Left/righty confusion

[Samari Jack]

I know this is a weird question but here goes.

By most things natural, I’m a lefty. Write lefty, shoot a rifle and shotgun lefty. Swing a baseball bat or golf club righty. I’m a better shot with a pistol righty and it “feels” more natural but am left eye dominate. When I shoot righty with a pistol with both eyes open my left eye takes over and sight with my left eye. If I close my left eye, I can aim and shoot with my right eye but feels un-natural. Of course, this is in a practice situation. I’d rather do what comes natural, especially in a self-defense situation, and aim with my left eye but shoot holding the weapon with my right hand.

In the past, I’ve always gotten handguns with ambidextrous safeties. I’m looking for a new gun and am considering one without ambi safety, obviously not a striker fired one.

Do you weapons expert, or average Joe’s, see any problems with this? How should I deal with this?

 

[2wheels]

Well, first thing I wonder is it possible to install an ambi-safety on the gun you're considering?

 

[Samari Jack]

Well, first thing I wonder is it possible to install an ambi-safety on the gun you're considering?

I could go that route. The only caliber I do not have is a .45 ACP. I looked hard at a Kimber. One with the .22 conversion. There is enough bad press out there about FTF, etc. with various Kimbers that I'm kind of turned off by them, especially for what they cost. Naturally a Colt .45 1911 is on the list. I was reading a review today about a Metro Arms American Classic full-sized 1911A1. The author touted very good reliability and the price is right. Only problem is it is made in the Philippines and I'd really like to buy made in the USA if possible.

Seems like everybody and their brother wants a 1911 now. Why I don't know unless it has something to do with the anniversary of the model. I only have three guns that are not striker fired and want to stay away from them for a .45 ACP. Own a Browning High Power 9mm, a Bursa CC in .380 (very dependable but a really weird gun) and a Walther P22.

 

[BCRider]

More than a few of us hold the gun with the right hand as the "strong hand" and aim with the left eye. It's not a big deal at all.

I shoot this way due to my left eye being a little sharper as my right eye has some astigmatism. I was back and forth a little when I first started but soon settled on using my left eye with both open. It's now totally natural and I don't even think about it. I just use the right most/left eye sights image automatically.

 

[Samari Jack]

More than a few of us hold the gun with the right hand as the "strong hand" and aim with the left eye. It's not a big deal at all.

I shoot this way due to my left eye being a little sharper as my right eye has some astigmatism. I was back and forth a little when I first started but soon settled on using my left eye with both open. It's now totally natural and I don't even think about it. I just use the right most/left eye sights image automatically.

I feel a lot better knowing this. I'll quit trying to force what feels un-natural.

 

[8830]

I had this problem too but enough shooting and I have become totally ambidextrous. I shoot with both eyes open too.

 

[JTQ]

I'm a righty that is left eyed dominant. I shoot right handed.

 

[xjsnake]

Right handed, left eye dominant. Use the left eye with both eyes open. Only gets tricky with a long gun for me.

 

[GCBurner]

I shoot with both eyes open, for the most part. I put an ambi safety on my 1911A1 so I can practice strong side/weak side shooting. That's not necessary for revolvers, or "safe action" pistols like the Glock.

 

[BCRider]

SJ, just to add a little tidbit that I forgot to mention. I do turn my head a little so my left aiming eye is closer to the mid line of my body. Otherwise I'd have to have the gun more over to my left side to line up with the left eye. This all being done shooting from an isocelese triangle stance.

 

[S&Wfan]

IMHO, we should ALL learn to shoot well with either eye, and with either hand + either eye, for two reasons . . .

1. If you are a big game hunter, you sometimes need to remain still and not shift much, and swap hands to take the shot.

MORE IMPORTANTLY . . .

2. If you are ever attacked and become involved in mortal combat to save your life, there's a great chance you both with get hurt bad before it concludes . . .

A near miss bullet fragment or splinter the other guy created may blind you in your "good eye" that's the only one you ever learned to instinctively sight with . . . or you may have the bad guy's bullet shatter your shooting arm . . . or whatever.

The other guy is not going to give you a fair chance to work through your pain and fear and figure out how to take him out with the "assets" you have left.

Discipline yourself to shoot well in any combination possible, it can save your life.

 

[Rexster]

There are plenty of cross-dominant shooters! Some of them are very good shooters, indeed. With handguns, don't try to make a mountain out of a molehill; shoot with the hand that is most natural, with both eyes open, and be done with it.

I am left-eye dominant, and left-handed, but right-armed and right-legged, which means not completely cross-dominant; more like confused or "dain-bramaged." I shoot some handguns, such as Glocks and single-action revolvers, better as a lefty, and some handguns, such as double-action revolvers and SIGs, better as a rightie. It is more or less a tie with 1911 pistols. I shoot bead-sighted shotguns well enough from either shoulder, but a bad right shoulder does not like shotgun recoil very much. Long guns, with sights, I shoot lefty. All of that being said, I endeavor to be ambidextrous with my defensive weapons, and my default primary handgun carry position is on my right hip. This is actually very nice, as the stock of a long gun does not clash with the holstered handgun*. Life is good!

*This little detail is especially important for me, as I wear a badge, and quite often have reason to handle a long gun as I am wearing the big handgun.

 

[Autolycus]

I am a lefty when it comes to shooting. My left eye is my dominant eye and my left hand is my dominant one. I also write left handed but do most other things right handed.

 

[Autolycus]

I accidentally posted before I was finished. I usually carry a Glock and I add an extended slide-stop to them so I can use my left index finger to release it if I need to.

 

[InkEd]

If you're shooting the pistol righthanded, which you said is more natural, then you don't need an ambi-features. If you're shooting it lefty, then just use your index finger to releas the magazine like people have done for decades. The only feature on an autoloading pistol a lefty "really needs" specially configured (either lefty or ambi) is a manual safety if it's a single action trigger only carried cocked and locked like on a 1911.