later threatens to shoot someone, still going onehanded. He doesn't actually fire the gun, but it's still one-handed use.

* General Cross Marian from ''Manga/DGrayMan'' uses a gun-like Innocence called Judgement. The cool thing about the bullets is that they won't stop moving until they reach their target, so if opponent deflects the bullets the first time, the bullet will come back and hit them again.
* Subverted in ''Manga/DogsBulletsAndCarnage''. Mihai chastises Ian to "stop trying to look cool" and hold his gun in two hands when he sees him practicing with a one-handed grip.
* In ''Manga/FromEroicaWithLove'', UsefulNotes/{{NATO}}'s Iron Klaus effortlessly fires a Magnum one-handed. Keep in mind that the recoil on one of those is dangerous even when you're firing it two-handed, and you can see where he gets the nickname.
* In ''Manga/CityHunter'' many characters fire one-handed. {{Justified}} for Saeko and Reika, as the former tends to do it only when she has no time to actually grab it with two hands and the latter has a pocket pistol too small for a two-handed grab, with a number of other characters doing the same with low-recoil weapons (with one of them using a two-handed hold the one time he has actually time to take aim). Then you have people like Ryo and Umibozu, who fire ''{{Hand Cannon}}s'' (Ryo uses his signature Colt Python and a Colt King Cobra, both chambered for the .357 Magnum, and has a .41 Magnum revolver for special occasions, while Umibuzu uses the Smith & Wesson Model 29 in .44 Magnum of ''Film/DirtyHarry'' fame)... Then again, Umibozu is so huge he ''has'' to use {{Hand Cannon}}s and [[SuperStrength a punch capable of shattering concrete]], and Ryo himself is shown to be ''really'' strong (not to Umibozu levels, but can still pound {{Mooks}} with large gravestones)...
** This was actually {{Lampshaded}} in one occasion, where a child wanted to learn how to fire a gun to defend his teacher only to floor himself by firing Ryo's Colt Python one-handed. Ryo promptly pointed out he was still too light and weak to fire ''any'' gun one-handed (and admitted that, [[ChildSoldiers when a child himself, he could only shoot two-handed]]), taught him the correct technique, and had him switch to a less powerful gun.

* DependingOnTheWriter or DependingOnTheArtist, ''Comicbook/ThePunisher'' will shoot either one-handed or with both hands. Writers or artists who want to have ShownTheirWork, will likely have Frank shooting with both hands. Otherwise, he will fire guns one-handed, including automatics.

[[folder:Film]]

* A military example is seen near the end of ''Film/SavingPrivateRyan'', [[spoiler:when Captain Miller is mortally wounded during the German siege of the bridge held by Ryan and company. As a Panzer Tiger inches ominously across the bridge, Miller can do nothing but fire his pistol in pure spite. The tank explodes...thanks to the American planes blasting through the sky.]]
* ''Film/TheKiller1989'' has Chow Yun Fat firing his Taurus handgun one-handed for most of the movie [[GunsAkimbo except when he picks up two guns]].

* Film/DirtyHarry fires his famous .44 Magnum one handed. He must be pretty strong, considering that it's "the most powerful handgun in the world." Though, in the original film, he shoots two handed.

* Film/JamesBond frequently fires one-handed, which is justified due to the fact that his preferred weapon for most of the films is a Walther PPK, the .32 ACP version in earlier works and the .380ACP or "9mm Short" model as of ''Film/{{Skyfall}}''.
** The situation in the [[Literature/JamesBond books]] is less clear; in addition to the iconic Walther and the .25 Beretta 418 he favoured before that, he would sometimes carry and use a .45-calibre revolver when he needed something more powerful but still concealable, and in ''Literature/ForYourEyesOnly'' used a Colt 1911 during a stakeout.
* The protagonist of ''Film/{{Desperado}}'' and ''Film/OnceUponATimeInMexico'' is fond of using a SawedOffShotgun one handed.
* ''Film/MadMax'' is shown to be able to do this with a SawedOffShotgun. He does it most frequently in the tanker chase sequence in ''Film/MadMax2TheRoadWarrior''. Even more impressive is the fact that he's able to score a perfect [[BoomHeadshot headshot]] on the [[SnipingTheCockpit driver of a moving vehicle]] while himself driving a huge truck.
* ''Film/TheProfessionals''. When facing off with a machete-wielding bandito, Creator/LeeMarvin's character is standing side-on, as per the correct technique of the time. He's shown to have consistently accurate shooting using only his .38 revolver.

* Fontaine, from ''Literature/AllTomorrowsParties'' does target shooting with a small calibre revolver, holding in it one hand.

* Averted by ''Literature/{{Incompetence}}''. Harry gets his hands on [[spoiler: Klingferm]]'s gun and has to use both hands to steady his aim.

* In ''Series/{{Torchwood}}'', Captain Jack Harkness teaches WPC Gwen Cooper to shoot this way rather than the modern two-handed technique, though it may just have been an excuse to [[CovertPervert feel her behind]].

* ''Series/TheWalkingDead'', Rick tends to fire his {{revolver|sAreJustBetter}} this way.

* In ''VideoGame/RedDeadRedemption'', John Marston fires all of his pistols and revolvers one handed, as well as the sawed-off shotgun. He also fans the hammer of his revolver in "Dead-Eye" mode. It should also be noted that he fans the hammer of his semi-auto pistols and sawed-off shotgun in "Dead-Eye", even though 3 out of the 4 pistols don't have external hammers and neither does the sawed-off. Most likely the developers failed to notice this, or they couldn't be bothered fixing it. Maybe both.

* ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2''
** The Spy's fires his Revolver and other primary weapons in one hand so he can hold up the other to look at his {{Invisibility|Cloak}} [[ShoePhone watch]] or use the Dead Ringer.
** The Engineer holds his pistol one-handed), but the Scout (who wields an identical pistol, albeit with less ammo in reserve) uses two.
* Ashelin from ''VideoGame/JakAndDaxter'' usually wields her handgun single-handedly, as does Veger.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Boktai}}'', both Django and Aaron fire their smaller Solar Guns one-handed during normal gameplay. During the cutscene where Aaron fires his first shot, he uses both hands; the resulting shot is [[GameplayAndStorySegregation so powerful that it]] ''[[GameplayAndStorySegregation goes through]]'' [[GameplayAndStorySegregation the skeleton he was firing at]]... wait, change that. The shot was big enough to annihilate the skeleton and ''keep on going''!
* Ellis in ''VideoGame/Left4Dead2'' holds single pistols one-handed, including the [[HandCannon Magnum]]. It doesn't affect gameplay in any way.

* Shepard in ''Franchise/MassEffect'' uses two hands in combat, but only one when s/he wants to look cool (like at a photo op) or is threatening someone.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Marathon}}'', the main character holds the pistol, the fusion pistol, and the shotgun in one hand. To better [[GunsAkimbo pick up and use a second one]], you see.
* ''VideoGame/SoldierOfFortune's'' Desert Eagle-lookalike HandCannon is fired one-handed.

* ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry''
** Nero in ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry4'' and ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry5'' fires a double-barrel revolver in which the caliber is almost that of a Smith & Wesson Model 500 revolver with ''one hand''. Revolvers of that size are normally shot with both hands to brace for recoil. Can be justified by him being a quarter-demon with [[SuperStrength superhuman strength]], much like Dante. Then again, a look at the modifications shows that both barrels are ported, which would greatly counteract the muzzle-flip and recoil of the gun.
** Dante, likewise, always holds and fires his SawedOffShotgun one-handed. In ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry2'', he doesn't even bother putting Ebony (the left-hand gun of his normal GunsAkimbo pistols) away while using said shotgun, apparently to facilitate the "Twosome Time" ability introduced in the game that lets the player shoot two targets at once.
* Saika Magoichi from ''VideoGame/SengokuBasara'' fires her flintlock pistols one-handed at all times and has impeccable aim. Thankfully all her other guns she holds with two.
* The first-person models for some pistols and smaller submachine guns in some of the later ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty'' games suggest that the player character holds and fires them in this manner, though this is not the case in third-person. The UsefulNotes/{{Wii}} versions tend to use this as an excuse to let the player fire them GangstaStyle as well.
* All units with SwordAndGun fire this way in ''VideoGame/DawnOfWar''. The Commissar is notable for his Execute ability doing the "hand in air and brought down to fire" on whichever poor sod [[YouHaveFailedMe wasn't showing sufficient resolve in the face of the Emperor's enemies that day]].
* In ''VideoGame/GranadoEspada'', this is a possible shooting stance for pistols, which is between two-hand gripped firing and GunsAkimbo in accuracy and attack speed.

* Juste Volerti of ''VideoGame/AviaryAttorney'' ''has'' to fire one-handed, he only has one hand. Leonie Beaumort doesn't have this restriction but also does this, though she only ever fires at point blank range, to execute someone.

* John Joe from the ''VideoGame/{{Richman}}'' series is a sharpshooter cowboy who does this in ''Richman 4'''s credits, along with his "selected" animation and starting pose in ''Richman 11''.
* Jill in ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil3Nemesis'' fires a magnum revolver with both hands. However, if you chose to finish off Nemesis at the end of the game, Jill will grab a magnum revolver from the floor and fire at the downed monster with one hand while giving a BondOneLiner.

* ''Film/TheKiller'' has Chow Yun Fat firing his Taurus handgun one-handed for most of the movie [[GunsAkimbo except when he picks up two guns]].

* ''VideoGame/{{Blood}}''[='=]s "GunsAkimbo" powerup allows for this, granting you a second copy of several weapons, mostly ones that would otherwise be used with both hands such as the shotgun, Tommy gun, Napalm Launcher, and with one of the expansions, the Tesla gun. ''VideoGame/BloodIITheChosen'' dialed things back a little - the only gun you can use two of that would raise some eyebrows is the returning sawed-off shotgun - in return for making akimbo an inherent ability rather than a limited powerup.

* ''VideoGame/{{Blood}}''[='=]s "GunsAkimbo" powerup allows for this, granting you a second copy of several weapons, mostly ones that would otherwise be used with both hands such as the shotgun, Tommy gun, Napalm Launcher, and with one of the expansions, the Tesla gun. ''Blood II'' dialed things back a little - the only gun you can use two of that would raise some eyebrows is the returning sawed-off shotgun - in return for making akimbo an inherent ability rather than a limited powerup. {{Game Mod}}s tend to expand on how many guns can be used akimbo, as well, and even without them [[WhatCouldHaveBeen it was originally intended]] that the assault rifle with underslung GrenadeLauncher could be used akimbo (although, naturally, the grenade launcher wouldn't be usable with two guns at once).