Learning to shoot from the weak side?

[Classified00]

Hello there,

I have always fired a rifle and shotgun from my right side (dominant hand). The problem is that I'm left eyed. Actually, the true problem is that in recent years my sight in my right eye has deteriorated a good bit. Fifteen years ago I could qualify expert with an M16, shooting righty, without much trouble. These days I doubt I could see the 300 meter.

Lately I've been thinking seriously about converting to lefty with my shotgun. The problem is that I've tried this MANY times before and I always go back to righty. Shooting from the left seems completely wrong for me. I can't even hold the gun the right way let alone fire with any accuracy. (Not to mention the "love tap" from a 12 gauge held incorrectly)

Any advice? Any good basic instructional books etc... for leftys?

Thanks!
Brent...

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

what you need to do is start out small. start with .22 and really concentrate on your form.


my condolences on not getting started out right from the start.

 

[TrapperReady]

I messed around with this a year or so ago. My wife shoots righty, but is left-eye dominant, and I thought it might be better for her to switch over. As a result, I played around with it for a while so I could help instruct her.

Two drills helped me quite a bit.

1) Lots and lots of simple gun mounts. I'd just bring the gun up to my shoulder as quickly and smoothly as possible, making sure that I was using appropriate form. After a while, this started becoming more natural and I could do it faster and with less thought.

2) Shooting a Red-Ryder BB gun in the basement. Sort of like the .22 advice, but without having to drive to the range. I just set up a box full of old newspaper and magazines as a backstop, put on some eye protection and shot lots and lots of BBs.

Once I felt comfortable and was hitting pretty well, I started shooting the occasional round of trap lefty. Since I'm right-eye dominant, and this was crossed-up for me, I had to close my right eye. You wouldn't have that problem.

I spent a fair amount of time doing this, and will probably never shoot left-handed seriously... but I do have the occasional Princess Bride fantasy... "What you do not know is that I am not left-handed."

 

[C.R.Sam]

and will probably never shoot left-handed seriously

Let us hope not.
But it is a great way to shoot from the wrong side of a barricade.
Far less exposure of body and head.

Above is good advice re start with light hittin gun and practice, practice etc.

Wrong handed and wrong eyed can come real handy when shooting from a stand and the game approaches from the wrong side.

And in a defensive situation, tis indeed good to be able to use whatcha got left....after loosing your glasses, gettin a hand hurt and a face full of dirt etc.

If both sights and the target are in line...doesn't matter how you holdin the gun, your likelyhood of a hit is high.

Sam

 

[Dave McCracken]

I shoot better RH, otherwise I'd switch to Southpaw full time, since the better eye is on that side now.

A couple seasons back I took a doe LH, with a ML. There's been a few others.

Start with lots of gun mounts, as suggested. Use a light shotgun that fits. Shooting a BB gun or up to a 410 at static targets would be a good startup.

You say you're left eyed, keep your right eye closed when mounting. You've got decades of habit to overcome.

 

[Henry]

I am also right-handed, but left eye dominate. While I still shoot my rifles right-handed, I now use a left-handed stance when shooting a shotgun. At first it felt somewhat strange, but I have since become used to it. I try to shoot trap a couple of times a month, and this has really helped.

 

[TrapperReady]

C.R. Sam - For the most part, when it comes to shotguns, I'm a clay gamer and upland hunter. By "seriously", I mean that I doubt I'd ever swap sides for a round of sporting clays or trap (unless just totally goofing off).

As far as shooting from the opposite side, I try to maintain some basic level of proficiency with pistols and long guns. Like you said, it's far better when shooting around cover.

 

[Classified00]

Thanks!

I'll give it another whirl.

Brent...

 

[C.R.Sam]

Trapper Ready.

Practice on the QT.

Get a hat full of sidebets goin for a round of trap....wrong handed.



Sam