Bad right eye, need scope help

K

kens852

New member
I'm a righthanded shooter, Have an LMT Ar15 flattop. Due to a baseball injury, i wear glasses and now have very limited uncorrectable vision in the right eye. I cannot use iron sights. I'd like to use an unmagnified red dot for my AR. Shooting left handed is out of the question. So should I use a raised scope mount with a red dot, or use an left sided offset scope mount? Which is my best option? I also would like recomendations on a red dot scope with a wide front opening. Through trying out different ones at cabelas, i looked at acogs, compm2s, and eotechs. The only one I found that worked for me for now was a 40mm BSA red dot... whose quality is subject. I'll probably only be using this for 100 yards or less. Any thoughts?
 
Last edited:
Shooting left handed is out of the question.
Click to expand...
Can I ask why? I can shoot a rifle with either hand with reasonable accuracy with my left. I'm better with my right but I'm sure with practice I could bring my left handed accuracy up to par with my right hand.
 
Because I REALLY hate shooting left handed. It is the most uncomftorable thing I've ever attempted and would just rather fix it with a different scope mount option.
 
How limited is your right eye vision? You only need to be able to see the red dot; if you're shooting with both eyes open your brain projects the red dot into your left view. It might require a bit of training, but it's not like you're expecting this to be a temporary situation. So, unless you're past 80 I would also learn how to shoot from the left. It's uncomfortable at first, but you only need to get the hang of it once.
Did you check the Vortex Sparc? My favorite red dot, and in a medium price range.
 
To get an offset scope mount like you are wanting will require custom fabrication, I've never seen them on any thing other than .30-30 rifles. I'm sure it can be built but remember when your scope doesn't line up with the bore of the rifle the bullet path and line of sight will intersect not only on a vertical plane but on the horizontal. So if you zero for 100 yards dead on, at 100+ yards your rifle will be printing low and left so you'll have to make two adjustments instead of one to correct the problem. It would be like having to adjust for windage all the time even when there is no wind.

I realize shooting left handed is uncomfortable and awkward, but it can be learned with a little patience. Before you say it isn't an option I'd get a .22 LR and practice a little bit every time you go to the range. It will get easier and more comfortable as you go along.
 
Agreed on learning to shoot from the southpaw side.

I'm normally left handed, but learned to shoot from my right side when my Dad determined that I was right-eye dominant. So, he insisted and I learned to shoot from my right shoulder.

Fast forward twenty years and the agency I work for insists that I learn to shoot my rifle from my left shoulder, moreover, to switch back and forth between shoulders depending on the barricades and the situation. It felt odd as all get-out. But with practice I learned.

From what I'm hearing in your original post, you don't expect the situation to improve in your right eye. By default, your left eye has become your dominant eye. Life's tough, but you are tougher. Give your left side a fair shake and try to learn to shoot from that side. I bet you'll find it easier as you practice it more.
 
since your left eye has become your best eye, the best thing to do is to shoot south,or i you want to fork out the $$ go to a machine shop and or gun smith and tell them what you need. Lifes tough and you got to be tougher.If you want to keep shooting learn to shoot south.The more you shoot the easier it will be
 
I know shooters who have used offset mounts. They were custom made but provided a workable platform to continue their shooting career. They were simply sight bases with a bar and another set of bases to which the optics were attached. Another option I have seen and used is a crossover prism. Anschutz made one for their iron sights many years ago. The third option would be a cross stock. That might be difficult for the AR type rifle. Anything will be custom made but if that what it takes to keep shooting, do it.
 
I can help you using over the counter parts. I have used offset mounts to assist blind hunters for over a decade. email me direct at: robertthead@hotmail.com

I'm always happy to try to help shooters with vision problems.
 
I hate shooting left hand, too. Though I do practice it occasionally...

Here is a wild setup that really opens up your options. They took a GG&G Light mount and added some rings. You should be able to put a red dot directly on that mount too.
http://ultimak.com/pic36.htm

No experience here on red dots, but if the BSA works for you, go for it! At the price, if it works out, you could buy a spare, sight it in and keep it in your range bag.
 
I think you'll be pleasantly surprised how quickly you can adapt to shooting off the 'wrong' side. Taylorc1 had excellent suggestions about starting with a 22 LR. I had to use the wrong arm for about a year till the other arm healed, It was really a bother at first, but I stuck with it and got pretty good left handed. That seems a much better approach than going with the offset scope mount. In the last year, we've had several visitors and family here at the ranch and most of them are shooters or want to learn. I was quite surprised at how many of them had a hand/eye dominance difference. For the long time shooters, they had all adapted by swapping shooting sides or which eye they used for sighting. For the new shooters, most of them weren't even aware of their hand/eye dominance difference, and their shooting was just awful until I realized what the problem was. Of course, our realizing the problem didn't solve the problem, so they'll either adapt or quit shooting.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top