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Posted: 8/22/2012 3:30:58 PM EDT
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Ok, so I am new to the rifle side of things, always been handguns and eye dominance isn't as big of a factor. I am starting to get into rifles (possibly the AR series) and am curiuos on suggestions. No, I am not curious about brands, enough of those posts, I am curious about left vs right handed. I am right handed by nature but apparently left eye dominant. I have heard that it is easier to train your hands than you eye. I am really new to the rifle world so I am curious if it really makes that big of a difference. If so, do I go with a right handed gun and train my right eye or go with a left handed gun (doesn't feel as comfortable) knowing my accuracy might be better. Would having a scope completely eliminate the concern? I did talk to a guy who is in the same boat and he said he just buys right handed and deals with knowing his aim might be off a little bit. He said it isn't as drastic as I have read. Thoughts, comment and suggestions are welcome.
I tried to do a search for posts on this over the last 30 days and I am apparently search impaired so if this is redundant, please just point me to the post. |
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I'm left handed but right eye dominant. I shoot handguns with my left but shoot a rifle right handed. I have always shot long guns right handed and can't remember if I was taught to do this or it just came natural. so should I just buy a righty and shoot both with it or get one of each...knowing I have to buy one first and save again for the second? |
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I'm left handed but right eye dominant. I shoot handguns with my left but shoot a rifle right handed. I have always shot long guns right handed and can't remember if I was taught to do this or it just came natural. so should I just buy a righty and shoot both with it or get one of each...knowing I have to buy one first and save again for the second? good point |
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Thanks for the suggestions. Think I will "pull the trigger" this weekend. I know, that was bad. My wife thinks I am corney anyway  Buy RH and give it a good effort. If you eventually decide you need a lefty you can trade the other. Another idea would to find a range that rents guns. You could save yourself some time and trouble by getting the correct rifle from the start. |
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I was shooting for several years before I confirmed that I was left-eye dominant and a right-handed shooter. I would automatically go for the spotting scope with my left eye. During an eye examination, I asked to have my dominant eye determined. I barely raised the frame I made with my fingers before I was told "Left Eye".
As I use an optic of some sort on my rifles, I continue to use my right eye to aim. With my Eotech, I can shoot with both eyes open. With a telescopic sight, I close the left eye and aim with the right. It is too late in life to learn to shoot lefty, and I don't think it would account for much (if any) improvement. Pistols are shot as well with either eye. I shoot exclusively with my left eye as that is the one that instinctively aligns with the sight. 
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My brother is the same way, and the military taught him to use his right eye. He never could keep both eyes open like they wanted, but he shoots just fine now.
Id go with a right handed rifles if thats the way your body is comfortable. You can always shoot lefty with it, many people do. |
| I used to be cross dominant (right handed, left eyed), but through a lot of practice I trained myself to the point that I can now switch eye dominance on the fly. I no longer have to shut either of my eyes depending on what side I'm shooting off of. I'm sure it depends on how severe your dominance is, but eye dominance can be changed or at least mitigated in my experience. |
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I competed as a right hand left eye dominate shooter in 3-pos .22. I did quite well.... Then at a shooting camp I had a coach tell me I needed to go left handed. Another coach told me if I wasn't going to the Olympics i shouldn't worry about it. YMMV
Edit- I got to the point where if I wanted to advance I would have needed to make the switch, but didn't want to make that leap. With skeet/trap I have gotten 25/25 with one eye closed but am getting ready to start shooting with my left hand to have both eyes open. |
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I'm right handed left eye dominent as well. If I'm shooting long range thru a scope I have no issue closing my left eye. But I shoot a bow with both eyes open - I just use the set of pins on the left side. When birding I shoot both eyes open. If I need to aim quickly with a scope at short distances I use both eyes open and may or may not close my left eye. I have many things wrong with me - I've just learned to adapt . . . |
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OP, have you tested yourself to know that you are left eye dominant since you said "apparently left eye dominant"? I shoot rifles and handguns both ways but I am right eye dominant. I always shot a bow as a kid left handed. About 20 years ago I went to a bow shop to buy a new left handed bow. The owner asked why I wanted a left handed bow which sort of took me back a little thinking I know what I want. He took me to the indoor range, picked up a paper plate and poked a hole in the middle with an arrow and handed it to me. Then he had me hold the plate with both hands while standing square to the targets. He said to keep both eyes open and look at a target, then raise the plate using both hands out in front with arms extended and look at the same target. Then he had me close my left eye and asked if I still saw the target. I said yes, he said I was right eye dominant and I should be buying a right handed bow. That right handed bow felt strange and I thought I would never shoot it right...I was wrong. One thing to keep in mind, a red dot or EOTech work best with both eyes open. |
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I'm also right handed and left eye dominant. I didn't shoot firearms until I joined the military. I've always shot the M16 right handed during qualification. A couple years ago I learned I was left eye dominant and shot the next qualification left handed and had an immediate score improvement. I know shoot rifles primarily left handed but I always make sure to practice right handed. I belive being able to shoot with both is an advantage.
The only difference between right handed and left handed rifles seems to be the direction of the casing ejection and ergonomics. Accuracy shouldn't be affected because you will always line up the sights / optic with the target. Rock River claims that their left handed rifles are better because of the left hand twist in the barrel rifling causing the rifle to torque into shoulder when shooting left handed. I however have never noticed any drop in accuracy shooting an M16 or my AR15 left handed and as I said above, my accuracy actually increased with no practice prior to the qualification. With regard to ergonomics, I feel the AR15 is actually easier to manipulate left handed. About the only thing I give up to shooting right handed is dropping the magazine free while grabbing another mag at the same time to speed up reloads. However, malfunction drills are easier since I can already look into the chamber and can lock the bolt back without switching hands or using an addon modification. The only time brass has ever hit me was on my arm while shooting an arm forward extended grip. |
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Quoted:
Ok, so I am new to the rifle side of things, always been handguns and eye dominance isn't as big of a factor. I am starting to get into rifles (possibly the AR series) and am curiuos on suggestions. No, I am not curious about brands, enough of those posts, I am curious about left vs right handed. I am right handed by nature but apparently left eye dominant. I have heard that it is easier to train your hands than you eye. I am really new to the rifle world so I am curious if it really makes that big of a difference. If so, do I go with a right handed gun and train my right eye or go with a left handed gun (doesn't feel as comfortable) knowing my accuracy might be better. Would having a scope completely eliminate the concern? I did talk to a guy who is in the same boat and he said he just buys right handed and deals with knowing his aim might be off a little bit. He said it isn't as drastic as I have read. Thoughts, comment and suggestions are welcome. I tried to do a search for posts on this over the last 30 days and I am apparently search impaired so if this is redundant, please just point me to the post. Like you right hand, left eye dominate. I shoot pistols and rifles lefty and would never switch to only RH. Although what I have been doing over the last several years is switching back and forth to get more accustom to shooting both ways. Mainly due to tactical style shooting. Recommend using dominate eye side for shooting...but that is only one guys opinion. |
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Interesting post and good timing too.
Last Friday I went to the range and found that I had it all to myself. I am right handed, and right eye dominant. I've from time to time thought that I should see what it was like to shoot left handed, just for grins or in case I ever need to. So since I was alone and couldn't embarass myself I tried it lefty. Man what a surprise. I have a 4X scope on my AR and I could NOT get a picture of any sort with my left eye. Even so, I shot a couple rounds just to see what it felt like and it was the strangest feeling. I felt totally spastic. I'm not giving up but I can see this is going to be an uphill battle. I think learning to shoulder and hold it here at home until I get somewhat comfortable is the best way. |
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I'm right handed left eye dominent as well. If I'm shooting long range thru a scope I have no issue closing my left eye. But I shoot a bow with both eyes open - I just use the set of pins on the left side. When birding I shoot both eyes open. If I need to aim quickly with a scope at short distances I use both eyes open and may or may not close my left eye. I have many things wrong with me - I've just learned to adapt . . . I have done the self test where I make a triangle with my hands and pull it back to my face. Always goes to the left eye unless I move the diamond to favor my right eye....if that makes any sense. |
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Quoted: Quoted: I'm right handed left eye dominent as well. If I'm shooting long range thru a scope I have no issue closing my left eye. But I shoot a bow with both eyes open - I just use the set of pins on the left side. When birding I shoot both eyes open. If I need to aim quickly with a scope at short distances I use both eyes open and may or may not close my left eye. I have many things wrong with me - I've just learned to adapt . . . I have done the self test where I make a triangle with my hands and pull it back to my face. Always goes to the left eye unless I move the diamond to favor my right eye....if that makes any sense. Did you try what I posted above? |
| I'm right handed and left-eye dominant in a bad way, and it's gotten worse as my vision (age) has gone down in my right eye faster than my left, so the brain really goes to what the left eye is seeing. It mainly affects BAC shooting with a rifle. Still hunting/target shooting it's not an issue as I have time to force the image and still shoot with both eyes open, and with handguns I don't even try to use the right eye. All you can do is shoot left handed or practice. You can train your brain to do a lot of stuff. |
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Quoted:
I'm right handed and left-eye dominant in a bad way, and it's gotten worse as my vision (age) has gone down in my right eye faster than my left, so the brain really goes to what the left eye is seeing. It mainly affects BAC shooting with a rifle. Still hunting/target shooting it's not an issue as I have time to force the image and still shoot with both eyes open, and with handguns I don't even try to use the right eye. All you can do is shoot left handed or practice. You can train your brain to do a lot of stuff. Yup, tried your method and when I close my left eye, I cnanot see them target. Leads me to believe I am left eye dominant. a buddy of mine is hoping to take me to the range this weekend with his rifles and we will see how things play out. May next week I will have a new AR thanks again for the feedback and comments. |
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