Right Handed, Left Eye Dominant

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rogerjames

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This is mostly a rifle question. I have no problem shooting handguns as I am able to tilt my head behind the the sights.

1. Concerning Bolt-Actions... how important is it to have a left-hand model. For example... my first choice for .308 would be Savage 10FP, except this is not offered in lefty. Should I choose a different model that is maybe less than what I want... but offered in lefty. I have also found lefty with MORE than I want, but also cost more than what I want to spend.

2. This is a bigger issue for semi's because I have a greater chance of eating a spent cartridge. At the range I have glasses but in a real life SD situation, this could be a problem.

I would appreciate any opinions from rifle shooters who are right handed and left eyed.
 
I'm in this category, and I have no problems with bolts or semi's -- shoot all long arms left-handed.

I've shot handguns from either side, but recently found out I'm a little better from the left.

Must be my politics.
 
I am right-handed / left eye dominant. I started shooting rifles long, long before I shot handguns, and started shooting right-handed. I'm too used to it now and not affected enough by the dominance that I want to consider switching.

jm
 
I am right-handed / left eye dominant. I started shooting rifles long, long before I shot handguns, and started shooting right-handed. I'm too used to it now and not affected enough by the dominance that I want to consider switching.
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Me also.

I didn't know I was left eye dominant for many years, since I closed my left eye when shooting. Now, I have my glasses set up for monovision where my left eye is corrected for closeup and my right eye for distance. That has forced my brain to 'switch' its dominance, at least while I wear the glasses.
 
I too have the same affliction. I can shoot a pistol with either hand but I shoot rifles lefty because of eye dominance. I was "born thatta way" and after numerous eye surgeries cannot "fuse" objects at different distances. Quality optics helps tremendously but I am starting to not like open sights because of sight degradation. I am far sighted in one eye and near sighted in the other.:p

I have used "lace on" pads to get the cheek weld I want whenever possible.

Also, proper scope ring height is very important when shooting a right handed rifle from a left hand position. I practiced a lot with my "go to" rifle and I shoot 3 shot groups consistently 3" @ 235 - 250 yd.

I have an EBR and have yet to get an eye put out............ Wear your PPE's whenever possible !;)
 
Concerning Bolt-Actions... how important is it to have a left-hand model.
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That's my situation and I've used both LH and RH rifles. It made/makes no practical difference for me as I can operate them both about as fast either way. If you do much shooting you'll discover you don't need or have time for very many second shots and the question is moot.

2. This is a bigger issue for semi's because I have a greater chance of eating a spent cartridge.
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I've owned several semi auto rifles. Two mini 14s, one mini 30, a 740 Woodsmaster and a Smith AR. I shot them all left handed and they were all right handed ejection. The problem you're describing never happened to me in over 30 years of shooting.
 
Quote:
Concerning Bolt-Actions... how important is it to have a left-hand model.
That's my situation and I've used both LH and RH rifles. It made/makes no practical difference for me as I can operate them both about as fast either way. If you do much shooting you'll discover you don't need or have time for very many second shots and the question is moot.

Quote:
2. This is a bigger issue for semi's because I have a greater chance of eating a spent cartridge.
I've owned several semi auto rifles. Two mini 14s, one mini 30, a 740 Woodsmaster and a Smith AR. I shot them all left handed and they were all right handed ejection. The problem you're describing never happened to me in over 30 years of shooting.
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That's what I wanted to know:)
 
rogerjames:

I know it won't help your shooting, but it is a distinct advantage for a right handed golfer to be left eye dominant. Nice to know when you're on the tee, though.... :D

Waddison
 
If you train yourself to use your right eye when shooting, the both questions should be less important (i.e. you can shoot either a left or right bolt gun and still shoot right eject semi-autos.
I have the same problem, but my dad wouldn't let me shoot left handed when I was a kid, so I had to patch my left eye when shooting. Later when i shot small bore competition in college, I unscrewed the aperture on my Anshutz and put a 3x5 index card on so I could keep both eyes open (I could not focus the right eye with the left open).
So even though you may be able to train yourself to close either eye and shoot with the other, you may have difficulty trying to shoot with both eyes open with an aperture sight (more an issue with your semi-auto question). I had no problem shooting both eyes open with my eotech though, so maybe the electronic sights help.
You should be able to get a sight patch at a medical supply store or pharmacy. Let people make fun of you, just shoot straight and show off your targets.
 
rogerjames:

I know it won't help your shooting, but it is a distinct advantage for a right handed golfer to be left eye dominant. Nice to know when you're on the tee, though....

Waddison
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That's funny. I golf right handed but I bat left handed.
But I am learning to hit a bullet with the left and the right :D
 
I also fit this scenario of "right hand, left eye". When I was younger, I probably looked pretty stupid shooting a rifle, right handed while contorting myself to use my left eye. After years of practice with my right eye, and now slowly losing sight in my left, the right is dominant.

On a side note, there are too many of us like minded people on here with this same problem for it to be a coincidence. The brain is a truly amazing thing.
 
I also fit this scenario of "right hand, left eye". When I was younger, I probably looked pretty stupid shooting a rifle, right handed while contorting myself to use my left eye. After years of practice with my right eye, and now slowly losing sight in my left, the right is dominant.

On a side note, there are too many of us like minded people on here with this same problem for it to be a coincidence. The brain is a truly amazing thing.
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.

I appreciate the responses. I am happy for all of you who were able to retrain your other eye. This was not my intention, nor my interest. If you read my question, I was looking for suggestions on how to shoot left eye when right hand dominant
 
I appreciate the responses. I am happy for all of you who were able to retrain your other eye. This was not my intention, nor my interest. If you read my question, I was looking for suggestions on how to shoot left eye when right hand dominant
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I strongly recommend that you retrain yourself to shoot left handed. In the long run it will save you a lot of problems and you will become a better shot. I regret that I never did that, and now I'm too old and set in my ways to change.
 
"I appreciate the responses. I am happy for all of you who were able to retrain your other eye. This was not my intention, nor my interest. If you read my question, I was looking for suggestions on how to shoot left eye when right hand dominant"

put the rifle to your right shoulder, and bend your neck/turn your head so that you look down the sights with your left eye. You will suck, but you will get used to it. It's sort of a self answering question. Or you could design some silly rig that mounts on your gun and hangs along side to the left for sights, but every time the wind blows on it you'll likely have to sight it in again. And the triangulation factor will mean it is only accurate at the distance it was sighted for......
 
I'm ambihelical. I can screw up equally well with either hand.

Actually, I shoot unscoped rifles left-handed, scoped rifles right-handed, pistols and shotguns with either hand. I was originally ambidextrous, but damaged my right eye in my early teens. Scopes can be adjusted to compensate for this, but I cannot focus on the front iron sight with my right eye.

Thus the complex arrangement given above.
 
"I appreciate the responses. I am happy for all of you who were able to retrain your other eye. This was not my intention, nor my interest. If you read my question, I was looking for suggestions on how to shoot left eye when right hand dominant"

put the rifle to your right shoulder, and bend your neck/turn your head so that you look down the sights with your left eye. You will suck, but you will get used to it. It's sort of a self answering question. Or you could design some silly rig that mounts on your gun and hangs along side to the left for sights, but every time the wind blows on it you'll likely have to sight it in again. And the triangulation factor will mean it is only accurate at the distance it was sighted for......[/QUOTE
I have mastered the head tilt for a handgun quite effectively. If you are suggesting the same for a rifle, then ...
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Well, you have a bunch of people trying to help, but if you're intent on shooting semi autos the way you seem to be trying, you might want to try one of the new guns that drops spents out the grip. I think there's a new sub-gun in .45ACP that does that. Otherwise, I'm afraid your going to catch brass in your face.
Good luck with that, I hope you can find something that meets your needs.
 
Well, you have a bunch of people trying to help, but if you're intent on shooting semi autos the way you seem to be trying, you might want to try one of the new guns that drops spents out the grip. I think there's a new sub-gun in .45ACP that does that. Otherwise, I'm afraid your going to catch brass in your face.
Good luck with that, I hope you can find something that meets your needs.
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No No, I intend my long range rifles to be bolt action!!!
 
Same problem here...

I end up shooting with my right eye on rifles, left eye on handguns. The only difficulty I have is that after shooting for any length of time with a rifle, I end up having blurred vision in my dominant eye for about a half an hour. I usually sit in my car until I'm good enough to drive.
 
I don't understand? I found out recently I'm "RHLED". Been shooting since I was 9 years old.

I "point" shoot handguns at 21 feet with both eyes open. At my last qualification I scored "perfect".

I "point shoot" shotgun at our last trap/skeet event with the boys with both eyes open. Did quite well.

Hunt and track grouse every fall, usually do better than most. Both eyes open when I shoot. Did I mention I'm color blind?

Here's where I'm confused.

When I shoot a .22LR, or other rifles right handed, I simply shut my left eye when looking down the sights or the scope.

I hit my target.

I guess nobody ever told me I'm supposed to keep both eyes open when I shoot a rifle. Than again I'm self taught and have never been properly educated how "to shoot". I didn't have that luxery as a child.

Is it wrong to shoot a rifle with one eye closed? I suppose it doesn't matter since I've done allright so far, but I'd like to know.

I don't understand?

:confused::confused:
 
RogerJames, I am the the same as you are.

Whether a bolt action is left or right makes little difference in shooting. After you fire, the recoil makes the rifle jump and you have your eye off target anyway to operate the bolt. The only real difference if for some reason you later want to sell or trade the rifle, a left handed one is very difficult to get rid of.

With semis, either rifle or handgun, no worries. The guns are mostly set up to eject well away from the shooter. The only time I have ever had a problem is with 1911s that needed the ejector or extractor adjusted to prevent rounds from flying back in my face. It wasn't an issue of shooting left or right handed.
 
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