This is definately a beginners question. I'm right handed. When I hold a rifle, I hold it most naturally right handed (right hand on the trigger). BUT...I use my left eye more naturally and more comfortably to sight. I actually have a harder time closing my left eye to focus out of the right. Will I do better if I learn to shoot left handed to take advantage of sighting with the left eye? Thanks.
It is your dominant eye, put your thumb and index finger on each hand togaether and old them in front of you, it will be a daimond shape, look with both eyes and then close one eye at a time on one eye the figure or sight pattern will change, but it will remain in place for the dominant eye.
I am right handed but Lost my right eye in an accident I had to learn to shoot left handed. There now is a good supply of LH bolt actions. When I firdt started shooting left handed there was just the Remington LH in 270 or 30-06. Two great calibers. Soon Ruger Savage and Browning entered the field until now you can get about anything LH. For me being right handed, the Remington pump is very easy for me to shoot. They are a good dependable and accurate rifle that give up very little if anything in accuracy to a good bolt gun. Keep them in mind as well. Tikka also makes LH rifles as does Sako. Savage has the most extensive line of LH rifles that I know of. If you get a Savage, wait for the accu-trigger which will be standard on all the Savage rifles starting this year. Hope this helps.
Thanks. I just tried that exercise. My left eye seems to be the dominent one. James, did it take you a while to get comfortable shooting lefty? Are there a lot of other shooters here that are right handed but shoot left handed? Or vice versa?
Try learning both ways-i.e. try shooting left handed, and try shooting right eyed...whichever works better is the way to go.
I'm pretty well ambidexterous, and focus equally well with both eyes, but when it comes down to shooting, I'm all over the place...I shoot long guns right handed, right eyed, I shoot most handguns either hand, but usually shoot better left handed...I also shoot Gunfighter in CAS/SASS, which means I shoot two pistols simultaneously, I usually focus with my left eye for both hands-although I don't use my sights much. I'm a better clay shooter left handed too, for some reason it just feels better to shoulder a SxS lefty. I can't shoot a lever action very well left handed, except for SHORT bbl versions.
When it comes to semiauto pistols that have a safety or some other function that lends itself to right handed shooting, I usually shoot them right handed, and I almost always shoot double action revolvers right handed (because reloading a double action in your right hand isn't really "handy"-no pun intended).
I've pretty much always been this way, but doing anything well takes work.
__________________
"When you tell a fellow to go to hell, you had better be sure you can get him there."--LBJ
I will always reccomend that a shooter shoot with both eyes open and shoot on his/her dominant eye side.It will be better in the long run and make you a better shooter. Your dominate eye will always take over, especially with shotgunning.
doubleA
__________________
Life is good, Give God the Glory....doubleA
I am rh but left eye dominant. However for me holding a gun or bow feels unnatural rh and always has, so I shoot lh for both. I agree your probably better to train yourself to shoot lh as it will improve your accuracy and success...price to pay for being special though in the extra cost and limited selection of lh equipment (if you decide to buy lhed firearms). Before I went out and bought lhed guns I would practice and gives yourself time to decide what indeed proves to be the best.
I shoot a rifle or handgun with whatever hand is most convenient at the time. Lately it has been lefthanded due to a shoulder injury. I never tried shooting a bow lefthanded but I am seriously thinking about it. Never could get used to shooting a shotgun lefthanded.
Shoot right or left handed?
