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Re: Shooting both left and right handed with a rifle

Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2015 8:16 pm
by Outsider
Lefty with right eye dominance here. I've always just shot from the right shoulder (mostly due to my first major firearms training coming from the Cadets). The odd thing is that I've shot blackpowder pistols and get far more accuracy from my right hand than my left.

Anyway, cross training is never a bad thing. I do HEMA and while I primarily work from the left hand, I always make sure to exercise the right hand and do my drills in that hand as well.

Re: Shooting both left and right handed with a rifle

Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2015 10:36 pm
by Tommygunn
I'm a full on bearded lefty but, like Dromia says growing up in a right handed world, am pretty much ambi now, (and my shooting is just as bad with either).

Generally shoot my military stuff RH & .22's, shotties etc. as nature intended, (left handed)

Re: Shooting both left and right handed with a rifle

Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2015 8:16 am
by Blackstuff
Some practical shotgun/rifle/pistol stages are set up to force you to shoot from both shoulders (and some have stage instructions that you must switch shoulders even if the course doesn't demand it). I am right handed and have central 'dominance' with a slight tendancy to the left. As i shoot PSG with a red-dot this doesn't really matter but i shoot mini-rifle with iron sights so i needed to take 'steps'. At first i was just closing my left eye but i found that slowed me down and became tiring after you've done it 100-150 times in a few hours! So i just started using my clay pigeon shooting glasses which has a bit of tape to block my left eyes central portion. It allows faster movement and target aquisition because the periferal vision is still there and stops me winkking like Sid James in a brothel!

Shooting 'weak shouldered' as its referred to in practical circles i find unpleasant and its something i should really practice more. For precision rifle shooting though when time isn't really a factor and the round count isn't going to be high i'd just close my weak eye.

I'll be getting a LBP soon and i know my eye dominance is going to be an issue so i'm going to make things easy on myself and fit it with a red dot!

Re: Shooting both left and right handed with a rifle

Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2015 10:29 am
by froggy
As BlackStuff mentioned a back step is crucial when transitioning to your weak shoulder when shooting from barricade cover. A bit of practice & you soon will not notice any accuracy difference at CQB distances.