Need help with cross dominance sighting

[Knute]

Have been away from the gun handling sport for a long time but now have realized the problem I had with some firearms in the past.

I was pretty accurate when sighting hand guns but rubbish with shooting fowl with my shotgun. Never put enough rounds through the rifle I had to make a definitive finding.

With the hand gun it was both eyes open. Shotgun I was closing left eye. Rifle with scope, lack of use and fading memory, can't remember results clearly.

Long and short, I have since discovered I'm cross dominant with sighting. I shoulder rifle on right but have to close my right eye to properly align target. Have read some about red dot scopes and such. Are all red dots 1x magnification?

Search function brings no results so was wondering if anyone else has this problem and how they dealt with it? Am going to be buying rifle and scope when required licensing is done.

 

[TightGroup]

I fully understand your problem. I have a similar condition, but was not able to find what I needed in rifles. Actually thinking of switching to left handed

 

[Knute]

I've also considered that as the most practical solution...in theory.

Just not so sure I could comfortably manage it. Think I may pick up small bore with scope to see how the "binocular" sighting thing (both eyes open) goes. How practical that is I have no idea. Here is a link to Trijicon scopes that claim to have solved the problem.

They are not inexpensive but if they work???

 

[Cameron SS]

I am not cross eye dominant, but have gotten used to shooting just about all my firearms, rifle iron, scoped, shotgun, pistol with both eyes open.

So if that worked for you with pistol, try it for the rest. May take some getting used to. But a little extra ammo and time on the range is much more affordable than a Trijicon, which I have and love for the record.

If that doesn't work, I've seen a rail mounting system that moves the scope about two inches to the left or so, so that the rifle can be shot right handed and sighted with the left eye. Looks weird as hell, but the shooter swore by it. No idea where he got it, or if he machined it himself.

 

[IMagius]

Not me, but my hunting buddy: He is left handed, left eye dominant - shoots iron sights and shotguns left handed only, but shoots his scoped RH bolt action rifle right handed without issue. I think it may have something to do with the Scope having only one sighting alignment, whereas iron sights rely on lining up two sights with the target.

 

[dan belisle]

Cast off stock if you're a diehard righty. - dan

 

[mwjones]

An offset scope mount may work as well.

 

[nemesisincanada]

I am left eye dominant and shoot right. No problem with scopes which i shoot both eyes open. Open sights pose a problem as my left eye keys on the front sight. Red dot sights back to no problem as only my right eye can see it.

 

[TrxR]

I am also cross eye dominant . I am a righty but my left eye is dominant so I have trained myself to shoot as a lefty.

 

[Knute]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Was into the local WSS and was surprised how comfortable it felt to bring a few lefties up into shooting position.

They had a model 70, a T3 and a Rem 700 in lefty to try. Both the Win and the Tikka felt comfortable and natural to shoulder but the Remmy felt like it had issues with balancing to be comfortable. The barrel/muzzle end felt heavy and a little awkward to shoulder nice and quickly. Is this normally the case or was it just that it was the one with wood stock while the other two were synthetic? Not sure which model of 700 it was but was the only Rem lefty they had in stock to try.

The Vortex Strikefire red dot scope was interesting. Internet reviews are encouraging regarding quality and affordability.

Anyone with experience with this scope? How do you like it?

The offset scope option...have seen it mentioned elsewhere...will have to see if and what's available to have a look at locally. It would in theory be a good way to "fix" the problem I have.

Cast off stock? I'm thinking that's what I saw in one vid from the UK? Looks pretty weird, butt stock with curve in it to align sighting? Would definitely affect resale as well..

 

[dan belisle]

Keep the factory stock for when you want to sell it. They work much better then you might think, and once you try a gun that actually "fits" you, it's tough to go back. Your money though, do what you prefer. - dan

 

[BigUglyMan]

Lots of practice will allow you to shoot with both eyes open. Failing that, tape over the lens of your glasses (or shooting glasses) will blur out your left eye and make your brain use your right eye.

As a last resort, gouge the uncooperative left eye out.

 

[sir_springer]

I'm left eye dominant, and right handed with guns.

I always close my left eye when shooting rifle or shotgun. Never bothered me in the slightest at the range or afield. Lots of one shot, DRT kills so far.

Indeed, I have no idea how anyone can shoot anything with both eyes open...and I don't lose a minute of sleep worryin' about it, either!

 

[Knute]

Again, thanks for the replies.

I guess the range will answer a lot of questions I'm now having.

Time to cast off? Thinking just maybe....

Or I'm totally over thinking this

 

[Brutus]

I am also cross eye dominant . I am a righty but my left eye is dominant so I have trained myself to shoot as a lefty.

Yep, same here.
I shoot bullseye target pistol LH. (one handed shooting)
I shoot casual plinking, two handed pistol either LH or RH, but the RH as the shooting hand is best.
I use an M37 Ithaca shotgun.
I have either RH or LH rifles for deer hunting/plinking.
One dedicated LH target bolt rifle, and one repeating varmint rifle. (both LH bolt, LH port)

So, to the OP, for myself I found the best results for long-guns, gun to left shoulder, left eye sighting.

YMMV

 

[Knute]

Well I saw a post earlier today that kinda brought the problem home so to speak. The poster wrote that he was now using lighter calibers due to a detached retina. I hadn't even given that a thought as I had two surgeries on my right eye in '04 and '05. I also have a retinal buckle in my eye and I really don't want any more problems in that regard!

So I've decided I will indeed train myself to shoot left handed and will be getting a .270 to keep recoil lower while still having a good cartridge for ungulates.

I suppose the trauma to my right eye with the two procedures may be why I'm now decidedly left eye dominant. Also with the artificial lens in the right eye it won't focus. Guess just living with it the last 6-7 yrs. I didn't put 2 and 2 together immediately.

Done deal!

 

[ben hunchak]

In trap shooting, using both eyes open is a definite asset and most shooters strive for that if for instance you are right eye dominant and a right hand shooter, if you are cross eye dominant you have to close the strong eye (left) and learn to shoot with just the right eye open. Your sighting eye must line up with the rib exactly the same every time you mount the gun, and stay that way throughout your shot.