Cross Dominant....

[Chron]

So here's my dilema.. I'm a right handed shooter but am left eye dominant. When I shoot I move the gun slightly to the left and use my left eye to shoot. I've been shooting for a little over a year, but have always struggled with accuracy (My groupings are fairly decent but left of center). Recently, I've started picking up the gun left handed (Started out as just for fun) and I find that I am much more accurate left handed and can consistently hit dead center. It's still nowhere near as comfortable or natural as right handed shooting, but it's starting to become a little easier.

So basically my question is Where do I go from here? Should I just forget about left hand shooting and focus on improving my right handed shot using my left eye? Start focusing on shooting right handed while using my right eye? Work towards making a complete switch to lefty? Or would there be an advantage of practicing both right and left handed?

Would love to know what you guys think. And if it matters, my current gun is an HK P30L so I have ambidextrous controls.

[S dot]

I am the same exactly as well. Used to be great groupings just consistently left of center, now they are only moderately left of center. I figure If my life was on the line Im still ok.

I have swapped the gun over as well, and although sight alignment felt slightly better, I did not have nearly as good trigger control, and I had to think about my grip.

Ive been blessed with good vision, so for me I just keep rocking RH with right eye, and with enough rounds down range, I feel very confident shooting double righty. Not sure how long youve been shooting, but it might be a little late in the game to start batting lefty.

Anyone have any science about bincoular disparity and firearms?

Nice job on HK P30L too. quite jealous

[esartori]

I was cross dominant for a while too and tried lefty but I was horrible! I have heard either is fine although the 'official' way most are trained is to use the same hand/eye. I have since learned to shoot right eye with dry fire drills and I shoot fine now. I think its easier to train the eye than the hand but that's just me

[jakuda]

Put a strip of translucent tape over your left eye lens of your shooting glasses or train your right eye to be your dominant eye.

[racerguy180]

I'm right eye dominant & left handed. I shoot rifle/shotgun right handed & pistols left handed. Although I can shoot pistols or long guns with either hand. Granted I've been doing this for a long time and just have grown accustomed to it.

If you are more accurate with your left hand I'd say shoot that way!! Just get used to operating the controls with your left hand (slide release, mag release, etc).

[slick_711]

Are you shooting Isoceles or Weaver? If you're right handed, I'd suggest shooting Isoceles with both eyes open. That may not be a perfect solution, but it should help quite a bit. However, it's great to practice shooting with either hand, so by all means keep doing that.

[Erik_J]

Interesting post. I never thought about it, but I have been shooting rifles left hand/eye, and pistols right hand/eye. It was just 'comfortable' so I started shooting that way. THe last time I went to the range I was challenged by a friend to shoot my pistol left/left. I was shocked at how awkward it felt, but also at how accurate I was.

Your question makes me curious to test changing eyes on both platforms and seeing if I can't 'train' myself to shoot comfortably with opposite hand/eye.

[locosway]

You can try and re-train your brain to use your right eye as the dominant one. Or you can shoot left handed, which is easier imo.

Lastly, you can practice more and get used to cross-dom shooting, as I have.

I wish I had known about this when I started shooting when I was 10 years old. Now I feel like it's almost too late to correct myself. I feel like I can get fast and accurate hits on my target, and if I take my time I can put any round anywhere I like. So for me it's not a huge issue.

For you, you just need to find what's best and most comfortable. If you feel shooting cross-dom isn't accurate enough, then you'll never feel competent, and that will mess with your head. So, I'd suggest either re-training your brain to use your right eye, or start shooting left handed. The only reason I don't shoot pistols left handed is the lack of left handed models in CA.

[bootless]

I'm the same way. This is actually quite common. I shoot right handed and that is comfortable for me. You said you move the gun to your left slightly which might be your problem. What I do is hold the gun normally and not move it left, then I slightly rotate my head to the right until I have a good sight picture with my left eye. Might look a bit odd if someone is paying close attention but it works. I tried the left handed thing but couldn't get use to it. Good luck

[DannyZRC]

I'm right eye dominant and left handed, I'm fairly ambidextrous except for a few odds and ends that I can only do with one hand or the other.

I started out shooting better right handed, then left handed, and now right handed again.

I have an easier time getting a quick and good sight picture shooting right handed through my right eye, I have less flinch with my left hand, but I feel more comfortable doing mag/slide manipulations right handed (must be all that time watching animations in counterstrike, har).

I'm just keepin' on with my keepin' on, see how things shake out. It'd be nice if I could get both of my hands into fighting shape.

[BigFatGuy]

our instructor told my wife (also cross-eye dom) to simply rotate her head about 30 degrees to the "weak" side, which puts her strong eye into the plane of the pistol. This works well for me when I fire in my weak hand.

also, in Center-Axis-Relock they rotate the gun about 45 degrees around the barrel, and turn their shoulders so that they are firing right-handed, left-eyed. I found this pretty comfy as well.

[G lock]

OP is the same as hickok45





hope this helps

[Chron]

I appreciate all the replies. It's good to know that I'm not alone in this matter. I've been shooting Weaver style, so maybe the switch to an Isosceles would help. I'll have to try that. Next time I'm at the range I'll get pictures of my targets using different stances, eyes and hands.

[Chron]

[QUOTE=slick_711;5884809]I'd suggest shooting Isoceles with both eyes open. QUOTE]

Both eyes open is going to be a no go for me. Was just handling the gun and doing some dry fires and when I try to use the sights with both eyes open, my eyes fight for dominance. When I bring up the gun to eye level, sometimes I go left eye dominant and other times right eye dominant. I'm definately going to have to choose one over the other. I do plan on getting a new perscription for my glasses fairly soon. Maybe once I do that I'll be able to more comfortably shoot Right Hand / Right Eye.

[Ranger20]

Train for right Eye... we have two in our family with the same issue.. they shoot right eyed it took awhile but they are proficient with it now.. Oh use 22lr... it's cheaper to shoot to get through the transition.. JMO.