Why do I shoot to the left?

[Dilbert]

Me Too

I have the same problem with some guns, I shoot low to the left, consistent to the same spot. I just adjust the sights till I hit point of aim. I don't believe, in my case at least, it is a grip issue or a recoil flinch. If it was one of those issues it would not be consistent enough for me to dial it out with sight adjustment. I think it is an eyesight or sight picture issue.
I think on some level your eye is trying to achieve the same sight picture with different guns. Different guns, different sights (dots, bars, blades, posts, ramps) and your eye trying to do the exact same thing with all of them. I think for some of us your eye just gets it wrong sometimes, wrong but consistent.

 

[51Cards]

I find when I'm tired, after a long session, I start grouping off to the left slightly. I can usually correct for it, but it becomes more of an effort. For me, it's usually a sign that maybe only a couple more mags are left in me.

One suggestion that I've read here somewhere might help a lot, and it's CHEAP:
Get a cheap-cheap-cheapo laser, and electrical-tape it to your barrel. it only has to be sighted-in enough to show where your muzzle is pointed. (Like, your sights are bang-on, but the dot is on the right side of the target.) Shoot like you would normally, and keep an eye on what the dot is doing.

You might find the results interesting. In my case, I went the expensive route, but mainly because I wanted decent lasers. I put LaserMax into a Sig and an XD, and found that (aside from the obvious fast target acquisition) it virtually eliminated any pull, jerk, rise, etc.

I've watched other guys shoot these same guns, and it's always interesting to see where the dot goes. A couple of people who thought they were completely under control where surprised to see the dot heading for the rafters.

Anyway, that's the $$$ way.

The $15 + electrical tape might help the same way. Just don't carry that way.

 

[243_shooter]

Hi all,

Loaded up a 200 DEWC's today and did some shooting.. 25 yds on a B-3 target.

Tried ever variation of hold / trigger finger placement / stance I could think of and it kept right on knocking holes in the black.. They were pretty light
(38's w/ 3.0 of bullseye). Should have brought some heavier loads with me but never gave it a thought.

If the weather breaks and we get some decent weather I'll give it another go. I suppose I should quit worrying about it.. Was shooting with one of my friends (with his first 38 special) and he was having trouble getting on the paper even, so there are worse problems to have then tweaking the rear sight a bit!

Thanks,
Leo

 

[243_shooter]

by the way, the laser pointer idea is excellent.. I've got the cheapo pointer kicking around somewhere.. Might have to redneck it to my S&W not only for me, but I bet it would do wonders for my friend to help him get control of things.

Leo

 

[jhansman]

I just started using my dominant eye, and the difference is startling. I naturally look out of my left eye, and it took me months to realize I should have using the other'n. Before I would often shoot low left, and figured it was trigger slap. Now I'm hitting pretty much in the center.

 

[wanderinwalker]

Sometimes it can certainly be as simple as how you grip the pistol.

Example from myself: I have almost always shot my Glock 17 to the left. Not far, but enough to put me off a 6" target at 25 yards, or just at the left edge. Now I've been shooting handguns quite a bit, and shoot just fine with my .44 Magnum.

But the other day I learned I needed to rotate my right hand around the grip, moving it a little forward, which got the heel of my palm off of the backstrap. WOW! Problem solved, 25 yard hits going to center. It is a less "natural" grip, but I'll just train myself until it is what I do. (I quote "natural" because there really isn't anything natural about playing with things that explode in front of our faces. )

Just proves little things add up.

 

[XD-40 Shooter]

I had this problem for a short while with my Taurus Mil-Pro 40, its got a long, DAO trigger pull, not overly heavy. My problem was too much trigger finger, it was pulling my shots to the left. When I started using the first pad on my trigger finger, the problem disappeared, too much leverage with the second pad, pulls the shots.

 

[Moonclip]

I was told on the S&W forum long ago it's beacuse I'm an inexperienced shooter As I usually shoot tight groups at least at a semi short distance, and the fact I own the occasional rare for me handgun that shoots high and not low and left, I feel I do this left/low thing because I'm partially blind in my left eye w/o correction which I rarely use.

 

[Splash]

Shooting left

Steve C
Senior Member


Posts: 1,109 Usually shooting to the left is pushing the pistol left with your trigger finger. This happens when you have too much finger in the trigger and as you squeeze you put pressure on the right side of the gun. You should be using your end finger pad to squeeze the trigger straight bach, not the joint or the second (middle) pad. Your finger should not contact the side of the pistol as you squeeze.

Make sure you are holding the pistol correctly, alligned with your arm, midde of the "V" formed by your thumb and index finger.

Steve is right on. I was having the same problem. I was putting too much finger on the trigger, when I changed and just placed the pad of the end of my finger on the trigger my groups tightened up considerabley...and no more shots to the left.

 

[Joeyp]

Cross Eye Domination

I have been shooting on and off for years and started to put more range time in over the past couple years. I have always shot to the left. I would have my Dad shoot the same igun and he would always be on target. So I thought the problem could have been my grip, too much finger on the trigger, anticipating recoil, ect. No matter what I tried I would always shoot to the left of where I was aiming.

I was at a gun show recently and picked up a rifle with an aimpoint sight and the guy asked me how I liked it. I asked him how to turn the sight on as I did not see any dot where I was aiming. He took a look at how I was holiding the rifle and told me I was left eye dominant. I could not see the dot because I was closing my dominant eye. In all the time I had been shooting I never noticed this.

In the past few range sessions I have practiced shooting right handed (which I have always done) but I am now closing my right eye and focusing on the front sight with my left eye. It was like magic and I am now shooting to my point of aim.

 

[1858remington]

Why do I shoot to the left?????

Democrats and liberals are on the left......

Maybe the gun barrel is pulled tword the left because it wants to stop gun grabbing liberals.

Depending on how republican your gun is..... will determin how far left it wants to shoot.

 

[Deanimator]

I shot my 4" M&P and 3" Model 65 last week and shot both of them consistently to the left at 50'. I never have this problem with semi-autos. Follow-through with revolvers is a problem for me. After a bunch of bad targets, I shot from sandbags and was much closer to the center of the target, although I had to aim somewhat to the right.

I knew shooting revolvers would take a lot of practice. I was right.

 

[Cougfan2]

I noticed that handguns with fairly heavy triggers tend to make me shoot to the left.

This may not be the only issue, but it sure is for me. My Springfield 1911 loaded trigger is crisp, but very heavy. Not only do I shoot to the left, it also tends to make me pull the muzzle down. Not only do I shoot left, but I also shoot low. This is more true shooting off hand than from a solid rest.

Trigger control is everything.