Teach a kid: right-handed, left-eye dominant

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cpileri

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How would you teach a child, age 5, to shoot given the kid is
right-handed but left-eye-dominant?

So naturally, when he grabs a rifle and aims, he puts the stock to his left shoulder, aims with his left eye; but holds his right-hand on the trigger/handle, and the left arm extended. This is his intuitive stance.

Actually, its not all that awkward looking either.

Is it easier to re-learn hand dominance, or eye dominance at age 5? should you bother? or just let him grab and hold the way he wants?

Even if he learns to shoot with both eyes open, he still has to hold the rifle. So how should he do it?

C-
 
I'm cross dominant (right hand/left eye, like your son). With rifles I focus through mounted optical sights with my right eye. I think the magnification makes up for some of the lack of "dominance." I'm not inaccurate shooting this way. I'd suggest your son try mounting his rifle on his right shoulder and sighting through a scope with his right eye.

No scope? Maybe larger aperature rings (i.e. Ashley Express sights), or a big white front bead, so he can aim both eyes open.

My biggest problem is iron sights on handguns... I shoot either both eyes open or just "point shoot"
 
Personally, I would teach to the dominant eye. It simplifies learning to keep both eyes open and is more natural for the brain to keep track of. At the age of 5, it would seem to me that the shortest path to confidence would be to train to shoot lefty. He'll remain a righty for most things, but pick up a rifle with the left.

Actually, I work with a fellow who has to shoot lefty but is right handed. Doesn't seem to both him at all unless he's trying to work a bolt gun from the wrong side.
 
Teach both.

I learned to shoot in the Marines. I was Left Eye dom. They made me shoot lefty, even tho I am a righty.

Now I can switch up to either, and am pretty damn good both ways. I can see better lefty, and I am more steady righty....

Good skills to have methinks..............
 
Shooting left-handed is a handicap.

I'm right-handed, left-eye-dominant, and left-footed (goofy-foot surfer).

I had real problems with trapshooting. I tried shooting leftie; my eyes liked it but my body didn't. So I retrained my eyes with a pistol. Took a few bricks of .22 through a target semiauto.

If he's REALLY a leftie all around, have him shoot left-handed. He'll shoot better.

But if it's six of one, half a dozen of the other, I'd help him learn to shoot right-handed.

It's neither easy nor cheap to find left-handed long guns, generally, and once you've learned, it can be hard to switch.
 
At his young age, let him figure out which way works best for him.

Personally, I am right handed/left eyed and with everything but holosights, I have to force my left eye closed and sight with my right eye.'

I can also shoot left handed-left eyed pretty well assuming the rifle i'm shooting spits brass out in a way that doesn't plant it in my face, and it's not too hard.

He's probably young enough that he can train himself to shoot a rifle left handed if he wants to. He can also probably train himself to be right eye dominant as long as his right eye is physically ok.
 
I taught myself to shoot left handed after realizing even at the age of 8, I couldn't see squat out of my right eye. I'm near legal blind in that eye. If the kid is as bad as I am, even if he isn't, my opinion is it'd be to his benefit to learn to shoot left handed. Didn't take me long to feel comfortable with it and now days, if I pick a gun up right handed, it feels totally awkward. I am quite natural shooting southpaw. The one thing I haven't done is buy a left handed bolt rifle. I hold the gun up a tad with my left arm on the stock, work the bolt with my right hand, and bring it back down. I'm pretty fast doing this, too, but of course I have to break contact with the rifle/sights when I work the bolt. But, it's the first shot that counts. Shooting off a stand isn't a big deal since the gun rest holds the rifle and I just work the bolt with my right hand.
 
marines do it lefty??

According to the eyeball doctors i talked to, eye-dominance is much more ingrained than handedness- makes sense since we use our eyes right from infancy but handedness develops later.

Though eye-dominance is not really permanent until about age 9, either; and with enough training a person can learn anything: sight with both eyes and pull trigger with your big toe, no problem if you practice that way. Its just easier to follow your natural inclinations.

So the Marines go with eye-dominance? Well, they seem to know rifle marksmanship...

So with handguns, no problem: teach both eyes open.

With long guns, try to teach to eye-dominance and buy guns that dont eject brass into your face.

Thanks fo rthe info, all. Please add more if you like.
C-
 
Yes.

Holding a gun steady and firing it is one thing; shooting at moving targets is another.

Clay and bird shooting depends on your whole body, and in my case, it was easier to retrain my eyes (in my late 30s) than my body. And I am a certified strength trainer who lifts every weekday, does a few full-body sports, and learns new ones for fun.

I can shoot a rifle on whatever side of my body I want. It's not that hard. A shotgun, however...
 
He'll do better with the dominant eye. It's no big deal firing "right handed" rifles from the left shoulder. He probably won't have any difficulty shooting from either side.

Shooting from the non-dominant eye is a major obstacle to shooting well.

Ty
 
Being "semi-ambidextrious" myself (left eye dominant, NORMALLY right handed) I can write with either hand and shoot a pistol with either hand, I'd say start him out with the rifle left handed and then teach right handed after he gets good at that. Don't force him either way, but tell him it's something that very few people are able to do. If it's special he'll have more pride in it.
 
I'm right hand/left eye. I had to learn to use my right eye by wearing an eye-patch over my left eye. It works for rifle's and handguns. I'm never inclined to shoot with my left eye, but I never use my right eye for a camera.
The patch worked for me. Maybe it's worth a try.
 
Im left eye/right hand dominate. There is nothing wrong with my vision in either eye, Im just left eye dominate.

It was never a problem with a rifle, I shoot right handed, and kind of "squint" with my left. With a low power scope(<4X) I can open both eyes see a X-hair where it is susposed to be.

I shoot pistol right handed, left eyed, no problems here either.

It was a problem with a shotgun, it took quite a while to learn to keep my cheek down and my left eye closed.
 
I have the same right hand / left eye dominance issue.

Pistols - right handed / left eye is my normal. Just modified my hold a little. I can shoot it left handed also.

Rifles - Open sights I shoot left handed. Peeps and scopes I shoot right handed most of the time. Bolts are always right handed, but pumps and levers are easier from the left.

Shotguns - I used to shoot left handed as it was much more natural, but bought a fibre front bead that has a blinder on it. It was a little awkward at first, but works really well. I have become a much better shot using that sight.

As a youth my father just had me shoot left handed because closing an eye kills all depth perception. It just didnt feel really right and I didnt like getting drilled in the beak by empties. I kept shooting and can now shoot both right and left handed pretty well. I guess if he will be hunting, train him in the manner that he naturally gravitates too. I think it would be better hunting to be able to keep both eyes open as its easier to hit a moving target. If this will be a paper only type of shooter than it doesnt matter if both eyes are open.
 
Sounds alot like me as a kid

I was/am ambidextrous, and grew up really confused:confused:

Some things (like shooting a bow, or a gun) I wanted to do left handed, others were more comfortable right handed(writing). I can't even tell you which eye is dominant. But, because of the scarcity of left-handed bows and guns, I learned to shoot both right handed. Although I close my left eye when shooting (so I guess I'm left eye dominant).

Any way, at 5 years old, you should be able able to teach it either way. I would suggest he learn to shoot right handed, like I did, as its just plain easier. My best shootin' buddy if a confirmed lefty, and has all of the difficulties that come with it (cheek pads, ejection ports, etc.).
 
it took quite a while to learn to keep my cheek down and my left eye closed.
Click to expand...

Ugh!

Depth perception is your friend. That's why I retrained my eyes, rather than shutting one. Shutting an eye might be necessary, but only as a last resort, IMO.
 
I think with a 5 y/o I would let him choose what he feels best with and go from there. Front sight focus is more important than seeing the target perfectly so don't get hung up on perfect long distance vision.
 
i say stick the kid with what feels comfortable. i am a left eye dominant/right hander. i remember as a kid first shooting, that i thought i was a terrible shot because i couldnt hit anything aiming with my right eye finally my dad took a chance and put the gun in my other hand, first shot was dead center. it was like magic. i can't shoot to save my life with my right eye.

i always use right handed guns and never had a problem with it, i guess you dont even really think about it until someone points it out to you. go with whats comfortable.
 
I am left handed through and through. I grew up shooting right handed but I do everything else left handed (swing a bat, write, hold a fork, etc.) and it's only been recently that I've thought hard about learning to shoot left handed.

It really doesn't hinder me but I can see where it could. For instance, my primary Whitetail deer rifle is a Marlin 336C (30-30) with XS Sights front blade and rear ghost ring sights installed. I have no choice but to close my left eye when I shoot this gun. While not really an issue, the point to having such a 'quick into action' package is to be able to use it. Closing one eye takes away from some of that 'usability'.

Also, with regards to pistols, I find they are much quicker and easier to use with both eyes open. I still have to keep my left eye closed because it's my dominant eye and I shoot with my right eye and right hand.

My fiance' is new to shooting and shows some interest. I am starting her out shooting left handed because she is also fully left handed. I noticed she tends to pickup a rifle and/or handgun with the intention of firing it right handed, but I think that's more habit than conscious decision based on eye dominance. Only time will tell.

As for me, I am real close to heading out to a range and learning how to shoot left handed (more than just the casual off-hand and off-side shot out of a deerstand, but really learning).
 
Go with the eye. I just started shooting lefty last year, to go along with my left eye dominance. I do tactical shooting matches, and it's really no problem picking it up. This is coming from the guy who can't do anything with his left hand.
 
I'm the otherway around. Left handed, right eyed. When I shoot rifles lefty, I have to close my right eye. I've been training myself to shoot righty. It helps a lot, but my body still isn't quite used to it.

With handguns, I have no problem shooting left and using my right eye.

But those of you talking about being beaned with brass when shooting lefty, just what autoloaders are you using? I've fired an M14/M1A, AR-15, SKS, MAK90, Mini 14, Marlin Model 60, and Ruger 10/22 left handed and have never been directly hit by brass (Though that SKS chucked 'em straight up and with authority. The ones that didn't embed into the wood roof over the bench threatened my noggin' a couple times).
 
I'm left handed/left eye dominant, but both my daughters are right-handed/left eye dominant. For both of them, shooting a rifle was pretty frustrating until I realized that they were left eye dominant and switched them to shooting left handed. They felt a little awkward at first, but adapted quickly. They both actually enjoy shooting the rifles now as they can actually hit the target consistently.
 
I'm right-handed, left-eye dominant. I always felt better shooting long guns lefty. I'm okay righty, but I almost always shoot lefty.

Pistols, I shoot right handed, but I sight with my left eye.:uhoh:

I say let the kid go with what feels natural. I would encourage a proper left-handed hold, though (left hand on trigger, rather than right).
 
took a chance and put the gun in my other hand, first shot was dead center. it was like magic. i can't shoot to save my life with my right eye.
Click to expand...

When I first heard of "eye dominance" I realized I was VERY left-eyed, but right handed. I completely switched to shooting handguns right-handed, left-eyed in one session. Rifles felt wierd for awhile, but I noticed results immediately as far as accuracy and speed. I can't comment on shotguns 'cause I only shoot about one shell every two years at a turkey (right-handed, left-eyed) and usually miss.

Now I can't buy most of the rifles currently for sale, but I can hit what I'm aiming at. I think it was a good trade.

People are very flexible, though. Teach your son one way or the other for a while, then encourage him to try both. He will quickly figure out which one works.
 
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