New Shooter Question

[CheapBloke]

Thanks to those that helped with explanations. You guys would be excellent instructors.

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[CheapBloke]

shotgun

Lol, yea shotgun was worse, I think he hit the target next to our lane, but it was all good because the lane to next to ours was also a new shotgun shooter and they didn't complain.

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[Tere_Hanges]

I'm left eye dominant, left handed and I shoot right handed. Never had a problem. I can still use my right eye to aim even though Im left eye dominant and left handed. Its literally that easy. Just because you are dominant in one eye doesnt mean your other eye is useless.

[NATEWA]

I have a friend with this issue.

He shoots a shotgun right handed but is left eye dominant. He tried scotch tape on the left side of his glasses. He didn’t like that so took off the tape and closes his left eye when mounting his shotgun. He was told by an instructor that he should shoot long guns left handed.

With pistols, he shoots right handed but moves his hands so his left eye is looking over the sights. He’s an ok shot with the pistol and good shot with a shotgun.

Probably should have been taught to shoot as a lefty when he was a kid.

[Divernhunter]

I am right handed and left eye dom.
I just close my left eye when shooting pistol or rifle. I am very accurate.
I do use scopes on all my hunting rifles and encore pistol barrels. I have scopes or red dot/holo sights on a couple of pistols but most are open sights. All my mil surplus rifles are open sights and are more trouble for me now that I wear glasses

[boattail]

Another left eye, right hand guy here. Pistol I shoot right handed and sight with my left eye. Rifle I shoot right handed and close my left eye and only use my right eye. Works for me.

Do you have any guns with a red dot optic? If you do have him keep both eyes open and shoot right handed.....that red dot will will float in space for him and he will be able to hit targets.

[sonofeugene]

Does he know what a proper sight picture should be?

[IVC]

I'm left eye dominant, left handed and I shoot right handed. Never had a problem. I can still use my right eye to aim even though Im left eye dominant and left handed. Its literally that easy. Just because you are dominant in one eye doesnt mean your other eye is useless.

There are different levels of eye dominance and, as several members pointed out, you can close the eye you're not using for aiming. Unless you're shooting shotguns, where you need both eyes to get proper depth perception. And, unless you're shooting action rifles where you might also need to shoot with both eyes open (this is a bit more complicated topic, though).

Shooting long guns on the side of the dominant eye is the "default" position, not the only one. There are people who go to great length to change eye dominance by selectively blocking eyes in training, and there are people who can shoot with either eye because the dominance is not too strong.

[Tarmy]

shotgun

[CheapBloke]

I instructed on the holding, sighting, everything many of you are asking. Pretty much what they teach you when you're a new shooter as an Infantryman.

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[CheapBloke]

Just never dealt with the right hand dominance with left eye dominant.

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[CGT80]

I had him close his left dominant eye as he fired from right, he said he couldn't line up the rear sight with the front aperture.
I have tried all that is suggested. I think I will just have him stick to handguns until he can find comfort in shooting left handed possibly.

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Closing one eye eliminates the dominance issue.


My left eye seems dominant but I am right handed. I have always shot with only one eye and tried using two when I got into pistol competitions but it didn't work. Years later and many competitions later, I shoot all guns with only my right eye.......even when shooting skeet. What I have learned to do is look with both eyes right until I am ready to line my sights up and fire. It is second nature to use both eyes while running around a course of fire and to close my left eye as I focus on the sights. It isn't even something I think about.


Also, I don't believe changing from shooting right handed to left handed is always a good answer. While I learned to use a paint brush left handed with great precision as a pro painter, I still had to dip with my right hand and still wasn't nearly as fast with my weak hand. There is no way I could shoot a long gun left handed, but I have been shooting for decades vs. someone who is young and can learn faster and doesn't have the muscle memory yet.

[CheapBloke]

I will have him retry both right and left hand stance next range out I take them on. And both eye sight pictures. If anything, I'm sure the practice will help him either way for future.

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[Tere_Hanges]

Just never dealt with the right hand dominance with left eye dominant.

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Yeah, that is weird but it sounds pretty common. Im left handed so It kind of makes sense that Im also left eye dominant. But apparently most people that are left eye dominant are also right handed, again, weird. I never had a problem shooting right handed. I can shoot right or left but prefer right since I've always done it that way. I dont think its really that big of a deal. Nothing a little bit of will and practice wont "fix".

[bigbearbear]

It is not the eye dominant issue, if it is, he will shoot off target but it will not be all over the place. The shots will land off target but they will still land with a fairly tight group at 15 yards.

To get on target, yes, close the dominant eye, but if you're using a scope or red dot, it really doesn't matter because scope or the red dot will focus the eye anyway.

Most likely than not, it is the way he is mounting the rifle. Check and make sure his cheek isn't coming off the stock when he fires and that the rifle is tucked securely against his shoulder. In fact, have him mount and unloaded rifle without shooting and check that closely.