AR15 & cross eye dominance

[tackleberry45]

I am right handed but left eye dominant. This is not an issue with my pistols. There was a thread on here on this subject and I cannot locate it. I cannot get far enough over the comb to shoot an AR left eyed.

Should I:

- train to shoot with my right eye?
- train to shoot a lefty model like a Stag?
- consider a different platform other than the AR

 

[highorder]

I'm also right handed and left eye dominant.

I usually shoot the AR (and other longarms) right handed, using my "weaker" eye.

Shooting from the left shoulder is an option as well, and you don't need a left handed upper.

 

[GBExpat]

I'm also right handed and left eye dominant.

I have always shot longguns with my right eye (50 years) with no probs ... and I was an excellent shot over irons before the presbyopia started taking its toll.

 

[LeverGunJunkie]

The good NCO's I know in the Army teach the right handed, left-eye dominant soldiers to shoot left handed. I was skeptical of this until we had a kid who flunked out of USMC basic because he couldn't qualify. My NCO put him on the range, taught him to shoot left handed, and he zeroed and qualified 1st time out. I've since applied this principle to my daughter (9) who is left-eye dominant but soldily right handed. She shoots some tight groups with the 22.

 

[NWCP]

I'm left handed and left eye dominant. Upon entering the Navy years ago they convinced me that I should shoot right handed with my right eye. Been doing it ever since. Now I can shoot either way with both pistols and long guns. Train yourself to shoot left handed using your naturally dominant eye. Having a Stag Arms left handed model wouldn't hurt either. I think you'll find the change won't be that difficult for you.

 

[ForumSurfer]

I'm also right handed and left eye dominant.

Same here.

I just learn to shoot with my right eye or use an optic like an eotech that lets me use both eyes.

Sometimes if I'm going for the most consistent group, I'll just switch over and shoot left handed with my left eye. I think it's always a good idea to have the ability to be able to switch up and shoot (comfortably) left handed, anyway.

 

[dzelenka]

The Army Marksmanship Unit teaches competition shooters to shoot from the side with the dominant eye. It creates a lot less problems for the shooter as well as reduces eye strain.

 

[d2wing]

Would a brass catcher solve that problem?

 

[ForumSurfer]

Would a brass catcher solve that problem?

Beats me. I just switch up and shoot left handed...haven't gotten enough brass in my face to make me want to look at a lefty. The brass flying across my face doesn't distract me. I thought it would, but it doesn't.

 

[Birddog1911]

Whether it was right or not, if I had a shooter that I was coaching who was right handed but left eye dominant, I made them wear an eye patch while snapping in or shooting. It's been some time, but I seem to recall it working fairly well for them.

 

[Jackal1]

I am right handed and left-eye dominant. I shoot scoped rifles from my right and iron sights (including my AR) from my left shoulder.

Any good AR upper (all?) will have a brass deflector to let the shooter use either their right or left shoulder.

There really is little need for a left-handed upper unless you get easily distracted by the flying brass. However, you should be looking downrange and not at your flying brass....

According to behavioural scientists it takes 3,000 repititions for something to become habit. Sit down for an hour a week and do nothing but shoulder your AR to your left shoulder and you should be good.

good luck...

 

[Zerodefect]

I am right handed but left eye dominant.

Me to.

I shoot my Ar's lefthanded with my stronger left eye. Vision is more important than what arm you use. It didn't take me long to get much faster shooting lefty.

Now I have to shoot with my left eye when I use irons or scopes. With a good reddot like an Aimpoint or Eotech I can use either side well. So obviously I use 1x reddots on my defensive carbines.

I use an ambi safety, Magpul badlever, and BCM charging handle for improved ambi use.

 

[briansmithwins]

Depends on the shooter: Some people are strongly eye dominate and would find it easier to follow the strong eye. Some people are weakly eye dominate and could shoot with either eye.

There ain't one right answer to this question. Try both and see what works.

BSW

 

[1stmarine]

Train to Shoot with the both eyes and both hands. That's what I do. For long range, find out a scope with long eye relieve and shoot with your right eye, right and or left eye, left hand but both eyes open.
I have 3 more words... Train, train train.
I hope this helps.

 

[smokeyandthebandit05]

Im left eye dominate but right handed. Went shooting at the cub scout camp. They tried having me shoot left handed and all but I couldnt do it. By that point I was set in using my weak eye to shoot. It doesnt affect me at all but I would like to learn how to use my weak left side

 

[MTMilitiaman]

I am right handed and left eye dominant as well, and never had a problem with the AR-15/M16. I even easily qualified "Expert" with an A2 at 500 yards, all shooting left-handed. As long as the rifle has a brass deflector on it, and most of em do, I don't see how there should be a problem. You're supposed to have to put your nose right up to the charging handle...

 

[1KPerDay]

I've shot my Colt SP1 (no brass deflector) lefty for many years. No issues, other than brass sometimes hitting my right forearm when shooting from the hip.

 

[Bonesinium]

I was at the range this weekend just shooting lots for fun with friends, and not really focusing on shooting for groups. About halfway through, I realized I was shooting my pistols focusing with my right eye. I'm left eye dominant. After switching it up, I shot much better. It got me wondering about shooting rifles. I'm going to try shooting left handed next time I'm out. In general, I am TERRIBLE doing anything left handed. I'm curious to how this will feel. I've never tried shooting left handed before.

 

[Sharkbait08]

I'm left/left, but I've always trained with both. Being active duty I've shot both rifle and pistol in both right and left positions. I find it's always easiest to use the same/same combo, even if it means my weaker eye (being my right one).

I bought a Stag 8L, but really only because I wanted the lefty configured weapon. The brass on normal AR's has never distracted me or bothered me.

Now my 870 on the other hand... I bought the 870 Left Hand model because when I reload the shells would either hit me in the face (mounted) or in the gut (holding at a resting position). The left hand eject on the shotgun made all the difference...

 

[Rexster]

I am left-eye-dominant, and have no trouble using an AR15 in lefty mode. Actually, in some ways, it is a better lefty rifle than rightie rifle. I am not actually right-handed overall, but it felt more natural to shoot long guns, primarily shotguns, in right-hand mode in the beginning. (I throw and kick rightie, and do small things lefty.) I started having trouble when I started using aperture sight and optics, however, and then found I was left-eye dominant. My switch to lefty rifle shooting solved that problem, and felt natural right away.

The only long guns that still feel natural to me right-handed are bead-sight pump shotguns.

I didn't start using the AR15 until rather late in life, after the infamous North Hollywood bank robbery and then 09-11-2001 convinced my PD's command staff to let us carry rifles. I started with an AR15A2 Govt Carbine, to which I added an ambidextrous selector and Norgon ambi mag release. I learned that neither accessory was necessary. My current AR, built around a BCM lightweight middy upper, just has the stock mag release, and the selector is the single-sided star-type from RRA. The AR15 really is a good lefty rifle. Brass ejection across
my right eye's vision? GOOD! I know that case got clear, and that is a sign that the next round is most likely good to go. Life is good!

Good things about running a duty AR15 lefty, and duty pistol rightie: the two weapons don't crash into each other, the sling won't foul on the holstered handgun so easily, and transitions are oh-so-seamless.

Think about it. If your strong arm is opposite you dominate eye, and you shoot from the shoulder corresponding to the dominate eye, it is your STRONGER arm that is doing the part of rifle shooting that actually requires the most physical strength.

 

[Rexster]

I considered the lefty Stag option, and saw that the forward assist is so close to the charging handle latch, that they interfere with each other's operation. Until Stag sees fit to also reverse the charging handle latch, they have a rather clumsy set-up. I am so used to using the normal charging handle, and see no advantage whatsoever to reversing that part. The Stag lefty action seems to have been designed by a kind right-hander without a clue, rather than a lefty.

 

[corncob]

Rexster is right. Pistols with the strong hand/strong eye, rifles with the weak hand/strong eye.

It took me one range session to learn to pull the trigger on my 22 rifle with my left hand. And I have always just tipped my head to the side a bit to sight a handgun with the correct (left) eye, when puling the trigger with the good (right) hand.