This means my best sighting eye is the left, which is awkward while shooting with my right hand. It makes it hard to shoot with both eyes opened because I naturally focus down the left, and if I close the left, my right gets tired after only 10 minutes or so. Does this happen to anyone else? Any suggestions for improving my right eye shooting other than practice?
Left Eye Dominant, Right-Handed Shooter
- Thread starter ejnogarb
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highorder
Member
You and me both.
I shoot handguns with my right hand dominant, using both eyes open, sighting with my left eye.
I close my "good" eye when shooing rifles.
I shoot handguns with my right hand dominant, using both eyes open, sighting with my left eye.
I close my "good" eye when shooing rifles.
If you use the Isosceles stance then your dominent eye will naturally take over. With the gun at midline to your body it won't make any difference.
I am told with rifles and shotguns, if you put scotch tape or vaseline over your left lens then your right eye will be the dominant one again.
I have the same issue. It isn't uncommon at all.
I am told with rifles and shotguns, if you put scotch tape or vaseline over your left lens then your right eye will be the dominant one again.
I have the same issue. It isn't uncommon at all.
highorder
Member
Scotch tape works really well; When shooting rifles exclusively I use this little trick.
rbernie
Contributing Member
I am right handed and left eye dominant. I also need glasses/vision correction.
To facilitate my shooting, I have my glasses made to undercorrect in my dominant/left eye. This provides me with close-up monovision (using my left eye) and allows/enables my brain to naturally 'switch' to my right eye for anything out past 12" or so.
This approach has worked really well for me.
To facilitate my shooting, I have my glasses made to undercorrect in my dominant/left eye. This provides me with close-up monovision (using my left eye) and allows/enables my brain to naturally 'switch' to my right eye for anything out past 12" or so.
This approach has worked really well for me.
Try gangsta style. It works for some people, and not just gangstas. Not necessarily a 90 degree cant - 30 or 45 degrees. I can shoot accurately that way.
see http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2005/12/marksmanship_in.php
https://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=212535
see http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2005/12/marksmanship_in.php
see also,
https://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=212535
1KPerDay
Member
The weaver works better for me as I can move my right hand over a bit and/or turn my head to the right a bit. Isosceles lines the sights up with my right (non-dominant) eye.
I'm trying to get better at shooting left-handed but it's an uphill battle. I'm pretty strongly right-handed.
I shoot long guns lefty and always have. No trouble there.
WardenWolf
member
Watch the movie "Fire Birds." You'll get it when you see it.
Actually, here's the clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tya5CObdJzc
Actually, here's the clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tya5CObdJzc
Riss
Member
The old Isosceles has been brought back and updated a little. With both arms pushed straight out in front of you and your non dominant hand wrapped around the front of your dominant hand you are given a natural lockup in your arms. The gun hand is kept from going all the way forward by your other hand. Natural tension, more stability, and less fatigue are the result. Watch any of the big IPSC guys (or gals) on YouTube and you can see how it works. Goloski, Burkett, everyone uses it.
Fred Fuller
Moderator Emeritus
1KPerDay
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Ugh... no thanks. The first time was bad enough.
YammyMonkey
Member
I would strongly advise you to start shooting left handed. I fought making the change for years but shortly after I did things got much easier for me. Claude from the Rogers School has also found over the years that trying to run your gun cross-dominantly doesn't hold up well at full speed.
As an added bonus, you'll have your dominant side to go hands-on if needed or access a secondary weapon like a knife, light (for beating someone senseless), etc.
If you're just having fun with your guns do whatever you want. If you're training to fight with your gun learn to shoot with the dominant eye side hand. It'll be hard at first, but simple things like walking around the house with the gun in your hand & dryfire will help speed up your acclimation.
As an added bonus, you'll have your dominant side to go hands-on if needed or access a secondary weapon like a knife, light (for beating someone senseless), etc.
If you're just having fun with your guns do whatever you want. If you're training to fight with your gun learn to shoot with the dominant eye side hand. It'll be hard at first, but simple things like walking around the house with the gun in your hand & dryfire will help speed up your acclimation.
d2wing
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That cross dominance is fairly common. I used to teach shooting. The best practice is to shoot on the side of your dominant eye. That's because your opposite hand will point at whatever your dominate eye is looking at. This is important in shotgun shooting. Some people's sight will switch with conditions such as eye strain. Tape or something on your left lens of your shooting glasses, as mentioned is useful. I also suggest you try shooting left handed.
moi_self26
Member
I feel retarded, I was trying to practice holding and sighting with my bad side (left), I had no problem holding it lefty, but I just can't close my right eye and keep my left eye open.
cliffy
member
Once Manufacturers realize . . .
More left-handed rifles will become available. I'm right-eye dominant and shoot best right-handed, but I'm less of a majority than ever before realized. People fighting accuracy because of right-handed rifles is becoming more notable. A RIGHT-HANDED person who is LEFT-EYED dominent can never fully enjoy a right-handed rifle. cliffy
More left-handed rifles will become available. I'm right-eye dominant and shoot best right-handed, but I'm less of a majority than ever before realized. People fighting accuracy because of right-handed rifles is becoming more notable. A RIGHT-HANDED person who is LEFT-EYED dominent can never fully enjoy a right-handed rifle. cliffy
d2wing
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Shooting cross dominate is not intuitive, so it takes practice. Some folks give up and shoot right handed with the left eye closed or squinting. You ideally should be able to shoot with both eyes open. It is much easier to teach children with no experience to shoot than adults, especially if they have learned and practiced the wrong way. You have my sympathy.
If you cannot relearn you have to decide what works for you and practice it.
This is more an issue with moving targets and shotgun shooting. If you aim your shots with sights it is less of an issue.
If you cannot relearn you have to decide what works for you and practice it.
This is more an issue with moving targets and shotgun shooting. If you aim your shots with sights it is less of an issue.
threefeathers
member
Good Lord, I just got back from Mas Ayoob's LFI and you guys will die when I give you the really simple solution. My son, former 82nd Airborne, has the problen amd Mas fixed it in 15 seconds.
First you must be able to shoot from all stances, Weaver, Chapman, Isocoles because you must be able to shoot in all kinds of physical situations. (No, No, i'm just gonna stand up and pump lead
)
Listen closely: Take your gun in your dominant hand. Cant it 30 degrees toward the Dominant Eye. Wow, you immediately have focus and you don't have to go into abunch of contortions to do it.
At LFI Mas has students fire almost 30% of shots with the non-dom hand because stats show that many of us, in a gun fight, will be hit in the gun arm. Folks focus on the threat which in the eyes of many perps is the gun.
Try it, you'll like it.
First you must be able to shoot from all stances, Weaver, Chapman, Isocoles because you must be able to shoot in all kinds of physical situations. (No, No, i'm just gonna stand up and pump lead
) Listen closely: Take your gun in your dominant hand. Cant it 30 degrees toward the Dominant Eye. Wow, you immediately have focus and you don't have to go into abunch of contortions to do it.
At LFI Mas has students fire almost 30% of shots with the non-dom hand because stats show that many of us, in a gun fight, will be hit in the gun arm. Folks focus on the threat which in the eyes of many perps is the gun.
Try it, you'll like it.
I have the same problem and only just realized it. I'm left eye dominant and very right handed. I noticed I was left eye dominant when I started shooting pistol....but didn't find it too hard to shoot with both eyes open..with the left eye. ..and i never thought about it with the rifle...i just closed the off eye. Recently, got a red dot sight and still don't have much problem with both eyes.
However, I recently started shooting alot more shotgun (trap mostly) and have really been struggling with it. I can shoot perfectly fine..no complaints, IF i close the left eye. But with both eyes open...it's a real struggle. Also, my right eye starts to feel a strain after alot of shooting. I realized my left eye is dominant for a reason...my vision in the right eye isn't nearly as good.
I'm wondering now....could I shoot pistol and rifle right handed all this time fine and have to learn to shoot trap and skeet left handed??????
However, I recently started shooting alot more shotgun (trap mostly) and have really been struggling with it. I can shoot perfectly fine..no complaints, IF i close the left eye. But with both eyes open...it's a real struggle. Also, my right eye starts to feel a strain after alot of shooting. I realized my left eye is dominant for a reason...my vision in the right eye isn't nearly as good.
I'm wondering now....could I shoot pistol and rifle right handed all this time fine and have to learn to shoot trap and skeet left handed??????
My 11y/o grandson has the same problem, and I'm trying to get him to shoot left-handed. He's still young enough to adapt to it, I think. Last trip out, he was doing pretty good left-handed.
He fired my M1 for the first time, and was hitting the bullseye at 100 yards shotting l/h. I was running the video camera and didn't see the hits, but when I looked in the spotting scope there were several new holes there. I was impressed!
He fired my M1 for the first time, and was hitting the bullseye at 100 yards shotting l/h. I was running the video camera and didn't see the hits, but when I looked in the spotting scope there were several new holes there. I was impressed!
mercop
Member.
As suggested just shoot with both eyes open, you will during a shooting anyway.
Spent the afternoon at the range today and decided I am definitely going to TRY and start shooting my shotgun left handed.
The pistol I line up intuitively with the left eye and shoot fairly well with both hands already. Weaver mostly unless I'm moving..all left eye right hand.
The rifle though...with out the red dot sight...well let's just say I went from my best day in a long time to a literal headache. I really need it..which is ok for now. I'm thinking after I improve with the shotgun left handed....maybe I'll venture to try the rifle lefty....but that's gonna really hurt. I'm a big fan of my rifles...but better is better and I think I should be able to shoot without the red dot.
This post has been fairly helpful to read. thanks
The pistol I line up intuitively with the left eye and shoot fairly well with both hands already. Weaver mostly unless I'm moving..all left eye right hand.
The rifle though...with out the red dot sight...well let's just say I went from my best day in a long time to a literal headache. I really need it..which is ok for now. I'm thinking after I improve with the shotgun left handed....maybe I'll venture to try the rifle lefty....but that's gonna really hurt. I'm a big fan of my rifles...but better is better and I think I should be able to shoot without the red dot.
This post has been fairly helpful to read. thanks
I learned years ago to turn my head slightly to the right to allow my dominant left eye to line up with the sights better. That solves my problem. The only time I have issues is with the red dot on my AK. I have a hard time using the re dot with both eyes open so I usually just close one. If I'm shooting at any distance I would have to do the same to use my sights anyhow
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