Just got an AR-15 lower, got a lot of ideas.

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Instantbacon

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Okay, So I am getting my first AR-15 and I am set on a CMMG 16" barrel government profile rifle. It seems to have everything I am looking for. This rifle will mainly be used for fun, but also home defense and since I live in South Georgia I will be wandering the woods and occasionally shoot at the range. I was reading about dominant eyes and this got me wondering, do I need to learn to shoot left handed? I am definitely left eye dominant and it is even a little clearer than the right, but I am used to shooting my .22 with left eye closed. What should I do?

Next thing I am wondering about, is it necessary to free float the barrel if I intend to put a sling on this thing? I most certainly will use a sling a lot when I go trekking. How much would a reasonable quality rail cost if so? I was just gonna mount a light using the TDI bayonet Lug mount, so I don't really want to fill up the rails with accessories. Also, I am getting just a flat top, I am thinking of getting just a fixed rear (keep the original front) sight and eventually getting a red dot scope. I know this is a lot but I need advice before I spend so much on this rifle! This is a lot of money to me (1000) but I have some saved up and I want/need a good quality rifle.
 
If you can shoot good you should should right handed, its whatever your best with. My brother is like you and he covers his left eye and shoots righty.
 
You can get a decent rail from Midwest industries, YHM or Troy. Try them for rear sights as well. I have a Matech rear sight and like it.

Sometimes Free float rail handgaurds are drop in other times you will need a gunsmith to do it.

I'm right handed but I shoot lefty. You could go either way. Its no problem shooting a right handed AR lefty. Try it both ways and go with whatever feels best.

CMMG makes a good product! You will like it!
 
Yeah I mean, I can hit stuff fine, but I figured someone with more tactical knowledge will comment on what I should do. I assumed using dominant eye would be faster, and I also heard you NEED to keep both eyes open. I am willing to retrain to improve if that is a real improvement!
 
I'm a lefty through and through - but due to spending 12 years in the British Army with the SA80 (which being a bullpup has to be shot right handed, no choice), I shoot any rifles right handed now by choice.

Regarding the tactical movement with both eyes open - if the rifle is up to your line of sight, even being left eye dominant, with enough practice you will still see the (right eyed) sight picture you need, it doesn't bother me at all. On the other side of the coin....I have always shot pistols left handed - but when I have a pistol, not rifle in my hand, my left eye automatically picks up the correct sight picture (left eyed) even with both eyes open.

You'd have thought it would all be confusing, but because this is the way I've had to do it for a long time, its not for me is now instinctive. I believe I do sometimes squint, not close, the not so important eye, whichever way round I am doing it (rifle or pistol) - natural reaction to getting around the problem I imagine, I don't have to do it consciously.

Ultimately, what you do is up to you - as with my story (being forced to do it the other way round) you could retrain and it will eventually come natural to you - or you could just stay the way you are - given the choice I would do whatever feels natural to you. I should imagine if I had had any say in the matter, I'd have shot rifles lefty. But, doing it the way I do, it does have some excellent fringe benefits - I can still shoot well off my left shoulder, really advantageous in any weak side stuff. The other thing is transitions from rifle to pistol - I can do that quicker than most people. My final bit of advice is to practice practice practice - bit of a cliche I know, but its the only way you'll figure out what'll work best for you :)
 
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whether you shoot left or right, you'll want the same standard gun. so after you get it, you can practice left and right handed shooting and see for yourself. no big deal there.

offhand, i'd say you'd notice a difference if you practice a lot and use a timer.

you want to free float the barrel if you SHOOT with the sling. i.e. if you 'sling in' and put pressure on the sling as part of your 'position' while shooting. if the sling is just dangling, it doesn't matter at all.

a really nice rail is $200ish.

good luck!
 
Okay, the sling thing makes sense! I don't plan on putting tension on it, but I am going to use a 3 point sling (I read the "so you want to buy an ar-15" post and it seems like the most comfortable. I don't know if I was right handed or left handed when I was born, I remember using both to play tennis and my dad made me use right only, so I did. I can't really think of anything I can do with only my right hand. I am super excited and cannot wait. I will just test each side and some quick drills and see if dominance is even an issue (I haven't shot since I read about it). Thanks for your advice, you all are so knowledgeable. I live in a small town, and even though I don't know much most people I know have never even cleaned a gun!
 
I'm right handed-left eyed as well, and never knew it back when I started shooting. Now I shoot everything right handed, though I can usually do lefty ok as well, just feels...wrong. I can even do both eyes open with an AR, or anything else with the rear sight close enough. With a pistol I just tilt my head over more and move my hands to the left. Looks kinda goofy but works. Anyway, I'll echo the sling sentiments of taliv, and tell you to try shooting different ways and find what works for you.
 
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