SaigaKen 338 Posted September 28, 2013 Report Share Posted September 28, 2013 I shoot right handed. My right eye is horrible, but I have managed. Recently got an SKS and the sight window is just too blurry for me. So damn expensive to get eye surgery (may do it in the future). I can read every letter on an eye chart with my left, but only about three lines down with the right...... This sucks....any advise on shooting my rifle left handed. I tried (without firing) to get a good stance leftie but it was very akward trying to shoulder it..... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
David Mark 2,452 Posted September 28, 2013 Report Share Posted September 28, 2013 That sucks SP. The wife started out a leftie and I insisted she learn to shoot right handed. We had a forearm burn incident when she was shooting leftie and being she was a new shooter at the time I figured why not nip this in the bud. I had a pair of shooting glasses made that I use at the range. Shatter proof glass and sharp as a tack. Maybe you could get a pair of glasses that equals your eyes out when shooting. Good luck! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gunfun 3,931 Posted September 28, 2013 Report Share Posted September 28, 2013 Some people shoot rightie, but adjust their cheekweld so that they are using their left eye. i.e. the guy on youtube who uses the handle Hickock45. You could probably make that work, with less alteration to the learning you have already done. They also have this neat invention where you can put a bit of glass up top to make things easy to see. Might be worth a look there too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EthanM 514 Posted September 28, 2013 Report Share Posted September 28, 2013 I shoot both ways. Took a while to get use to but I just kept practicing until I figured out a good stance for left hand shooting. I am pretty ambidextrous though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
menace667 194 Posted September 28, 2013 Report Share Posted September 28, 2013 I am left eye dominant and right handed (exactly the situation you describe) also. It will become more natural over time for you. It was insisted that i learn to shoor with my right eye because i am right handed, and i did for a long time with good results. When, as an adult, i began using my left eye to shoot with my skill went from good to excellent once i overcame the awkwardness of learning something new. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ShadowFire 220 Posted September 28, 2013 Report Share Posted September 28, 2013 (edited) I am right eye dominant and am an ambidextrous shooter. You just have to get used to the stance really. Try shadow boxing as a lefty. Right foot forward, left back, pivot left and right at the torso and throw punches. This will likely help remove the awkwardness of reversing your stance and the motor skills that comewith it. Get a bag for a target for your punches if you like. You have to practice and practice and practice. I actually shoot with my left eye forced to be dominant when I go lefty. How I do that is that I close my right eye, the left one takes over to compensate, then with my eye focused on the front sight blade I open the other eye. I actually shoot with both eyes open lefty or righty, they're just crossed on purpose. This aligns both view points that you get from both eyes and gives you a better perspective, imo, of your aim. You just have to practice and keep practicing. After a while, your subconscious mind will take over when you've got it. Edited September 28, 2013 by ShadowFire Quote Link to post Share on other sites
patriot 7,197 Posted September 29, 2013 Report Share Posted September 29, 2013 Well, to switch from Right to Left isn't trivial. The first step involves what used to be a very common procedure, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobotomy. The second involves changing your voter registration to Socialist, Communist, Green Party, Democrat or some other form of nonsense. ...oops! Sorry. You were talking about changing the side you shoot from. That's much easier...it's called practice. Being born left' handed, I am, by necessity partially ambidextrous, and have learned to shoot longarms either right or left handed. I'm still better with my left side, even though I am cross-dominant, ie. right eye dominant and left handed. Practice is the key. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
storm6490 2,768 Posted September 29, 2013 Report Share Posted September 29, 2013 practice a bunch! you may surprise yourself! relax and try your best. it took me years to do both really well. the deer and a few other critters were not stoked about it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pjj342 632 Posted September 29, 2013 Report Share Posted September 29, 2013 Some people shoot rightie, but adjust their cheekweld so that they are using their left eye. i.e. the guy on youtube who uses the handle Hickock45. You could probably make that work, with less alteration to the learning you have already done. They also have this neat invention where you can put a bit of glass up top to make things easy to see. Might be worth a look there too. Doing this seems practically impossible with a long gun. I watch hickock too. I think he squints and uses his less dominant eye while using a rifle/shotgun, and uses both eyes open with a pistol (but turns his head to the side a bit). I also am right handed with a dominant left eye. I do the same as hickock, as it seems theres less advantage switching to lefty with a rifle, and I can adjust with a handgun. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cobra 76 two 2,677 Posted September 29, 2013 Report Share Posted September 29, 2013 I can shoot pool like a muthafucka left handed and if my eyes would cooperate I could pull the same switchup with guns... but unless it's right up close & personal my left eye cannot be trusted to get on time like right fuckin now. That's my input FWIW. I can do it but it takes more time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SaigaKen 338 Posted September 29, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2013 Thanks guys....will try out all your advise next range trip Quote Link to post Share on other sites
corbin 621 Posted September 29, 2013 Report Share Posted September 29, 2013 I'm right handed and right eye dominant, but an injury to my right palm and wrist forced me to become a lefty almost 25 years ago. I can still shoot right handed, but not very well (weak grip and fused wrist). Practice is the operative word you need to focus on. Your dominant eye will probably always be your dominant eye, but becoming more familar using your other eye will definitely help. good luck. Did I mention practice? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
liberty -r- death 1,445 Posted September 29, 2013 Report Share Posted September 29, 2013 I'm left handed, and trained myself to be right eye dominant. Takes time and practice. As a result I am ambidextrous with most firearms now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Capt Nemo 882 Posted September 29, 2013 Report Share Posted September 29, 2013 Sniping blackbirds out the bedroom window, you have to shoot both left and right to get the angle needed for some shots. It's nice having a 180 degree field of fire from the window. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
patriot 7,197 Posted September 29, 2013 Report Share Posted September 29, 2013 My varmint of choice from the house is groundhogs. Very smart little bastards. Once they catch on, it's almost impossible to get a window open without them taking off like their ass is on fire. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
magsite20 1,664 Posted September 30, 2013 Report Share Posted September 30, 2013 I'm right handed in everything except shooting and left eye dominate, I have to wear an eye patch over my left eye to shoot right handed with a long gun. It feels clumsy as hell but it can be done. Use to crack me up I'd go for M60 qualification every year and have to 1st qualify right handed then shoot the rest of the week left handed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gunfun 3,931 Posted October 2, 2013 Report Share Posted October 2, 2013 This is pretty much me: 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
poolingmyignorance 2,191 Posted October 2, 2013 Report Share Posted October 2, 2013 Shooting left handed using a red dot seemed to help me a lot. My left eye seemed to learn to transpose the image over both eyes, then on it's own shouldering the rifle left handed I could use the iron sights. I think the south paw boxing drills is a great concept. Shooting left from bench is simple standing feels a bit awkward still. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rhodes1968 1,638 Posted October 2, 2013 Report Share Posted October 2, 2013 Lot of cross dominate competition shooters will wear an patch this does work. One would wear it for a couple of weeks at a time, the brain adjusts and can switch dominate sides. Seemed excessive but his results were excellent. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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