Learning to shoot lefty

[jak67429]

After a recent right shoulder( I am right handed and right eye dominate) injury I am trying to teach myself how to shoot my super redhawk left handed only. Not that easy. the pistol with red dot is heavy and trying to control 340 jhp full loads not too easy with 1 hand. I now can actually say I can sympathize with all the people who are cross eye dominate.

 

[earplug]

It took me about six months to feel normal shooting Bullseye with my 22. I never really mastered shooting my revolver left handed due to having to cock it during rapid fire.
Dry firing really helped. After some surgery I went back to right handed shooting.

 

[Gamera]

I've often thought about learning to shoot lefty, just because I think it could come in handy (no pun intended) sometime. Like what if you're in a SD situation and your right hand is injured/disabled?

 

[oneounceload]

After a recent right shoulder( I am right handed and right eye dominate) injury I am trying to teach myself how to shoot my super redhawk left handed only. Not that easy. the pistol with red dot is heavy and trying to control 340 jhp full loads not too easy with 1 hand. I now can actually say I can sympathize with all the people who are cross eye dominate.

Why are you shooting full power loads if you just had some surgery? Start with easy loads and work your way back up

 

[ChCx2744]

Some people don't understand the importance of this, but learning to shoot with your off-hand is very VERY important.

 

[Sav .250]

I`m a natural lefty but shoot off the right shoulder. Been doing ot so long it seems natural. Point is, with practice, you should be able to over come the "change."

 

[gym]

If you have good eye hand coordination, it is easier than you may think. Just try shooting with one hand at first, using your left hand if you are right handed. You can get the two handed grip down later,or not, but you should be able to shoot with either hand in an emergency.

 

[BBQJOE]

My CCW instructor strongly recommended learning to shoot with the opposite hand.
When I go to the range, I probably don't practice it as much as I should.

 

[searcher451]

BBQJoe has it exactly right: We should always practice with our off-hand, be it left or right. Instructors and experienced LEOs will tell you that gunfights always draw fire toward the gun itself, and the likelihood that you'd be hit in your strong-side hand is better than average. Practicing with your weak-side hand is always a good idea.

 

[weisse52]

I try to shoot with my off-hand with every gun I take to the range every time.

I just think I do not work at it hard enough. I need to define my goals a little better. Like improve my 7 yard accuracy.

OP, I wish you luck on quickly improving you off-hand shooting.

 

[mdugan]

I've always been able to do a lot of things (tools, sports) with both hands. I write with my left hand, but when I bought my first gun just after 9-11 I shot from the right side. I generally practice from both sides and discovered I'm equally fair from L & R. I like the feel from the left so I carry accordingly. Btw I'm right eye dominant.

 

[cchris]

I'm trying to shoot lefty (one-handed) in the event I cannot use my right arm. Right now, when I go to the range, I take a pair of pistols and shoot one in each hand, since I find it easier to balance than shooting with just my left hand. Once I feel good enough about that, I'll move it to just left-hand shooting by itself. I certainly won't be using my Sigma for this, as I'll probably end up pulling the trigger so hard with my left hand I'll end up hitting something beside me.

 

[GunFun]

I'm sure if your left arm isn't completely atrophied you will do fine in a self-defense situation.

I doubt you will get the same shot groups, but it's less about which arm you favor than knowing how to aim and control a weapon, and proper breathing procedures to steady your aim.

Don't doubt yourself just improve your aim with both appendages

 

[cuervo]

When you shoot weak-hand, should you also shoot weak-eye, or dominant eye, or point-shoot?

 

[tribbles]

When I learned to shoot a rifle at Scout camp, it was left-handed, because at the time I had 20/20 vision only in the left eye (no wonder it's the dominant one). Later on I learned to shoot right-handed, so either way isn't a problem for me.

I've often wondered why the 'left-handed' stance isn't used more by right-handed people, since you have your strong arm supporting the weight of the firearm while your weak hand only has to pull it into your shoulder and work the trigger.

Pistols are another story. I shoot them right-handed but cheat and use my left eye.

 

[CCWB]

I attempt this every now and then just to have the muscle memory to know I can do it. Bummer on the "forced" switch. Good luck and speedy recovery.

 

[twofifty]

"I've often wondered why the 'left-handed' stance isn't used more by right-handed people, since you have your strong arm supporting the weight of the firearm [rifle] while your weak hand only has to pull it into your shoulder and work the trigger."

Thanks for that, I'll give it a try.

 

[twofifty]

A weak-hand-only technique I was taught is to make a fist with your strong hand, then lay that fist flat on your upper chest (sternum). The clenched fist tightens up the upper body, giving more stability.

This works reliably for me in competition, to the point where I look forward to shooting w-h-o. Reversal of same works for s-h-o.

Any other techniques out there?