Left handed shooters

[vmonkey]

Both of my boys are young, but appear to shoot left handed (when playing with toy guns). When they are old enough, should I teach them lefty or right?

My oldest plays sports right handed though writes left (like me). I'm betting my youngest is going to be more of a pure lefty (like his mom)...

Thanks for your thoughts.

[Mail Clerk]

If they feel they should shoot left then you should allow them to do so. I myself I'm left handed but shoot pistol right handed. Rifles I must shoot south paw.

Mail Clerk

[Intimid8tor]

Allow them to shoot what they are most comfortable with, but teach both so they can shoot weak hand.

I shoot handgun right handed, but rifle left handed.

[Curley Red]

Being a lefty I would say let them shoot with whatever hand they feel most comfortable. It is not the 1920's anymore, we southpaws are not the spawn of the devil like they tried to tell my grandmother when she was growing up as a left handed writer.

[RandyD]

I am left handed. I believe the determing factor is to find out which eye is their dominate eye. If a shooter is left eye dominate you do not want to teach them to shoot a rifle in a right handed manner. Doing so would create all kinds of problems.

[rplusplus]

And the Lord said unto him... Let them that shooteth the way that they liketh and all will rejoice... /blasphemy

[Clee]

Personally I'd teach him right handed for shooting. Its a right handed world. It will end up being easier on them and cheaper. Compare a left handed version of any bolt gun (assuming they even make one) to a original version. Most non military gun stocks are built for rightys (although some may have a neutral stocks). It will save them serious bucks later down the road if he gets into this hobby. Also if you're right handed its easier when you pass you guns down to them. My old man is a lefty, I'm a righty, the guns I'll eventually inherit some will be left handed which is pretty pointless for me.

[vintagearms]

Another vote for let them shoot how they are most comfortable with, taking into account what their dominant eye is. I am a lefty, left eye dominant and have no issues shooting right or left handed guns.

[FLIGHT762]

I am left handed. I believe the determing factor is to find out which eye is their dominate eye. If a shooter is left eye dominate you do not want to teach them to shoot a rifle in a right handed manner. Doing so would create all kinds of problems.

Another vote for let them shoot how they are most comfortable with, taking into account what their dominant eye is. I am a lefty, left eye dominant and have no issues shooting right or left handed guns.

These are the answers I would have given.

I'm L/H and left eye dominate. Determine which eye they are dominant and have them shoot from that side. Better to get them when they are learning to shoot and not have to try to break bad habits when they're older.

[Untamed1972]

Both of my boys are young, but appear to shoot left handed (when playing with toy guns). When they are old enough, should I teach them lefty or right?

My oldest plays sports right handed though writes left (like me). I'm betting my youngest is going to be more of a pure lefty (like his mom)...

Thanks for your thoughts.

I would say you'd wanna determine what their dominant eye is first. Would suck to have dad try and force you to learn right handed when you're left eye dominant.

As a lefty.....I do a few things right handed too (like batting), but am mostly left hand / left eye dominant. Just let them be lefties if they're lefties.

[Deadbolt]

i shoot south paw bc of an injury I have lost the ability to wink my left eye (i can close both at the same time, but just not the left one individually - go figure - at least my vision is crystal still )

Work with them on it and start with a cheap rifle (22?) before spending big money of leftie versions

[masameet]

Teach them the fundamentals so they shoot accurately with both hands. That way, if one hand gets disabled later, they will still be able to shoot accurately with the other hand and without having to relearn anything.

BTW I shoot left-handed because I see best out of my left eye. Interesting thing is I can shoot just as well with my right hand and without much practice.

[EODWRX]

If they are left handed let them learn left handed and then see if they can learn right. Being left handed they are more likely to be ambidextrous. I learned left handed then one day I just tried right handed just to see if I could do it. I am now proficient with either hand. I still consider myself a left handed shooter, but know I can always switch.

[Rob454]

I shoot left handed so I look retarded when i use a bolt action. I have since learned to shoot right handed although its still a little weird. Right handed peopel freak me out JK

And yes I know they make left handed rifles. At the time I couldn't afford paying 2x what a right handed rifle cost to buy one and now I am so used to it it doesn't bother me

[RandyD]

As a lefty.....I do a few things right handed too (like batting)...

As I said above, I am left handed, but like you, I learned a sport right handed. I was taught archery right handed. Now it is unnatural for me to hold a bow left handed, but it is also difficult for me to hold a bow right handed and try to use my dominant left eye to aim. I wish I was taught to use a bow left handed.