Right Handed, Left Eye Dominant

[FyreSarge]

I have always shot long guns left handed, but being right handed, I holster pistols on my right side.
 I have been shooting for years, but only as recreation. I have read how many people tilt their head in order to compensate for the right hand/ left eye setup.
 I have tried using my right eye with "okay" results. Is the head-tilt method the recommended way to shoot a pistol with this "condition", or should I consider working on left hand draw?

[blackwolfe]

Welcome to the forum.

I'm the same as you.  I don't know if it is the correct way, but I do well closing my right eye and shooting a handgun left eyed. I used to shoot a rifle well with iron sights when I was a kid, now I dont shoot worth a hoot.  With a shotgun I'm either hot or cold.  I cant seem to get the hang of shooting left handed or tilting my head over on long guns.

[MikeBjerum]

http://www.downrange.tv/forum/index.php?topic=1635.msg15658;topicseen#msg15658

Do a little searching around.  I remember this being talked about more than once.  The above is from Marshal, and I know there is one out there by Michael Bane with what he is presently fighting.  

Regardless of what you find out, Good Luck!

[fightingquaker13]

I'm kind of in the oposite boat. I'm left handed, left eye dominant. However, I prefer semi-auto pistols, so I shoot right handed as that's where the controls are. I either shoot instinctive (both eyes open, just like a shot gun) which is good enough for SD at 15-20 yds, or I tilt my head if I want better than a 4" group. Your mileage may vary.
FQ13

[Marshal Halloway]

I have always shot long guns left handed, but being right handed, I holster pistols on my right side.
 I have been shooting for years, but only as recreation. I have read how many people tilt their head in order to compensate for the right hand/ left eye setup.
 I have tried using my right eye with "okay" results. Is the head-tilt method the recommended way to shoot a pistol with this "condition", or should I consider working on left hand draw?

Keep on doing what you are doing. No point in changing what is natural for you. It sure works for me!

[Sponsor]

[FyreSarge]

Thanks for the advice and comments. I had read the "Lefty" post before posting my own. I just wanted to get more info on the subject.

[Teresa Heilevang]

I have this problem too.. Right handed left eye dominant.. but I can't seem to figure out what works best for me..  
 When I shoot sporting clays I automatically use my right eye.. but when I use my pistols I seem to cock my head over and want to use my left eye.. but then again.. I actually do better using my right eye  WHEN I remember to close my left eye while shooting with my right eye open. But I have always shot everything with both eyes open , so to close one eye is something I never remember to do and when you need to compete against the timer.. forgetting anything is costly..

And then I am contending with the frickin &^#$@&^%$$%#(&(^%$ bifocals... which frustrates the living hell out of me.. Because unless I tip my head back a bit I can't really see the front site and when I do that ..the targets are blurry cause I can't see far away..
It is soooo aggravating..


My god... did any of that make sense? and if you knew how fast I talk.. you would really be confused..

[Timothy]

Teresa,

Your a candidate for progressive lenses.  I use them for reading and shooting.  I've got the upper part of the lens focused at or about the front sight of my 1911, my longest frame handgun and the lower for reading and close work.  Standard bi-focals are a pain in the butt to shoot with.  The progressives are a little more money but the make a world of difference.

For clays and trap I can go without thankfully, and just use my standard glasses but there are some stick on magnafiers you can buy so you can read as well.

[Teresa Heilevang]

Timothy.. I have progressive Bifocals and I HATE them!
That little hour glass of bifocal isn't enough for me to see through.. I have full magnifiers on anytime I am on the computer....or read.. or text..
I really am frustrated with it all. I have also tried every kind of contact ( not hard) and I can't wear them.. Too much slippage off the iris..

Marshal can wear his contacts and he also loves his progressive bifocals..

I'm looking into laser surgery. That will enable me to see far away but then I just use the cheaters for close up.. as it is now, I can't see either..

[MikeBjerum]

I know we are drifting, but bifocals (progressives) are not far from dominance when it comes shooting issues.

I was blessed with these joyful things about 18 months ago, and I can't say I hate them.  I do miss a single correction and the ease of so much with them.  I love the clearness when I hit the right "zone," but I am still learning where the sight picture is on draw, and occasionally after recoil I can totally lose the muzzle end of the gun    Repetition helps, but the cost of ammo has really cut into that.

My point is that no matter the limitation it can be overcome.  Sometimes it takes fundamentals, and sometimes it takes creativity, but it is always worth it.