Shooting Epiphany

[Hizzoner]

I am cross-dominant and don't normally do anything left handed.
I have always shot right handed in an isosceles or modified Weaver stance because offhand just didn't work well for me.
I am using a Ruger P85 MKII and I routinely shoot ~3" - 4" (or larger ) groups in (barely) rapid fire at 25' and never seem to get much better, even with a fair amount of practice. The other day, for no particular reason, I decided to try shooting in the same type of stance but left handed. After a few rounds to get past how weird it felt I started shooting 1.5" groups pretty consistently. I always assumed I would do worse left handed or that it would at best not make a difference but WOW.

 

[chris in va]

Nice. You can also use a sort of blinder that covers your left eye.

 

[Hizzoner]

I had tried that but it didn't really help much.
The visual acuity in my right eye is not as good as my left.
Which is probably why the left became dominant.
Anyway, the progress has made me excited to go to the range again this weekend instead of being ambivalent about it.

 

[F-111 John]

A little square of scotch tape on your shooting glasses over your cross dominate eye makes it easier to use your weak eye, yet maintain a natural two eyes open sight picture.

I'm right handed, left eye dominate, and my left eye has much sharper acuity than my right eye. But a bit of frosty scotch tape strategically placed allows me to sight using my right eye, while keeping both eyes open.

Worth a try.

 

[tipoc]

Hizzoner,

Just a question. You are right handed and your dominant eye is your left. Is that correct? Also you normally shoot right handed and let your dominant left eye lead the way as you usually do in all other things. Is that also correct? Then the other day you shot left handed and did well letting the left eye lead as normal. Am I right in what I think you said?

Also F-111 why would you block off your strong eye?

tipoc

 

[guyfromohio]

I can shoot a decent group weak-handed, but I think it's due to the added attention and concentration.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

When I shoot off hand I switch eyes to shoot. It seems to work for me so I see no reason why shooting left handed wouldn't work for you since you are left eye dominant...

 

[larryh1108]

I also recently discovered my cross-eye dominance. My groups were like yours. I have not been to the range since I have discovered this because I moved and I am waiting for my new permit but I have practiced shooting left handed with a bb gun with a 6# trigger pull. I am past the awkward feeling but haven't tried it live yet. I am encouraged to read about your success. I can't wait to see if I get the same results. Also, I have always shot rifles lefty for some reason. It started when I was a kid playing army. I guess my body knew what it was doing long before I figured it out.

 

[Hizzoner]

TIPOC: That is correct.
This was my best 3 shot group left handed at 25'

 

[CadetLD]

You would be supprised with the acuracy and dexterity of what your non-dominant hand can do. When I started playing guitar (being right handed) I thought for sure I would have wanted my right hand doing all the precise fretting along the neck of the guitar, like you would on a lefty guitar. But after I gave it a few weeks, my left hand was capeable of doing much more than my right hand ever could along the lines of rythem, timing, control, and strength. I can only imagine shooting would be a similar learning curve.

 

[F-111 John]

F-111 why would you block off your strong eye?

If I try to shoot a handgun with both eyes open, my front sight and the target will jump back and forth. I can close one eye, but I find it more comfortable and natural to tape off my left eye. The tape is near the top center of my shooting glasses, so for normal tasks it is above my field of vision, and I have two working eyes. When I take a shooting stance, I'm looking out of the top edge of my glasses, and my left eye still has full peripheral vision, but because of the tape only my right eye actually "sees" the target and front sight.

 

[tipoc]

I'm left eye dominant and right handed. I shoot best with my strong hand, the right. When shooting I simply turn my head a bit to bring the dominant eye into play. My stance is also adjusted accordingly. I shoot with both eyes open.

I've not had any problem with this anymore than I do when threading a needle, shooting hoops, or tying my shoes. Meaning that it has not effected my shooting any more than any other area of my life which is none.

For extended sessions of range target shooting I have used sight blockers like tape, but on the non dominant eye. I've used a sight blocker on the dominant eye at the range while shooting rifle on occasion. In both cases I've found it reduces fatigue of the eye to do so.

tipoc

 

[Hizzoner]

I'm an IT guy and I screwed up the picture post. Oops.
See above

 

[el Godfather]

@Chris_in_Va, i doubt a blinder covering left eye would be anything other than a laughing stock at the range.

 

[Brian Williams]

Wow, you just found out you shoot better with your left. When was the last time any of you shot with your good hand tied in a sling, or while laying down on your right side, with your gun in the holster on your right and drawn your gun and shot at a target with your off hand. When was the last time those of you with prescription glasses shot with plain safety glasses or those of you with good smeared something on your glasses to represent something in your eyes, Your practice sessions should include not only shooting for accuracy, but to shoot in all sorts of situations, good hand bad hand, good eye, bad eye, one hand, both hands with your offhand pulling the trigger. mix it up and shoot with everything you have. If you are in a bullseye league, I can see shooting mostly for accuracy but if you are practicing for your life, mix it up.