How much effect of accuracy does eye dominance have?

B

Blue Duck357

New member
There was a recent post by "Glock-a-roo" on whether we right handed but left eyed dominate people should learn to shoot left handed. Apparently some mis read his post (or maybe just no one knew) and the discussion got off on aimpoints and whether left handed people should shoot right handed.

What I would like to ask is does anyone know if people in our position (right handed/left eye dominant) would see a noticiable improvement in accuracy by learning to shoot a rifle left handed?

Thanks for any input, Blue Duck
 
You are bringing back memories. I had competed in small rifle as a youth. I also had my share of rifleman stories, like nailing squirrel at 100 yards in the head with a .22 Hornet, killing a starling at 75 yards with an air rifle, breaking a lightbulb at the same distance at night (light was on!) and shooting through Lifesaver candy at 30 yards.

Needless to say, I had the art down pat with IRON sights. OK, the squirrel were through a 4 power scope.

In my US Army Basic Combat Training, there was a plethora of non-shooters. I spent many times explaining the mechanics of the rifle to these recruits but none as much as PVT Jeffery Creek of IL. Creek could not shoot. Period. The Drills had to zero his rifle for him and he still had a major problem keeping 3 rounds on the 25 meter zero target. I was used to keeping 5 shots in 1/4" at 2/3's that range and knew there was a shooter problem there.

I carefully watched and immediately recognized the problem. Creek was cross-dominant. He was trying to use his left eye with a right handed hold. After one string, I told him to shoot left handed and use his stronger left eye. To be absolutely sure, I did the field test. He was cross dominant!

Sure enough, next string Creek ate the center mass. Next string the Drills saw him shooting southpaw and asked him why. Finger pointed to me and I was aksed if I thought I knew how to shoot better than the cadre. The answer was no mystery to me but I kept quiet as I rather have those ignorant drills think they were right. I regret not taking it further but decided 8 weeks was long enough and didn't want to be recycled for showing off.

Drill forces Creek to shoot right handed with his right eye. Sure enough, groups vanish. They then send him to the TMC to have his eyes checked. The profile he got was simple. Shoot left handed. Vindication was mine!

Yes, cross dominance IS a major problem in shooting.
 
I'm asking because of course I'm left eye dominant and shoot rifles right handed. I'm no 1000 yard bench rest shooter by a long shot, but did shoot expert in basic (right handed). A point someone else brought in the earlier post was that there may be various degree's of dominance and maybe thats why I seem to shoot at least OK the way I am. I do note however that I never could then and can't now shoot a rifle both eyes open (maybe thats a side effect). I do however shoot a pistol with my left eye sighting but both eyes open as I was trained to do.

Also wonder if scope versus iron sights have any effect on this?

Thanks, Blue Duck
 
Unless your going to get a left handed gun I would say go ahead and shoot right handed. I am cross eye dominate myself. I shoot handguns both right and left handed and force myself to sight with right eye when shooting right handed and with left eye when shooting left handed [for combat/wounded shooter reasons]. With rifles I shoot right handed and simply squint if neccessary with left eye.

I suspect that the recruit that was having trouble would have done fine if given an eyepatch for his left eye. Or simply be allowed to shoot lefty ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top