weak-hand shooting

[offroaddiver]

I was with a friend while trying to build our weak-hand shooting, I noticed something. If you change which eye you sight with (assuming you can still see) the alignment of the gun will adjust the angle with the wrist so that I could absorb the recoil more efficiently.

 

[offroaddiver]

I'll add the photos in once i figure out how.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I'll wait for the pictures, but I'm interested in how a "gun would absorb the recoil " incorrectly

 

[David E]

Yes, I'm all giddy with excitement to learn about this ground-breaking technique!

 

[yeti]

Well if DavidE is giddy and 9mme. is interested I have to admit I do find my self on tenterhooks to see these photos and learn this lesson.

 

[rainbowbob]

I'm in! I have suspended all respiratory functions meanwhile...

 

[Ben86]

Are you hypothesizing that if you use the corresponding eye to aim with whatever hand you are using your stance more effectively adjust? I suppose that could be true, but I keep both eyes open when shooting so it won't help me.

 

[bluetopper]

I'll go ahead and take your word for it.

 

[offroaddiver]

HA HA HA thanks.
here's the first picture:
bent wrist
here's with changing which eye I shot with:
straighter wrist

I noticed a big difference in accuracy and how much easier it was to get back on target by just closing my dominant eye.

 

[offroaddiver]

Ben86 wrote:

Are you hypothesizing that if you use the corresponding eye to aim with whatever hand you are using your stance more effectively adjust? I suppose that could be true, but I keep both eyes open when shooting so it won't help me.

Yes! I do have a dominate eye and by closing my right eye (dominate) I felt more confident while shooting southpaw.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Clicking on the link took me to a page asking for the password for my e-mail account.

Would you like to try posting the pictures another way?

 

[David E]

From what you posted (not the pic, it takes me to the same page as 9mmepiphany) the reason it's working better isn't because you're changing eyes, but because your wrist is straighter.

That whole physics dynamic thingee....

 

[9mmepiphany]

You can get the same effect, while still using your dominate eye, by rotating your gun clockwise to it's natural cant...about 2 o'clock

 

[RBH44]

Aww hell, I thought this thread was going to be about off hand shooting as I just started to practice this myself.

 

[David E]

Aww hell, I thought this thread was going to be about off hand shooting as I just started to practice this myself.

Ok, here are a couple tips:

You can tilt the gun to about 2 o'clock, but it'll hit closer to the aiming point if you don't go past one o'clock.

Sometimes, because the gun recoils more since it's held with only one hand, it might behoove the shooter to hold low left to accomodate a high/right kick and therefore, impact.

These two tips are about how you manage recoil weak handed for a given caliber.

This is caliber dependent, of course, as well as strength related. The point is, go out and learn what works best for you. (swapping aiming eyes isn't recommended)

 

[Deaf Smith]

Look kemosabe, there should be no such thing as 'weak handed' shooting. Is there 'weak handed punching'? There is only an out-of-practice hand that you have failed to practice with.

Learn to shoot with either hand. Start with a 'red' ASP gun for all your drawing practice with your out-of-practice hand. Then a .22 and build up the skills.

Why?

Never know when you will injure one of your hands, or shoulder, or fingers, or simply have no choice but to use that hand due to unavailability of the shot is easier from that side.

You will find you don't even need to shoot as much with that out-of-practice hand cause your more practiced counterpart will transfer some of the skills it has to the other one.

Deaf

 

[Old krow]

Are you hypothesizing that if you use the corresponding eye to aim with whatever hand you are using your stance more effectively adjust?

How did you determine your dominant eye? I shoot with both eyes, but my dominant eye is opposite my shooting hand, which makes off hand shooting line up my dominant eye. Once I figured that out, my off hand shooting improved.

 

[offroaddiver]

Ok one last attempt. I changed security on the photos. Hopefully that works, if not use imagination.

It really boils down to shooting stance. I am right handed and my right eye is dominate. I shoot with both eyes open but the sight picture from right eye is how I aim. So usually my sight picture would mean that I'm following my right arm down to gun and over sights. When in my left hand I have had problem managing recoil, even 22 SA revolver seems to be wobbly.

However I started closing my right eye and focusing on the sight picture and Voila!!! My left arm aligns correctly and I went from 3 out of 6 shots on target to all on target. Same distance and size target.

Using this "hypothesis" (I like that) I went from a 22 SA to a 1911 .45. I tested myself today at the range. I switched eyes by putting a pirate's eye patch over one eye and when forced to shoot with right shut and right hand.... I'm horrible, but change the eye patch and then shot well.

Just an idea to share with people.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Just looked at the pictures...much more clear idea of what you were trying to say before.

You shouldn't...and shouldn't have to... bend your wrist like that when shooting with your off side hand. The gun should stay in-line with the wrist. Why would you bend your wrist like that in the first picture when trying to align your sights with your right eye?

It is faster and more efficient to either tilt the sights to your right side or tilt your head to the left.

I just had a thought of one instance you might cant your wrist like that...you're not trying to shoot from the Weaver stance are you?

 

[John Wayne]

When I shoot off-handed, I have noticed that my groups stay roughly the same size, irrespective of which eye I am using to acquire a sight picture.

My point of impact, however, shifts by several inches.

 

[rainbowbob]

I switched eyes by putting a pirate's eye patch over one eye and when forced to shoot with right shut and right hand....Just an idea to share with people.

It is faster and more efficient to either tilt the sights to your right side or tilt your head to the left.

Try holding the pistol the same as you would with the strong hand and turn your head a few degrees to the left until your right eye catches the sights. Both eyes open. No pirate patches. No tilting of wrist or head. Works for me.

 

[Old Fuff]

Back when the world was young, bullseye target shooters (shooting one-handed of course) would during timed and rapid fire strings, extend the shooting arm and push it forward - described as "pushing the muzzle through the target." Then they would turn the arm and wrist slightly counter clock-wise (for a right-handed person) to tension the tendons' in the arm/wrist. This would produce a five-o'clock hold on the bullseye image.

While not "modern," the technique does work, and I have found it adaptable to both strong and weak hand one-arm shooting.

 

[GLOOB]

I keep both eyes open and I switch sight picture to the appropriate eye when shooting with the off hand. This is easier to do if you first focus on the target, then line up the "inner" of the 2 sets of sight pictures, then finally focus on the front sight, if you are so inclined. Keeping a straight wrist pretty much ensures the correct eye gets the preferred line. Think "gun in line with arm," so the sights would literally point back over your shoulder. You'll need a little adjustment (head slightly to the side and/or wrist slightly bent) to get a sight picture with the correct eye. The wrong eye won't even be in the right zipcode.