Right Handed, Left Eye Dominant

T

Tucker 1371

New member
Someone brought back an old thread from the rifle forum and it got me thinking.

I am a right handed left eye dominant shooter. Of course I shoot rifles left handed, however, I shoot handguns right handed. I usually just kind of turn my head a little so my left eye is looking down the sights. I've found that how well I shoot depends heavily on what type of gun I am shooting. So far there's only 3 that I can put shot's in the 10 ring with at 25yds consistently: 1911's (a Colt and a Kimber), a Smith 629 (6"), and a Taurus Raging Hornet (around 6" or 7" bbl).

I currently own no handguns of my own so the practice I get is limited (I'm 20 so I can't buy any until October).

Could shooting right handed with a pistol be affecting my accuracy? Being left eye dominant should I be trying to learn to shoot handguns left handed?
 
Look for posts by me featuring the words "cross dominant". Shooting handguns right-handed-and-left-eyed can actually be an advantage if you use it right.
 
I used an eyepatch when i was younger now I can shoot anyone combo I choose. It was pretty confusing when i wasn't hitting where I aim when I was younger.:D
 
Could shooting right handed with a pistol be affecting my accuracy? Being left eye dominant should I be trying to learn to shoot handguns left handed?
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IMO, maybe and yes (see below for some thoughts I already offered).

Shooting cross-dominant might be the easiest short-term solution to cross-dominance, but I don't think it's the best long-term one, especially if you're just getting started with handguns. JMO, mind you.

From http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3265087&postcount=19
Regarding eye dominance, I'll throw in my $0.02, based on my experience as a cross-dominant shooter, only in the hope that if might help.

You can certainly learn to shoot right handed and use your left eye. And you can go far shooting cross-dominant, but learning to shoot left-handed, IMO, is really the better way to go for a number of reasons:

First, as far as defense or combat action shooting, when shooting right handed using your left eye, you'll have to turn your head to the right, and so your left peripheral vision is now impaired. Something you definitely don't want in a SD situation. Worse, you may very well have also developed the habit of shooting with your right eye closed (another post), in which case your total field of view is seriously restricted just when you need it the most.

Second, when shooting for accuracy, being in a relaxed position is especially important. If your gun and dominant eye aren't lined up naturally, you're not relaxed. You can become a pretty good shot as a cross-dominant shooter. I myself am decent shot, naturally cross-dominant, but learned to shoot righty. I shoot just as accurately when I switch hands and shoot cross-dominant. But I'd like to improve beyond where I am, maybe do a little bullseye shooting. My default position will always be shooting right handed, right eye, since I'm in a more relaxed position. Shooting cross-dominant would therefore likely act as a ceiling at some point.

Again, though, experiment to see what works for you, but also think about why you're shooting in the first place, and whether cross-dominant shooting might pose a problem in the long run. If shooting lefty feels weird, know that through dry fire practice, it'll feel much more natural. Whatever you decide will be your "weak" hand, I recommend training it as well, as it's a very good skill to have.

Finally, and on another note, you didn't say whether you're shooting single action or double, but if you haven't started, I recommend becoming proficient with the double action trigger, especially if this is to be a carry/SD weapon. Yet another good reason to dry fire!
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I'm cross-dominant (left eye/right hand) and I've always shot EVERYTHING right-handed. I shoot rifles, shotguns and bows "right-eyed" with my left eye closed. I shoot handguns "left-eyed" with my right eye closed or open, it works both ways. I've never had a problem.
 
Wow, just did a search, didn't know this had been discussed so much already. My bad.

Jim March: Shooting handguns right-handed-and-left-eyed can actually be an advantage if you use it right.
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How so?
 
oh man...

im right handed, left eye dominant. i shoot pistols right handed but most rifles left handed.

the rifles left handed is cus i learned how to shoot from a lefty who had left handed bolt action rifles
 
I'm ambidextrous, but slightly right eye dominant. When I shoot left handed, I slightly cant the pistol to where the sights line up with my right eye (a trick learned from IPSC/USPSA vets). I still shoot both eyes open (out to 25yrds), but this slight adjustment made me more accurate, faster, and felt more natural/comfortable. It may or may not work for you, but give it a try.
 
I am also right handed but left eye dominate. I shoot a handgun right handed with my head cocked a lil bit so im looking down the sights with my left eye but both eyes open, thats when i get my best groups. But i can also shoot decent with my right eye.
Rifles on the other hand i shot right handed with my right eye, with both open. I have shot a little bit left handed just for the practice but it just dont feal right. I reckon i need to shoot more left handed with my rifle cause i always preach that a great shooter can shoot from any position or any hand accurate.
 
I'm also right handed/left eye dominant. I find that with some (not all) hand guns my left eye dominance causes me to shoot slightly to the left of my imagined point of aim when shooting right handed. At ten yards, it's no problem, my shots will place, maybe, 1/2 inch to the left of my point of aim. At relatively long distances, like 25 yards, the problem is much more apparent, with my groups consistently falling about 2" to the left of my point of aim.

The problem disappears when I shoot left handed.

I've trained myself to be able to shoot left handed but, I'm frankly more comfortable as a right handed shooter. No matter how well I may shoot left handed, it just doesn't feel quite right to me. However, when I shoot for maximum accuracy at distances, I generally shoot lefty.
 
I am left eye dominant and right handed. The only "advantage" I know of is I can transition from shooting a handgun right handed to shooting a rifle (e.g. carbine on a sling) left handed pretty quickly. While holstering with the right hand the left hand is already engaging the rifle and bringing it to bear on target. Not much of a difference...
 
GSUeagle, I'm in the same boat as you. I still shoot rifles left handed, but after some practice have been able to shoot handguns right handed WITHOUT focusing with my left eye.

It's easy to practice at home with an UNLOADED gun and I didn't have much trouble "learning" to focus w/ my right eye. I can now bring the gun up and acquire my target with both eyes open, using my right eye as the dominant one.

IMHO it is quicker than using my left eye, but I'm not sure it has made me a better shot :)
 
I am left eye dominant and right handed.
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Same here. I shoot both eyes open and make an effort to keep my head tight to my right shoulder to keep my left dominant eye behind the sight. If I don't do this I will always shoot to the left.
 
Im cross-dominant as well and like peetzakilla I shoot everything right handed, Rifle,Shotgun, and hand gun. I realized that i could never feel comfortable shooting left handed and stopped doing it, unless when i carry a BUG weak side...
 
I'm the same way left handed for long guns, right handed for pistols, and of course left eye dominant.

Here's my trick: When shooting a handgun I turn my head to the right more so my nose blocks the sights from my right pupil. I don't have a big nose so this trick should work unless you have a really small nose. ;)
 
right handed,left eye dominant, shoot rifle (scoped) with right eye, left closed. I actually read about left right dominance possibly on this site several years ago and found out then that I was shooting with my right eye,with left closed at a distance and both eyes open, close range. When I started practicing with my left eye only, my shooting tightened significantly.
 
Cross Dominant

I ve been able to train myself to use my right eye. I can't explain but I am near sighted in right eye and when I focus on front site I am able to use it. If I just look at the target left becomes dominant again.
 
I'm in the same boat as many others here. I am right handed but left eye dominant. I shoot rifles right handed and closing my left eye, and shoot pistols right handed closing my right eye. This system works okay for me, though I sometimes find it a little focusing my vision while looking through a scope with my right eye. I don't think I could ever learn to shoot left handed, so I would rather focus on practicing using my right eye for rifles, and staying with my left eye for handguns.
 
I learned that I'm right handed but left eye dominant before I was 10 years old. My Dad was disappointed in my accuracy with a bolt action, single shot .22, so he had me try shooting left handed - instant improvement. Ever since that day I have shot long guns left handed. Many years later he explained he had the same problem so he shot long guns left handed. When I took up bow hunting abow 20 years ago I just naturally selected a left handed bow - no regrets. However, I still shoot handguns right handed but sight with my left eye. I may try left handed shooting with a handgun this year.
 
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