Left-handedness, eye dominance, and handgun controls

[Mitlov]

A few questions bundled into one in this thread. I've been shooting trap since January, but I've never had to worry about which eye is dominant because you always shoot both eyes open.

I'm getting a handgun soon, though, and I'm curious about eye dominance. I think that my right eye is dominant, but I'm not certain. From both-eyes-open, things stay in the same place when I close just my left eye, but seem to shift over slightly when I close just my right eye. Does this mean I'm right-eye dominant? If not, how do I tell?

Also, is it okay to still shoot a handgun left-handed if I'm right-eye dominant? Or should I be learning to shoot a handgun right-handed?

Finally, after talking with my CHL class instructor about different conceal-carry solutions appropriate with office attire (pocket and ankle carry both seeming the most viable for me), I'm personally leaning toward a subcompact pistol over a snubbie. But most of the pistols out there just have right-handed controls. I'm wondering, though, if this is actually a problem. Couldn't I just operate a right-handed mag release with my left middle finger, and couldn't I release a slide by slingshotting it instead of hitting a slide release? Or do I actually need any controls (besides the manual safety if it has one) in the right side of the gun?

 

[HankR]

It sounds like you have the eye dominance thing figured out -- if you close the right eye and stuff moves, the right is dominant.

I am left eye dominant, and switched to shooting rifles left handed later in life. I still shoot handguns right handed (although I probably started life left handed and gradually switched to being right handed for most things but still write left handed). I don't have any trouble shooting handguns right handed and using my left eye to sight, but, as you pointed out, the controls are set up for that.

Lots of "European style" semi-autos have the mag release on the bottom, and many service pistol sized guns have ambidextrous controls. I would suggest you rent/try several handguns before buying and if the mag release is a problem investigate some with the mag release on the bottom and/or ambi safety controls.

 

[mooner]

Sorry Hank, That is backwards. If objects do not move when you close your right eye, you are left eye dominant. Your focal point with both eyes open is the same as it is with only your dominant eye open.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

if you close the right eye and stuff moves, the right is dominant.

Sorry Hank, That is backwards. If objects do not move when you close your right eye, you are left eye dominant

Ok, I'm confused.

Aren't you two saying the same thing?

 

[Mitlov]

I think everyone is saying the same thing, just in different ways. If you see the same thing when looking just through your right eye as you do with both eyes, you're right-eye dominant. If you see the same thing when looking just through your left eye as you do with both eyes, you're left-eye dominant. Correct?

As for the other main issue, whether a right-handed mag release can be operated with a left-handed finger is easy for me to test at a gun counter for any gun I'm interested in. How about the difference between a slide release lever versus slingshotting the slide? Is it really that important to have a slide release lever on the same side as my thumb?

 

[Dframe]

I figured out early I was left eye dominant but thats ok because I shoot lefty anyway. To answer your questions about controls I simply use my middle finger for the mag release and my trigger finger to operate the slide release. The only problem I've ever had was with safetys. They are difficult or impossible for me to use. If you are inclined to Kahr's or XDs or glocks or any other pistol with a perfectly ambidexterous action you're IN! If the gun has a separately operated safety you'll need an ambi safety with a lever on the right side of the gun. I think a bit too much is made of the dominant eye. It just doesn't seem to make that much difference with handguns.

 

[bainter1212]

I am left eye dominant and right handed. I have learned to compensate shooting handguns, just takes a bit of getting used to.

You may want to check out a Walther PPS. It's small enough for pocket or ankle carry and has the HK style mag release on the triggerguard. Ambidextrous.

 

[Sam1911]

but I've never had to worry about which eye is dominant because you always shoot both eyes open.

If you shoot with both eyes open and hit what you're aiming at, then the "handedness" you prefer agrees with your dominant eye.

In other words, if you shoot with your gun mounted on the right shoulder and shoot with both eyes open -- and hit consistently -- then you're right eye dominant.

Anyone can shoot from either side if they close the opposite eye. That's easy. Shooting well with both eyes open means that one eye is dominant enough to align the sights correctly. And with long guns (not handguns) that means that the side you're mounting your gun on matches the dominant eye.

 

[Sam1911]

Most leftys find that they really have no more trouble learning to run a standard handgun than anyone else does. Swapping to an older, European-style, handgun (with all the attendant limitations that might carry with it) just to get a (still slow, with either hand) heel mag release would be not a good trade-off.

 

[1KPerDay]

I'm right handed and left-eye dominant. I shoot long guns lefty and handguns righty, using my left eye. No problems.

BTW if you are familiar with Hickok45 of youtube fame, he's the same way, although he has trained himself to shoot long guns righty using his non-dominant eye. He shoots handguns righty using his left eye, however.

 

[Dframe]

for whatever it's worth, my right handed son switched over to lefty when he discovered he was left eye dominant. He actually shoots a tiny bit better now. He says the sights are easier for him to alaign quickly using his left hand, and he had NO trouble at all learning to shoot with the "Wrong" hand. WRONG? HIS, word not mine. Of course he once told me being left handed was a birth defect (wise ass kid)

 

[Mike J]

I am right handed left eye dominant. I shoot handguns right handed & use my left eye to aim. Long guns I use my right eye to aim. It works out for me.

 

[Mitlov]

Hickok45 is the man. Amazing shot and pleasant personality to boot (judging by his youtube videos; I haven't met him). Didn't realize he was right hand/left eye dominant. Makes me feel better about shooting left hand/right eye.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

I am of the personal opinion that we all should probably practice shooting with both the right and left hands more or less equal for pistols in case we cant use our preferred hand and eye combo.