Just discovered I am left-eye dominant, after over 30 years of shooting!

[shappy0869]

OK, this may seem crazy, but after reading a few of the posts in The Finer Points of Iron Sights Aiming thread, and doing some quick tests, I think I have determined that I am left eye dominant even though I have been shooting with my right eye all my life (I am right handed).

How does this change the way I should shoot (or even put my pants on )?

Edit: after doing some more "testing" I am not sure which eye is dominant. When I look at an object, say 10 feet away, and try to line my finger up with it (with both eyes open), the image splits, as if my eyes are crossed.

What does this mean?

 

[blackhawk2000]

The test I have heard of is to put your hands together palms out. Between your thumb, and forefinger make a small hole. Look at something. Slowly pull your hands up to your eye, while still looking at the object. Your hands go to your dominant eye.

 

[drummerwookie]

im right handed but shoot left handed for the same reason...i can see farther with my left eye clearly, then i can with my right. it was weird too, bc i shot my M44 mosin for the first time last weekend, and was holding it up with my left hand, my weaker arm, and my arm got tired pretty fast bc of its weight...i can shoot that way all day tho with my 10/22

 

[schloe]

His method of determining which eye is dominant is incorrect. Just think about which eye you use with a camera to take a picture, that is your dominant eye.

Edit - i just found this on wikipedia, this is a good test:

The "Dolman method" also known as the "hole-in-the-card test". The subject is given a card with a small hole in the middle, instructed to hold it with both hands, then instructed to view a distant object through the hole with both eyes open. The observer then alternates closing the eyes or slowly draws the opening back to the head to determine which eye is viewing the object (i.e. the dominant eye).

 

[shappy0869]

I am sitting here at my desk and holding the index fingers of both hands together with my arms outstretched trying to cover up objects across the room. Every time I do this, the objects split in two and I can't seem to cover it. Am I one of the final five (hmm, who here gets my reference? )

 

[OlderFox]

Shoot with both eyes open.
I learned to do this 50+ years ago, either open or glass sights.

 

[Risasi]

What Olderfox said...and while you're at it learn to shoot with either hand. Both handgun and rifle.

 

[johnnymenudo]

Shooting with both eyes open is fine, but one eye still has to align the sights or look through the scope. It is always easiest if you use the dominant eye in alignment with the sights or the optics. If you use the non dominant eye, you may have problems. If you use your non dominant eye you either have to train it to be dominant, or close the other eye. It is very rare for someone to shoot both eyes open, using the non dominant eye as the alignment eye without having problems.

JM

 

[OlderFox]

I guess I'm weird. But I have trained myself to shoot with either eye.

Cheers

 

[cpaspr]

Schloe -

the second part of that Wikipedia reference is the same as what blackhawk2000 was referring to.

Shappy0869-

Skip trying to do it with the one-finger cover up method. It really isn't as reliable as the "look through the hands" method. Just make sure you keep your focus on the distant object as you bring your hands back toward your face.

and to the "Shoot with both eyes open" folks -

Works for lots of people, but for some of us (like me), our dominant eye is also our weak eye. Or, our dominant eye and dominant hand are not consistent. I am right-eye dominant (20-1000+ uncorrected and with an astigmatism) but shoot a rifle left-handed (left eye is 20-600+ uncorrected). I shoot my pistols primarily right-handed, but have no problem shooting left-handed. I throw left-handed, write right-handed (probably thanks to early teachers), bat and golf right-handed, play tennis and racquetball left-handed, eat, paint and use a hammer with either (or both at once if it's a really tasty meal ).

However, I've recently been shooting IDPA, and I really do seem to do slightly better keeping both eyes open. However, I can't do that with my rifle, since I won't even see the scope if I keep my right eye open.

 

[Yosemite**Sam]

There are several things that can cause you to switch dominant eyes. They are: AGE, ALCOHOL and EYE INJURY. You may have been right eye dominant when you first started shooting. Things change.

 

[CrackerJim]

+1 on dominant eye changing. Just read an article today in Shooting Sportsman on this subject. In fact, the dominant eye can switch back and forth on some people but often switches as we get older for many people.

The good news is that with practice, you can shoot with both eyes open which is very practical in SD situations and a must for wing shooting. You can also learn to shoot with either eye regardless of which one is dominant.

When I shoot right handed (i'm right handed), I use my right eye over the sights though both are open. I practiced left handed/ left eye alot at the house with dry fire and after getting used to it, went to the range shooting both sides. Now its standard practice to shoot with both sides (although it's rare my left can beat my right but the left is good enough for SD should it ever be necessary).

I like sporting clays and will sometimes shoot left handed when the presentation dictates.

Good luck and hang in there, you can make it happen.

Jim