My daughter turned 5 in July, and I have promised her over the past several years that I would take her shooting with me once she was 5. She writes with her left hand, but the only gun I have that I would want her to shoot is a right-handed bolt action 22LR. Unfortunately it is scoped, as I would really want her to learn on a gun with open sights. Maybe for Christmas, if I can convince the wife.

Anyway, there would be no problem having her shoot it left handed (bolt operation would just be awkward), but I really want her to learn to shoot right handed for several reasons. First, I won’t have to buy left-handed guns! I’m a righty and my 2-yo son appears to be as well. Obviously it’s better if they can share youth-sized firearms (or pass down from her to him). Also, for many guns there just isn’t a left-handed option (I would hate for her not to be able to fire the M1A without getting hot brass in the face).

Should I try to coach her in to right-handed shooting or just let nature take its course?