Left, Right jumble

[JdePietro]

There would appear to be a wealth of instructors chiming in on this forum, that is great because it gives me a keg of information to tap. Now I need some information on a not so easy problem, I hope everyone can throw in their .02 and I can find the answer I am looking for.

Back Story:

My live in Girl Friend had decided she was no longer going to play the role of victom. She came to me all by herself and asked to go to the gun shop to find a suitable sidearm. After trying out many different types and calibers she settled on an M&P9c. It was her favorite out of everything the tri-county area had to offer. To celebrate, I bought her a Crossbreed Quick clip holster, also her own choice for carrying her new sidearm. She will be picking up her new M&P soon.

Here is our problem...

While she is right handed, she is left eye dominant. I was not sure if this would be a problem but after we went to the range and she shot a few of my pistols it was clear that her shots were going far right.

I am not 100% sure if this is due to the cross dominance or other areas we need to work on. She is planning on taking a class very soon and then we both will be taking more advance classes down the road.

For now I would like to know the following:

Is this even a cause for concern?

How can she train around this?

Are there techniques specifically for this?

Is it correctable?

Thank you in advance for your input I look forward to all the replies.

[GASPASSERDELUXE]

A easy solution would be to go to a drug store and get an eye patch and have your GF practice with that.
She should be able to train her weak eye in a short period of time.

[tombogan03884]

Yes it's correctable.
Shoot with both eyes open. It seems her primary interest is self defense, in that situation closing one eye to aim leaves you blind to potential threats on one side, it is better to use both eyes as you look at the threat and bring the sights into you field of view.
To aid her in sighting you might try a laser aiming device like Crimson Trace or one of the other brands.
Rob and some of the others will probably have more detailed advice but those are my suggestions.

[Fatman]

Yup, shoot with both eyes open. The dominant eye should pick up the sight.  With both eyes open, a left eye dominate person should be aiming 'the pistol on the right' of the two you will see.  With practice your gf will make it second nature.  As to a laser sight, be aware that every shooter moves the gun sights around in a circle, more or less as we try to keep the sights centered.  Practiced shooters move the sights around less dramatically than new shooters.

If your gf starts her shooting career using a laser, she may 'chase the laser' and get dismal results.  I'd have her use the iron sights at close range first, getting used to the sights and trying to keep the groups tight.  This will help her confidence and keep the frustration level down. Move the target farther down after she's comfortable and reasonably accurate and repeat.

Once she's more comfortable and has decent control I'd try a laser.

It's also easier to learn good habits than break bad ones. If you're going to get instruction, I'd do it ASAP - before bad habits develop. 

[Rob Pincus]

In all but the most extreme cases, this is a non issue. The brain will compensate with a pistol and put the gun where it needs to be when she is focused on the threat or the front sight with both eyes open..... And she will naturally close whichever eye she needs to when it comes to the need for more precision and sight alignment shooting.

Over-thinking this problem only makes shooting worse when it comes to defensive pistol use.

I am slightly left eye dominant but shoot everything right handed.

If you can, take a look at the "Extend Touch Press" drill that we demo'd on the first or second show of TBD (may be on You Tube also....). This is 100% EXACTLY how we get new shooters hitting the target.... no discussion of closing any eyes, sights, etc.... Less Mechanics means that the brain and body will get the shooter started intuitively. There was a great article in Range Reports a couple of years ago comparing and contrasting this method of working with new shooters with the mechanical style taught at older model schools.


-RJP

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[JdePietro]

I would like to thank everyone for their responses. We had given thoughts to eye patches and all sorts of other techniques but when it came down to it the results were quite surprising...

I must preface and say that I did not get a chance to read the responses before we picked up her pistol and went to the range but this is how the day unfolded...

I put in my last hour at work and dashed home, did the three s's and off we went to the gunshop. I brought hearing protection and safety glasses and her holster but forgot staples and targets (duh). When we arrived we had to wait in line, which seems to be the norm these days, remember when you could go to the gunshop on a friday around 1400 and nobody was there?

While she went through the purchasing process I talked to the owner whom I know pretty well. I brought in 4 or 500 rounds of once fired .270 brass as a present and tried to get him to trade me my shoulder holster and harness (never worn) for a Desaintis Scabbard. He took the trade, woot me! (see other thread)

While all this was going on she finished up and stood patiently waiting for me to finish gabbing and buy some 9mm and a target. I selected what was available... As I sit here and type today who walks into the store but Doug Koenig. I swear to god fellas...

So I stumbled all over myself trying not to obviously stare in his direction as he signed for some mail and looked at one of his pistols which was having work done. I couldn't resist it any longer and I just had to say hi. To make this short, I just made a bafoon of myself and asked him to beat Leatham this year to quiet down all the springer fans. Its not that I have anything against Rob I think he is a steller guy and would have probably acted the same way had he walked in. But I have to admit I'm a S&W guy and I chuckle when Springfield is declared the end all of the 1911 world.

Anyway in my star struck stupor I grabbed a Bianci cup target and the rest of my things and walked out to the Jeep telling my GF who was standing right there the hole time, that I just met Doug Koenig. She was kind enough to point out that I pronouced his last name KO-Nig.

Jeez I'm getting as long winded as Michael Bane when he talks about beach bars

Blah blah blah we went to the range. I nailed her target to the back stop with a twig in a small bullet hole and we starting going over the safety rules and dry fired a little to get the hang of things.

When she actually started to shoot I was amazed. Her first three shots fired from about 15ft went all in the black. She bummed a few but then get right back on. There were a few FTE but we quickly relized it was due to limp wristing and not locking those elbows. We used them to practice the "tap and rack". After 100 rounds she had removed most of what was the black center of the target and with a big smile now on her face we went home to clean her new gun and so I could get some sleep.

It was a great day and some great range time. I was very surprised how well she shot and how much she liked it. I was afraid of the recoil but it was mild and she really just needs more practice to avoid the limp wristing. It was night and day compared to when she shot my snubby .38. She got so upset because she could not hit the target but I really feel as though this was just a case of mating the perfect gun to her perfect hands.

I'm sorry for the very long post but I am so very proud of her and I wanted to write so much more. Thank you all for your repsonses again.

-Josh.

 

[CZShooter]

Great story, Josh. 

Hats off to the GF for taking personal resposibility for her own safety...and, shooting stuff is fun.

[fightingquaker13]

Great story, Josh. 

Hats off to the GF for taking personal resposibility for her own safety...and, shooting stuff is fun.

Indeed! Have to say it sounds like you found a keeper. I do have to ask though, zombie response team? Does that mean you move slow or eat brains?
fightingquaker13

[kmitch200]

I shoot right hand/left eye. Have since I picked up a handgun WAAAAAAY back when.
As Sir Rob pointed out, it's pretty much a nonissue.

Congrats on the GF getting involved in her own safety!

 

[Ping]

Excellent story.