Ways To Shoot Bolt Rifles When Left Eye Dominant?

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D.M.C.

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I've been exploring the possibility of getting a bolt action rifle but I run into a problem, specifically that I am a left-eye dominant shooter and I normally shoot gas operated rifles with my left hand. Now I know that some folks with the same problem just fire bolt actions with the left hand, but the specific model I was considering is too uncomfortable to shoot this way, with bolt right next to my face. So I was wondering if I decide to shoot right-hand, is there a way to offset a scope or optic so it's not centerline to the rifle but more in line with my left eye? I was pondering if a tri-rail fitted to the top mount would work adequately enough, but I figured surely there's got to be somebody else who's looked for a solution to this before and maybe I just don't know about it.

Thoughts or input?
 
I drop the rifle from my shoulder to work the bolt easier. Practice this enough and you can get a good momentum.
 
As a LH shooter who has RH rifles, the bolt if not an issue - your face shouldn't be THAT close to the bolt. There have also been offset scope mounts, and stocks bent to fit
 
Keep the butt on your shoulder, with the right hand, palm the bolt up and back, turn your hand and, using thumb/palm, push forward and down. If the bolt or your hand hits you in the face, better get another gun. Something is wrong with that one. For really easy, buy a thumbhole.
 
I've always shot left handed, and either just reload much more slowly than usual (either sliding your left hand out a little and operating the bolt with your right hand, or on my old unscoped .22 reaching over with my left hand). You can also hip the rifle and use your left hand to work the bolt.

Left handed rifles are pretty widely available though so you might consider one of those. Savage in particular makes almost every rifle in both right and left hand models.
 
if your buying a new rifle id certainly go with a left handed rifle from any number of manufacturers. i had a friend that used to use a right hand remington left handed, he ended up shooting beter after switching to a left hand action.
 
I'm left eye dominant as well and I shoot right handed. All my rifles are scoped and I've found that I don't have to close my left eye to shoot. The images your right and left eye are seeing are different enough that you can force yourself to focus on one. Try it out. Get behind the rifle, close your left eye and look through the scope. Without moving your head, open you left eye and you should still be able to see the target through the scope. With practise you won't have to close your left eye to start anymore.
 
Me to, left eye, left hand bow hunt, left eye right hand handgun, but rifles are shot right handed with no problems. most all scope today have a adjustable rear ocular so set it to your eye and shot. I do practice left handed enoght to be able to take a shot if needed and have done so several times if the deer would let me turn.
 
from armoredman :
I am left eye dominant, and simply use the right eye when shooting scoped rifles. Seems to work so far.
Click to expand...

Ditto and I've been doing it for 57 years. I never knew I was left-eye dominant until I was in my 40's. It was one of those "Ho-Hum" moments because it really didn't make any difference.
 
im left eye'd and left handed and all of my rifles are right handed. my advice ( which i did) is to practice loading and unloading with snap caps or dummy rounds until it becomes natural.

the only problem i have ever had was with a winchester 1300 shotgun. shooting left handed it was easy to hit the slide release when you pulled the trigger. i fixed that with a rem 870.
 
there is only way to shoot rifles when you have a left master eye. that way is left handed. working the bolt and loading the gun is not as important as hitting what you aim at.
 
I'm strongly left-eye dominant but right handed. I shoot long guns lefty. On bolt guns I work the bolt with my right hand, moving my face out of the way, and keeping my left hand on the grip.
 
like jpwilly said, just close your left eye.

Eye dominance is only important when they are both open.
 
The cross-dominant competitive shooters I've known ended up re-training themselves to shoot using their dominant eye.

It might not make a difference for just general plinking, but for at higher levels, it makes a difference.
 
The cross-dominant competitive shooters I've known ended up re-training themselves to shoot using their dominant eye.

It might not make a difference for just general plinking, but for at higher levels, it makes a difference.
Click to expand...

Justin, I can see that being important in 3-gun and similar run-n-gun types of competitions, but what about benchrest? Does anyone know if those guys re-train to shoot dominant eye?

DMC, it seems like the intended purpose of the rifle will play a role in how important cross-dominance is. What're you planning on doing with the new toy?
 
Jon, I knew at least one cross-dominant small bore rifle shooter in college who trained himself to shoot left handed because his left eye is the dominant one.
 
Unfortunately I also am left eye dominant but shoot right hand

Its ok on rifles, but the lack of depth perception with one eye closed
makes skeet shooting a bit more difficult
 
Right or left eye dominance is simply a condition. Unless your right eye is damaged or it has a defect then you can train yourself to use your right eye. I have read that some people have used an eye patch while shooting to train themselves to use their right eye.

I am somewhat right eye dominant (I am a right handed shooter), but I can shoot with both eyes as well.
 
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