Shooting a Rifle Musket left handed

[Crownvicman]

I am thinking about purchasing a Civil War era rifle-musket replica. My problem is that I am a righty who shoots left handed (dang cross dominant eyes!). Anyone have any suggestions? And what did Civil War era shooters with my problem do? Shoot right handed and miss all the time?

 

[4v50 Gary]

The manual of arms (either Casey or Hardee) accounted for left handed instructors indirectly. It simply had the manual of arms for the right handed soldier and when aiming, you closed the left eye. See? Even the marksmanship manuals of the time (and Casey & Hardee had the minimal of instructions) by Wilcox, Benham & Heth (later reprinted by the War Dept. in 1862 w/out giving Heth credit since he fought for the South) gave the instruction to close the left eye. I also have a British 1857 manual that gives that same instruction about the left eye.

BTW, I'm left handed and I'm not a reenactor so I shoot my rifle muskets left handed anyway. I don't have a sergeant to scream at me or an officer to beat me with the flat of his saber. Isn't civilian life wonderful?

 

[Crownvicman]

But what about cap fragments? My percussion revolver spits quite a few of these. How do you keep them out of your eyes shooting left handed?

 

[cookhj]

i'm a reenactor and i'm a left handed shooter. for reenactments, i shoot right handed while we're in formation, but if we're ever told to "fire at will" or if we become disorganized, i'll switch over to my left hand.
now, when i shoot my musket with live loads, i shoot left handed. if you're gonna shoot left handed it's a good idea to wear safety glasses to keep from getting stuff in your eyes.

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

But what about cap fragments? My percussion revolver spits quite a few of these. How do you keep them out of your eyes shooting left handed?

You wear eye protection, like you should be anyway.

 

[Crownvicman]

I wear eye protection. I still don't care for being peppered with debris. It's bad for my beautiful, smooth skin

Off Topic: Did you feel that earthquake? Just curious.

 

[RandyB]

I wear either a long sleeves when I shoot (re-enacting) or made a partial sleeve to pull up on my arm to cover it. I also wear shooting glasses and have no problems with crap coming back on me.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Good point about cap fragments

Always wear some sort of eye protection. Re-enactors can get period eye-glasses and have fake lens mounted. Then again, if the re-enactor is protraying a "rookie" soldier, he can always close his eyes and turn his head when he fires.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

I'm a southpaw and never had a problem shooting a righty muzzleloader from the left side. In my case it was the right side barrel of my Pedersoli percussion double shotgun. I wear eye protection and never got any cap fragments in my face.

If you are getting cap fragments blown back in your face with a rifle or shotgun, look into getting the recess in the hammer nose deepened.

 

[confed sailor]

reenacting rifles

First and foremost.

Buy an 1853 Enfield 3 bander.

IF you ever want to reenact, you can use it with any unit.

second as for left handed shooting, you just grin and bear it, you are firing into a massed formation anyhow I shoot left myself, and when i live fire i switch hands, if you want to follow period drill, simply take the proffered suggestions, and close your left eye.

also if you worry about cap fragments, buy navy arms caps, their musket caps rarely fragment, stay away from RWS Diana caps, (plastic can caps) they are made from copper and are very powerful, and they do fragment. Navy arms and other brands are made from brass and stay in one piece on the nipple.