There are numerous situations where you may need to shoot your pistol from a kneeling position, such as working around cover or a vehicle. The pistol shooting kneeling position reduces your exposure compared to standing and provides greater stability, making it effective for longer-range shots. It does not, however, offer as much mobility for quick reaction as the standing position. The kneeling position can be assumed quickly, and it allows firing from various types of cover.
At War HOGG Tactical, we combine our real-world experience with a building-block methodology of instruction. Remember, you always want to get to your feet as quickly as possible when the situation allows. Standing gives you mobility options, and you are not stuck in one place trying to engage a threat. Try to always treat the flat range like the real world when you train.
Equipment Needed
- Your normal range and firearms equipment
- Live fire range
- Dry fire training area
- Shot Timer, we recommend the PACT Club Timer III. Click the link to learn how to use a timer effectively in your marksmanship training.
- The Firearms Training Notebook – available on Amazon
- Recording device and tripod or holder
- Target of choice
- V-TAC Barricade, Folding chair, Pickle barrel etc.
The pistol shooting Kneeling Positions
We’ll cover three types of kneeling positions: hasty kneeling, kneeling supported, and double knee kneeling.
The kneeling position is quick to assume and easy to maneuver from. It is typically taken after initial engagement from standing, and it can easily be adapted to available cover. For a right-handed shooter, the left foot, right foot, and right knee form a tripod that provides a stable shooting foundation. The position also presents a lower profile to an adversary.
The kneeling position can also be used to change the angle of the bullet—useful if the shooter does not have a clear backstop or is worried about over-penetration with their ammunition.
Pistol Shooting – Hasty Kneeling
The hasty kneeling position reduces exposure, so the shooter is a smaller target for the threat. The position would be used when there is time to get into position.
To assume the hasty kneeling position:
- Take a large step forward with the support leg, placing the foot flat on the ground.
- Place the strong-side knee on the ground. The support leg should be at a 90-degree angle, with the torso leaning forward to help in recoil management. Depending on how much cover you have, don’t cant the leg out past your cover. This could expose more of your leg than you want to and might be a possible target for your adversary. The situation will definitely dictate.
- The pistol should be out of the holster before your knee hits the ground.
- The hasty kneeling can also be used if your backstop is not clear, by changing the angle of the shot.
Pistol Shooting – Kneeling Supported
The supported kneeling position is used when you have more time, more distance, and need a steadier platform than standing.
Once in the kneeling position, either one or two knees, use the available piece of cover to place the pistol on, to secure a steady position.
This position can be useful for zeroing a red dot pistol. Some shooters may not yet have the fundamentals to hold a tight enough group to get a proper zero with their red dot. The supported kneeling position helps take some of that shooter input out of the pistol to achieve a cleaner zero.
pistol shooting – double Knee Position
The double knee position is very versatile. By adjusting knee placement, you can raise or lower your profile, lean around cover, or engage targets at different elevations. A shooter can also use the double knee position in an urban environment to engage targets that are higher or lower than their covered position by adjusting the spread of the knees.
The double knee is assumed the same way as the hasty, except that the support knee is also placed on the ground. Depending on the shooter’s physical ability, the double knee can be used to lean back when only a small piece of cover is available, or both knees can be spread out to lower the profile. The knees should be spread as wide as possible for a solid, stable base. Keep in mind that the environment and your physical ability will play a big part in how flexible this position can be.
When getting out of the double knee position, don’t roll back on your heel to stand, as this can cause stress to the lower back. Instead, work your way into a one-knee position first, then stand up to regain full mobility.
Have Accountability
Accountability matters in shooting performance. You can do it alone, but having a partner, group, or tribe helps keep you on track.
If you don’t have that network, you can join ours. Share your marksmanship growth with us through the On The Range (OTR) Patreon “CREW” member’s page or our War HOGG Tactical “CREW’ members group page.
Mark Kelley of Kelley Defense (my co-host and co-author) and I host bi-monthly interactive Zoom calls with our Patreon CREW members. We break down each shooter’s skill builder, and we’ve even reviewed members’ training videos live, giving immediate feedback on ways to improve.
Conclusion – Put In The Work
To see improvement in your marksmanship skills, you must put in the work. The kneeling position is something you are going to have to practice, and everyone’s body will be a little different in how well they can work these positions. Build a solid dry fire plan, record your progress with tools like The Firearms Training Notebook, and incorporate a shot timer and video analysis. These tools will help translate dry fire gains into live fire performance.
Train Hard, Stay Safe, and see you “On The Range” – Rick
