Rignt Handed/ Left Eye Dominant

[jburks]

I fall into that dreaded category of "Right Handed, Left Eye Dominant" and am having some difficulty finding the most appropriate grip to allow proper sight alignment with my 45 ACP. I have watched many videos and read many articles on proper grip (including Todd Jarrett's segment on Shooting USA). I understand that the most desirable grip is attained by placing the beavertail area in the center of the wrist and aligning the muzzle with the forearm. I agree that when I use this grip (which I have used for several years), I can maintain the most comfortable, natural and stable hold. The problem that I have is when I bring my gun up, the sights naturally align to my right eye and I always have to make a rotational adjustment with my wrist to align the sights with my left eye and this seems unnatural. Does anyone have any recommendations that would allow me to align my sights to my left eye more naturally and consistently?

 

[PCRCCW]

Ive been shooting this way for years......I dont change my grip at all...just line up the other eye with the sights. I think your trying to hard to compensate for something you dont need to fix. Turn your head more.......or I could be doing it wrong too??????????????
Shoot well.

 

[KONY]

I have the same issue and am still struggling with a solution myself. I tried strengthening my right eye a bit by closing my left eye during the week. It helped for a bit but when I stopped doing this the whole week then I wouldn't get the benefits. So far, I have no trouble shooting my wheelguns with adjustable sights but my pistols with fixed sights are more problematic.

 

[HD]

have used the "quell" method for over 30 ? years...

its the only workable way to deal with the RH/LED problem ...becomes 2nd nature very quickly ...

 

[Justang]

I'm the same way. I would normally just turn my head to make the sights align. But yesterday at my CCW class the instructor corrected me... and gave me many good tips. Just rotate the gun counterclock wise until the sights line up with your eye. I had a hard time with it yesterday, but it's going to take some practice for the muscle memory to kick in. I practiced in the mirror last night, pull the gun from the holster, keep my head straight, rotate the gun to line up the sights. But be cautious, don't rotate it too far, you're not a gangster. My rotation wasn't even 45*, but YMMV. I'm a much better shot now too! At 7yds I put 5 rounds through the same hole, the other three being very close with my Kimber. I was also much better with my HK. Don't turn your head, it throws you off balance, and in a tactical situation you don't want to have have your head cocked looking at the bad guy. Keep good posturing and make the sights come to you.

I shoot rifle's left handed. I'd assume you do too.

 

[Strings]

I've got the same problem, except it isn't a problem (unless I'm shooting trap). I just started practicing a drawstroke, and built muscle memory to bring the pistol up in line with my left eye. Don't even think about it anymore...

And I still shoot rifles and shotguns right-handed...

 

[LHB1]

Due to advancing age (66) and deteriorating eyesight (right eye can no longer be corrected to 20/20), I have to use my left eye to aim with open sighted pistols while still shooting right handed. I face directly towards the target and bring both hands together in front of me with right hand holding pistol and left hand cupped around right hand. My grip is shifted slightly so that pistol barrel aligns just inside my right arm, directly in line with my eyes. Only had to adjust my sights a small amount and voila, shots were hitting the bullseye again. Works well for me with .22, .45 ACP, and .44 mag's.

Good shooting and be safe.
LB

 

[Lennyjoe]

I am the same as you and have learned to shoot left handed. Rifles, shotguns, handgun and bows are all shot left handed. It's not as hard as folks think.

 

[BreakerDave]

Ive been shooting this way for years......I dont change my grip at all...just line up the other eye with the sights.

+1

Honestly, you don't have to screw around with changing grip or some sort of weird wrist contortion. You're only moving the gun over by a couple of inches to line it up with your left eye. You may feel the difference in position with your shoulders, but it is minor.

The bigger problem with being right handed and left eye dominant is when you have to shoot long guns (especially bolt actions), but you should be fine shooting handguns.

-Don't let the experts make this more complicated than it is. Good luck.

 

[Texas Bob]

After 35 years of RH/LED shooting I just leave both eyes open, however I tilt my head toward my right shoulder and dip my chin ever so slightly. You just need to find what will "feel" natural for you.

 

[Boss Spearman]

I have the same condition and find using a Weaver stance works great to sight out of the left eye. In fact, I'm a much better shooter from the Weaver than from the Isocolese.

 

[raghorn]

+1 on the Weaver stance.

 

[foxmoor]

I have the same problem, but my solution has already been mentioned above and it's the easiest, if possible, for the shooter: Shoot left-handed. I discovered this problem when I began shooting handguns at the advanced age of 45 and the simpliest solution was to shoot with my left hand, as I had really no preference and no built in bad habits. I tried shooting right-handed (with a slight head tilt) and still do so regularly, however, the results are less accurate than with the left hand.

 

[Boss Spearman]

It's a great idea anyway, because everyone needs to be ambidextrous when it comes to handling their handguns. If your dominant arm is disabled and you've had no off hand practice, you're in d.s.

 

[silent one]

I'm just the opposite. Left handed, right eye dominate. Try this: Keep your head straight ahead, both eyes open, bring the weapon up to your normal position, gripped with both hands, aim at the target, now wink with each eye. What you will see, is the dominate eye has naturally taken over the aiming of the weapon, and will be lined up with the target. I usually use the Weaver stance, but it doesn't matter what stance you use, the dominate eye will control the target acquisition every time. "Good luck".

"Semper Fi"


SILENT ONE

 

[jburks]

All, Thanks for all of the input. It looks like there are a lot of RH/LED shooters out there. Maybe we should start a support group I see different solutions to the same problem. I'm actually able to shoot pretty well from my right hand and left eye. The only problem is how quickly I'm able to aquire a sight picture. I have found that if I turn the gun slightly in my grip (turn the muzzle to the right), my sights naturally line up. The only thing that I don't like is that my grip feels slightly less stable. It was very helpful to hear how other experienced shooters have delt with this.

HD, Can you elaborate on the "Quell Method"? I'm not familliar with this method.

Thanks again...

 

[Delmar]

I'm left handed/right eye dominant. Taught myself to shoot right handed and it has benefits. For one, your "weak" hand trigger finger is likely to be more sensitive, which helps at trigger press time. When I am shooting my wheelguns, its easy for me to trigger cock the pistol and hold it there, make my slight adjustment and squeeze through.

 

[Boss Spearman]

As I have lazy eye in my right eye, so it's half blind I have been used to seeing out of my left eye since I was around 5 years old.

 

[toocool]

I'm right-handed and left-eye-dominant; I just sight using my right eye. I don't see a problem. If I try lining up my sights with my left eye, I can't focus on the front sight. Using my right eye is how I've been shooting all my life, and I'm 50+ now.

 

[jburks]

Thanks for the reply Mr. Cool. Are you able to keep both eyes open when you sight in with your right eye? I have a hard time using my right eye without closing my left eye.

 

[middy]

I just trained myself to be right-eye dominant when shooting. It's not that hard, unless your right-eye is very weak.

 

[armoredman]

Been RH/LED since I started shooting. I shoot modified Weaver, and scored Distinguished Expert with my Dept. So, I don't think it's an eye dominance, rather than a practice issue. My Academy Sergeant ordered me to shoot left handed. I told him I would turn in a prefect score shooting right handed - a did.