when firing a handgun, how far should you hold it from your body?

Direct answer: For safety and control, keep the handgun at arm’s length or slightly farther from your body when firing. The goal is to have the bore aligned with your forearm and body to help manage recoil and maintain control, while ensuring enough clearance to avoid contact with your body or gear and to reduce the risk of “limp wrist” malfunctions. In practice, many trained shooters emphasize a two‑hand grip, a flat wrist, and keeping the pistol at roughly an arm’s-length distance from the torso; you should not tuck the gun tightly against the chest or rely on a dangerously close stance. Always maintain a straight alignment from shoulder through the elbow to the firearm, and ensure the muzzle does not come into contact with your clothing or skin during recoil. If possible, follow range safety guidelines and seek hands-on instruction from a qualified firearms instructor to tailor distance to your specific handgun, grip, and shooting conditions.