Cross-dominant
- Thread starter Diesel80
- Start date
I agree with Ardent, learn to shoot left handed. I know a lefty that is right eye dominate so he shoots right handed. I also know a right handed guy that shoot left because he is left eye dominate. Both have been members of many Bisley and Palma teams.
I am pretty gimpy with my left but I will give it a try. I am just worried about buying a left hand gun and then not being good with it. I have also heard that you can keep both eyes open and/or there are scopes out there that can help, anyone have any info on these options?
thanks for the tips so far.
thanks for the tips so far.
Close your left (dominant) eye and the right eye takes over with no interference from the other side. The problem will only manifest when you leave both eyes open while aiming. There is no cross-dominance problem when only one eye is in use.
Hmm... didn't realize that there was such a thing as left-handed or right handed guns. I guess that's why I'm here.
That being said, as a left-handed individual will I have issues finding firearms like I have finding just about everything else?
That being said, as a left-handed individual will I have issues finding firearms like I have finding just about everything else?
chrisward3
Regular
- Location
- Ottawa, ON
i have the same problem as u..right handed with left-eye dominance...but i tend to do everything right handed anyway (except a bow...i use a lefty bow). but through practice ive trained myself to close my left and shoot with my right eye as i feel more confident with my body, and its worked great for me. i shoot ipsc so 80% of the time i shoot right handed through my right eye...and if i have to switch to weak hand, ill just switch eyes as well. its just a practice thing and getting used to using both eyes (seperately) as the situation dictates...hope this helps!
cheers
Thanks for all the advise. The problem is my vision in my right eye is not nearly as good as my left. I think I will try going to the range and trying my buddies right hand gun with my right eye and just see how I do, if it isn't working so well I will buy a lefty gun and give it a go. Thanks again for all the advise.
"...will I have issues finding firearms.." Yes and no. Nearly every manufacturer makes a left hand bolt action, but handguns tend to be right only. There are ambidextrous safeties, etc. available though.
Personally, being left eye dominate, but mostly ambidextrous anyway, I've never worried about it. I just shoot and reach if I have to. A semi-auto, pump or lever action eliminates the reaching too.
If you're shooting a handgun, use your right hand to operate the safety mag and slide release while maintaining your grip. Concentrate on your sight picture and forget what hand you're using.
Personally, being left eye dominate, but mostly ambidextrous anyway, I've never worried about it. I just shoot and reach if I have to. A semi-auto, pump or lever action eliminates the reaching too.
If you're shooting a handgun, use your right hand to operate the safety mag and slide release while maintaining your grip. Concentrate on your sight picture and forget what hand you're using.
I'm cross-dominant as well (right-handed, left-eyed). There's a couple of different things you can try. Shooting weak-hand is the simplest solution, but its not an easy switch for most people.
With a handgun, most people can #### their head over a little bit and use their opposite eye - just takes some practice with technique. With a long gun, mounting a scope helps a lot. Your non-dominant eye will naturally take over with a magnified image, though the lower the magnification the less effective this is. I find with a 4x or more my right eye takes over without any problem.
Recently I got to mess around with some red-dot sights and I found that they worked really well for me. Anything that doesn't have a scope on it is going to be getting a red-dot sight.
With a handgun, most people can #### their head over a little bit and use their opposite eye - just takes some practice with technique. With a long gun, mounting a scope helps a lot. Your non-dominant eye will naturally take over with a magnified image, though the lower the magnification the less effective this is. I find with a 4x or more my right eye takes over without any problem.
Recently I got to mess around with some red-dot sights and I found that they worked really well for me. Anything that doesn't have a scope on it is going to be getting a red-dot sight.
- Location
- Edmonton, Alberta
If your truly worried about buying a rifle and finding out its the wrong hand try purchasing a lever action rifle as they are for the most part ambidextrous. My first rifle will be a lever action rifle as I have no dominant eye and am ambidextrous so I can learn to use both sides.
Ok, talking as someone who actually has professional instruction on this stuff. If you are shooting a handgun, simply move the gun to your left eye, you don't need to #### your head, or switch hands. shoot right handed, and move the gun over slightly. if you are right handed stay right handed. it's a waste of your time to try and do it left handed, and pointless. If you are shooting rifle you can get away with closing or putting a piece of tape over your left eye (if you shoot with glasses use the tape to blur the left eye) and then shoot with the right eye. if it's really bad and you can't do that, then yes you may have to shoot rifles left handed. But for handguns there is no need to.
Thanks for clarifying that. That's what I was thinking all along....what does it matter as long as your line of sight is straight through the sights to the target. Obviously it is a little different for a rifle or shotgun.
