Cross Eye Dominance and AR15

[KM1]

Ok....I am have a strong cross eye dominance...which proves to be a NON ISSUE with a handgun....but anticipate problems with an AR.

My optics are an EXPS Eotech GRN...partially purchased for the above reason allowing me to keep both eyes open. I am experienced only in handguns....this is my first long gun of ANY KIND.

I have 20/20 vision in my left eye, and about 20/30 vision in my right...with contacts. Use my left eye when training with my handgun....WAAAY better target accusition.

I recently received my Eotech and have been spending time trying to train my right eye to take over....with difficulty I might add. If I close my left eye...no problem...picks up the reticle immediately. Even squinting my left eye helps when looking through the reticle to my target with my right eye. HOWEVER, as soon as I open my left eye all the way it IMMEDIATELY takes over.

Hard to explain....but I can see the reticle through my right eye...and I am looking through it to the target....but my left eye dominates the target. Thus, placing the reticle on the target seems off as my brain wants to use the left image of the target. THAT'S the one my brain is focused on, thus becoming the only target I see...it's in focus too. I know this because as soon as I close my left eye, thinking that the reticle is lined up, my right eye picks up and I am left of my target. It's weird.

I have been working on this, right eye training, for several days now with little to no improvement.

I will continue to use my left eye with my handguns as it works so much better....but wanted to shoot right handed with my rifle....bringing me to my question from those with experience.

1. Should I continue trying to train my right eye so I can shoot my AR on my more dominate side? Will this actually improve? I don't have the rifle yet so I suppose I won't know for sure if things will change once it is mounted on the rifle.

2. Should I simply learn to shoot my rifle on my less dominant side since I have almost zero experience with any rifles and either way it is new to me. This allows me to use my more dominant left eye for both handguns and rifles.

If I go with #2....has anyone had issues with hot brass being ejected into ones face or arm shooting left handed?

I am not sure which is easier or best based on my specific circumstance. I should mention that I do have an eye condition, Keratoconus, which might be making it more difficult to retrain my right eye...plus, the vision in that eye is 10pts less than its counterpart.

Thoughts from those with experience with this issue welcome!!!

 

[cruiserweight]

I'd tell you to shoot left handed. I'm a righty but shoot offhand quite a bit and honestly learning to shoot offhand was pretty easy. Never had an issue with getting hit by brass, if I did I never noticed it.

All that being said, I'm having trouble understanding your problem with the EoTech. I've always used the EoTech with both eyes open.

 

[seanh]

Cross eye dominance issues... There's only two solutions and only two.

1. Shoot with your strong muscular side
2. Shoot with your strong ocular side and weak muscular side.

You'll have to make a choice what do you want to change your ocular side or muscular side.

If you're the type of person that play soccer baseball threw darts shot pool... Athletically active... It will probably be easier to train the brain to use the eye of your choosing.

If your more like kids these days that are a typical gamer it may be more conducive for you to Simply switch sides and use your dominant eye.

While you can't make your non-dominant eye dominant, unless there is significant trauma to your current dominant eye, you can train the brain to use the non-dominant eye in certain shooting situations.

You'll need shooting glasses and Scotch tape. Simply put a few pieces of Scotch tape over the lens of the dominant eye... Proceed about your day. You need to watch TV, read a book, go outside and focus on objects at distance... All with your non-dominant eye. Do not squint your dominant I let the tape do what it's supposed to. Do this every day for a few weeks maybe a couple of months and your non-dominant eye will start taking over when you want.

This is something you actually have to train to do not just kind of do. Meaning, you'll actually have to read a book with your non-dominant eye, watch TV with your non-dominant eye, go outside and actually focus on things a long distance away, dot-dot. Making sure you're using your non-dominant eye as your dominant eye. If you're simply just squinting your dominant eye and looking with your non-dominant... That won't work

 

[KM1]

I'd tell you to shoot left handed. I'm a righty but shoot offhand quite a bit and honestly learning to shoot offhand was pretty easy. Never had an issue with getting hit by brass, if I did I never noticed it.

All that being said, I'm having trouble understanding your problem with the EoTech. I've always used the EoTech with both eyes open.

The problem is my left eye takes over the image/target and even though only my right eye is seeing the reticle and the target...when I close my left eye the reticle is not on target as I think it is. Of course this might all change once it is actually mounted....we will see. MUCH easier acquiring target and reticle using my left eye with both eyes open than on the right. It's exact actually.....not so from the right side.

 

[KM1]

Cross eye dominance issues... There's only two solutions and only two.

1. Shoot with your strong muscular side
2. Shoot with your strong ocular side and weak muscular side.

You'll have to make a choice what do you want to change your ocular side or muscular side.

If you're the type of person that play soccer baseball threw darts shot pool... Athletically active... It will probably be easier to train the brain to use the eye of your choosing.

If your more like kids these days that are a typical gamer it may be more conducive for you to Simply switch sides and use your dominant eye.

While you can't make your non-dominant eye dominant, unless there is significant trauma to your current dominant eye, you can train the brain to use the non-dominant eye in certain shooting situations.

You'll need shooting glasses and Scotch tape. Simply put a few pieces of Scotch tape over the lens of the dominant eye... Proceed about your day. You need to watch TV, read a book, go outside and focus on objects at distance... All with your non-dominant eye. Do not squint your dominant I let the tape do what it's supposed to. Do this every day for a few weeks maybe a couple of months and your non-dominant eye will start taking over when you want.

This is something you actually have to train to do not just kind of do. Meaning, you'll actually have to read a book with your non-dominant eye, watch TV with your non-dominant eye, go outside and actually focus on things a long distance away, dot-dot. Making sure you're using your non-dominant eye as your dominant eye. If you're simply just squinting your dominant eye and looking with your non-dominant... That won't work

I am athletic....but older now. Was an elite level athlete at one time. However, do not have any experience with long guns....so for me....I am new.

I understand what you are suggesting....but not sure which would be easier. I am, currently, working on the eye dominance....but feel, because my left eye is soooo dominant and sees much better, that this might be difficult. Thus, my question about switching sides rather than eye dominance. Plus, I will be using my left eye for all handgun training.

Not sure any of this matters....but just thinking it through.

 

[Vodoun daVinci]

I'm right handed and strongly left eye dominant. I shoot pistols ambidextrously and rifles left handed. I tried forcing eye dominance and induced headaches and all kinds of problems with comprehension and brain dominance issues - we are eye dominant because we are brain dominant.

Fuck with it at yer peril. Just shoot rifles with yer dominant eye.

VooDoo

 

[KM1]

I'm right handed and strongly left eye dominant. I shoot pistols ambidextrously and rifles left handed. I tried forcing eye dominance and induced headaches and all kinds of problems with comprehension and brain dominance issues - we are eye dominant because we are brain dominant.

Fuck with it at yer peril. Just shoot rifles with yer dominant eye.

VooDoo

I am leaning that direction. Just holding the Eotech using it in my right hand with my right eye, than left hand left eye....there is a huge difference I notice immediately. My left eye, zero difficulty....not so on the right.

I know its not mounted on my rifle yet....but the difference is HUGE right now.

Do or did you have any brass ejection issues, hitting your arm or face? Will be using a broomstick style fore grip on the handgaurd.

How about trigger control, reload, charging, etc..... any issues with these?

 

[oldfatguy]

I have the same cross dominance problem: left eye, right handed. I wish someone had told to Learn to shoot left handed 65+ years ago. Far better to shoot on your dominate eye side.

OFG

 

[KM1]

I have the same cross dominance problem: left eye, right handed. I wish someone had told to Learn to shoot left handed 65+ years ago. Far better to shoot on your dominate eye side.

OFG

That's why I'm asking. I am new to rifles, but older like you, and figured best to ask those who have been down this path. Either side...it will be new to me...but I am right handed.

 

[oldfatguy]

That's why I'm asking. I am new to rifles, but older like you, and figured best to ask those who have been down this path. Either side...it will be new to me...but I am right handed.

New to rifles so your learning curve will be short. You will be glad you did.

OFG

 

[Vodoun daVinci]

I have had no issues other than other shooters trying to help me "cure" my eye dominance. I'm shooting right handed actions left handed and that really makes some folks crazy ....they want to help fix it and it dunt need helped.

VooDoo

 

[KM1]

I have had no issues other than other shooters trying to help me "cure" my eye dominance. I'm shooting right handed actions left handed and that really makes some folks crazy ....they want to help fix it and it dunt need helped.

VooDoo

I think I'm going with the eye dominance, learning to shoot long guns left handed like you.

Experimenting with the Eotech with both eyes....my right is getting better....but my left is instantaneous. Actually, and immediately, supperimposes the reticle right on top of the target with both eyes open. Right eye is inconsistent with this.

Plus, that 1moa dot in the middle of the reticle.... that is one small dot using my left eye. With my right eye it's broken into 3 small dots overlapping each other. My vision is just better in my left eye.

Thanks!!!

 

[plt228]

I’m right handed and left eye dominate also. Don’t know how dominant but it didn’t take long for me to get used to using my left hand for firing. My thinking for making the switch was under stress when I shouldered my AR I was faster and more accurate for putting my red dot on the target using my left side than my right side. I would always have to refocus my vision or close my left eye to get a proper sight picture.

You can also just do dry fire drills to work on your mechanics of being a lefty. My daughter is also right handed and left eye dominant, for her it wasn’t a choice. Started her left handed as soon as I could determine eye dominance.

 

[KM1]

I’m right handed and left eye dominate also. Don’t know how dominant but it didn’t take long for me to get used to using my left hand for firing. My thinking for making the switch was under stress when I shouldered my AR I was faster and more accurate for putting my red dot on the target using my left side than my right side. I would always have to refocus my vision or close my left eye to get a proper sight picture.

You can also just do dry fire drills to work on your mechanics of being a lefty. My daughter is also right handed and left eye dominant, for her it wasn’t a choice. Started her left handed as soon as I could determine eye dominance.

Again....my line of thinking also. Just will need to train trigger control with left hand (so used to right hand with my handgun), and all other functions...which are new to me so either side learning curve exists. Plus, the fact that my right eye sees 3 small over lapping dots for that 1moa in the reticle kinda says a lot about my right eye...lol.

 

[SupressYourself]

As others have said, don't try to fight your eye dominance. You're not going to win. I'm very much right handed, but shoot everything (rifles, pistols, bow) left handed for this reason. I have several small and large frame ARs that I shoot. Get yourself an ambidextrous safety, and it will be a non-issue.

 

[KM1]

As others have said, don't try to fight your eye dominance. You're not going to win. I'm very much right handed, but shoot everything (rifles, pistols, bow) left handed for this reason. I have several small and large frame ARs that I shoot. Get yourself an ambidextrous safety, and it will be a non-issue.

Yes...I am seeing that theme play out. The rifle being built has ambidextrous controls...with the exception of the ejection port being standard right side. Safety is ambidextrous as well.

I think I'm done.....left handed AR15 use even though I'm right handed....seems to be the most logical and best choice.

Thanks to ALL!!!

 

[acudaowner]

might be your best answer for a fix lol

 

[KM1]

might be your best answer for a fix lol

LOL!!!

 

[adamjma]

Came here to preach the same sermon.

Hell, Larry Vickers ran an AR lefty just fine during his career. In one of the recent videos (I think, can't recall which one) he mentions he mostly shoots them RH on videos because that's the sexy side.

I'm left eye dominant and right handed. Long guns go left, pistols go right. Both hands can learn excellent trigger control with reps.

 

[KM1]

Came here to preach the same sermon.

Hell, Larry Vickers ran an AR lefty just fine during his career. In one of the recent videos (I think, can't recall which one) he mentions he mostly shoots them RH on videos because that's the sexy side.

I'm left eye dominant and right handed. Long guns go left, pistols go right. Both hands can learn excellent trigger control with reps.

That is what I am hearing from many....most actually. Funny thing is....I noticed issues sighting in my pistol today doing some dry fire with my left eye. I had never noticed this until I started trying to train my right eye to take over using the Eotech. Just trouble with double images I didn't have before. NOT going there either so I am sticking with left eye dominant for both handguns and rifles and just learn to shoot my AR15 from the left. As I mentioned...I am brand new at long guns so either way...manipulation, actions, shooting, everything is new for me once the rifle comes in.

Most of the comments here, maybe all, are giving the same advice. I do have others, some firearm instructors, who insist or "don't recommend" changing to operation on my non dominant side because of physical manipulations that would be easier from the right....but not to many of them....but some. They say since my new rifle is for self defense....shorter distance, and immediate action when necessary....the dominant eye thing won't make as much of a difference but the nondominant manipulations will. I'm a newbie so....I have no answer for that....still agree with what I have been told on this thread. Add to that that my reticle dot, looing through my right eye, splits the center dot into 3, like a clover leaf, I'm just not comfortable with that...but what do I know.

 

[adamjma]

I've always held a rifle left handed from childhood, so right feels weird to me. Opposite for pistol.

Reps is the key to whatever you decide to go with. Your brain is highly adaptable.

 

[unleashedprecision]

Any instructors telling you that learning to manipulate a rifle on your non-dominant side don't know what they are talking about. You are on the right track sticking with long guns on your dominant eye side. You should still practice shooting on the right side because you might not always get to shoot on the side you want to. We spent about 25% of the time shooting on our support-side (non-dominant) and I struggled with the double vision when going to pistol but eventually my brain and eyes started working for me.

 

[PracticalTactical]

I assume KM1 is using a scope, but if he is looking for a close range solution, you could try something like an Armson OEG sight, since the shooter needs to use both eyes.

You can replicate the same functionality by placing tape over the objective lens of a 1X red dot and look with both eyes open. One eye sees the dot and the other eye sees everything else. It takes a bit of getting used to but it works fine. The cool part is there is no field of view limitation like traditional optics.

Many years ago I had one on my AR15SP1 but these days I run an Armson OEG on my 590A1 and sometimes use it on the skeet field. It always starts off the same way when guys see the tac style gun and assume I've never shot skeet before, so they start coaching me. By about the third station after not missing yet, they always get curious WTF sight I'm using. My scores are about the same as any decent shooter out there if that's any validation on sight performance.

I dont use it because of an eye dominance thing, just cant shoot skeet with ghost ring sights, so the the OEG with QD rings is my work around, but I've always thought they should be more popular for people with eye dominance issues.

There's probably even an advantage to OEG sights for people with cross eye dominance because they would be using their dominant eye to track the target and non dominant eye to see the dot.

 

[Trigger Monkey]

Another option is to do the Mike Pannone and use a riser to raise the EOTech up. He has to do it because he actually doesn't have a right eye but this could be a path to check out.

 

[KM1]

I don't know for sure but I don't think it t is the height that is making it difficult....it is the strength or dominance of my damn left eye and the quality of vision through it. Like I mentioned, with my right eye....that 1moa dot is broken into 3 little dots....kind of like a separated clover leaf. My left eye is instantaneous pick up and overlay of the reticle on the target with only 1 dot.

I assume KM1 is using a scope, but if he is looking for a close range solution, you could try something like an Armson OEG sight, since the shooter needs to use both eyes.

You can replicate the same functionality by placing tape over the objective lens of a 1X red dot and look with both eyes open. One eye sees the dot and the other eye sees everything else. It takes a bit of getting used to but it works fine. The cool part is there is no field of view limitation like traditional optics.

Many years ago I had one on my AR15SP1 but these days I run an Armson OEG on my 590A1 and sometimes use it on the skeet field. It always starts off the same way when guys see the tac style gun and assume I've never shot skeet before, so they start coaching me. By about the third station after not missing yet, they always get curious WTF sight I'm using. My scores are about the same as any decent shooter out there if that's any validation on sight performance.

I dont use it because of an eye dominance thing, just cant shoot skeet with ghost ring sights, so the the OEG with QD rings is my work around, but I've always thought they should be more popular for people with eye dominance issues.

There's probably even an advantage to OEG sights for people with cross eye dominance because they would be using their dominant eye to track the target and non dominant eye to see the dot.

Eotech HWS EXPS-2 Green. This is not my rifle, just a pic I pulled of the internet to show the Eotech I have!!!

 

[KM1]

Any instructors telling you that learning to manipulate a rifle on your non-dominant side don't know what they are talking about. You are on the right track sticking with long guns on your dominant eye side. You should still practice shooting on the right side because you might not always get to shoot on the side you want to. We spent about 25% of the time shooting on our support-side (non-dominant) and I struggled with the double vision when going to pistol but eventually my brain and eyes started working for me.

So my plan is to stick with sighting through my dominant eye for both long guns and handguns....and train the long gun on my left side....while continuing to just shift my handgun a little to the left for my left eye. Switching eyes back and forth is causing headaches....I think it will be easier to pick up manipulations and trigger control using my left hand than training my right eye....especially with how much better and dominant my left eye is.

Thanks!!!

 

[PracticalTactical]

This video explains OEG sights fairly well.
It actually looks better in reality than they filmed it because the camera has one eye, not two. It seems like you don't even see the sight body, just the red dot floating out there.

If I understand what you're saying when you see 3 dots instead of one... that's not a dominance thing, that sounds like astigmatism. Red dots look like clusters of dots or even kind of a comet effect. You can reduce or eliminate that by using a fiber optic red dot instead of a laser.

 

[KM1]

This video explains OEG sights fairly well.
It actually looks better in reality than they filmed it because the camera has one eye, not two. It seems like you don't even see the sight body, just the red dot floating out there.

If I understand what you're saying when you see 3 dots instead of one... that's not a dominance thing, that sounds like astigmatism. Red dots look like clusters of dots or even kind of a comet effect. You can reduce or eliminate that by using a fiber optic red dot instead of a laser.

I didn't explain that fully or well. I am HEAVILY left eye dominant...it takes over everything....that is the image my brain sees. In addition, my vision in my left eye is 10pts better in clarity than my right. Left eye is 20/20 with contacts....right eye is 20/30 or 35 with contacts. Third, I do have a condition in both eyes, it is Keratoconus. Similar to astigmatism...but different in that my cornea (in both eyes) is cone shaped. The only fix available today is hard contacts. They reshape the eye to more normal, thus, giving me 20/20 in my left eye.

It is sooooo much easier, and cleaner, and more accurate when I hold the Eotech to my left side for my left eye (with both eyes open) to pick up the reticle and superimpose it over the image my brain is choosing....than it is on the right side with my right eye. I only see 1 dot for my 1moa dot in the reticle.

Actually causes more double vision on trying it on my right with my right eye....no problem on my left...it is instantaneous. AND that is with doing several training exercises to try and train my right eye to take over for several weeks before I got my Eotech. Plus, I was starting to notice problems sighting in my handgun in dry fire training, which I use my left eye for, while I was trying to train my right eye for rifle use. CAN'T have that.

 

[strikeeagle1]

^^^Cross-eye dominance phenomenon is not graded....."light to heavy".....it's an "all or none " determination and a simple test validates which situation applies to you.

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

Cross eye dominance concept (strong / dominant hand side related to eye dominant side brain centering focus) and execution of placing the sights under the dominant eye is relevant for "aligning" a physically separate front & rear sight under the dominant eye to avoid parallax when viewing the sights alignment with the non-dominant eye, whether handgun or long gun. Red dot optics are parallax free. When shooting with a red dot optic it is irrelevant which eye you choose to present the optic mounted firearm under, dominant or non-dominant...the red dot has been sighted in for point of impact at a specific range. The optic doesn't know which eye is viewing the red dot you are seeing! IF you place a red dot on the target at the desired point of impact it will strike the target as desired, regardless of which eye you are seeing the red dot with (never finish sentence with preposition unless schooled at a Minnesota zip code). Shoot with both eyes open. IF your vision is not focused at the distance between your eye and the optic (i.e. need "reader" glasses) or you have astigmatisms of your cornea you will not see a perfect round red dot in the optic viewing window......that's not a parallax or cross-eyed dominance problem....see your ophthalmologist!

 

[KM1]

^^^Cross-eye dominance phenomenon is not graded....."light to heavy".....it's an "all or none " determination and a simple test validates which situation applies to you.

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

Cross eye dominance concept (strong / dominant hand side related to eye dominant side brain centering focus) and execution of placing the sights under the dominant eye is relevant for "aligning" a physically separate front & rear sight under the dominant eye to avoid parallax when viewing the sights alignment with the non-dominant eye, whether handgun or long gun. Red dot optics are parallax free. When shooting with a red dot optic it is irrelevant which eye you choose to present the optic mounted firearm under, dominant or non-dominant...the red dot has been sighted in for point of impact at a specific range. The optic doesn't know which eye is viewing the red dot you are seeing! IF you place a red dot on the target at the desired point of impact it will strike the target as desired, regardless of which eye you are seeing the red dot with (never finish sentence with preposition unless schooled at a Minnesota zip code). Shoot with both eyes open. IF your vision is not focused at the distance between your eye and the optic (i.e. need "reader" glasses) or you have astigmatisms of your cornea you will not see a perfect round red dot in the optic viewing window......that's not a parallax or cross-eyed dominance problem....see your ophthalmologist!

I am fully aware of eye dominance and what it means. AND see an ophthamologist for Karatakonus.

I am also aware of the difference I feel when keeping both eyes open and sighting through my optic. There is no question there is a difference between the two in my circumstance. The difference is in my brain...not the optic.

So the question is which is easier to do..shoot right handed using my right eye to sight through the optic, with both eyes open...which I would prefer to do.....or learn to shoot left handed, looking through the optic with my left eye and both eyes open.

I have read numerous articles, and opinions from those with experience with this issue, that discuss the best way to handle it. It is real...and I am experiencing it when looking through the optic on either side. For me, there is a difference...it does seem to matter.

MOST suggest best to make adjustments learning to shoot left handed rather than try to force my weaker eye to sight through thecoptic.

 

[CaptArab]

Cross eye dominant is not an issue at all with non-magified optics.

Just put the red thing on the thing and pull the trigger. You're overcomplicating this dramatically.

Left eye sees target, right eye sees red, brain blends it together.

 

[KM1]

Cross eye dominant is not an issue at all with non-magified optics.

Just put the red thing on the thing and pull the trigger. You're overcomplicating this dramatically.

Left eye sees target, right eye sees red, brain blends it together.

Tell my brain that....lol.

Seriously though...that is why I bought the Eotech....for exactly what you are saying. That is what I understood as well, it shouldn't matter.

At this point, that has not been my experience. However....I will give it try when I mount it on the rifle and experiment with it.

Also, there are several people above that would disagree with you.

 

[seanh]

The short of it is the only thing that's wrong is to do something it's just not working. Just simply say just go with your dominant eye is absolutely wrong. You go with what works for you and what you're consistent with.

If switching to shoot left-handed works for you to work with your left dominant eye great if you want to shoot right-handed put the site farther out and use your dominant eye great if you want to train the brain to use the right eye fine... Whatever works.

At the end of the day if steam didn't kill himself. But that dumbass with the skateboard basically did kill himself

 

[seanh]

Cross eye dominant is not an issue at all with non-magified optics.

Just put the red thing on the thing and pull the trigger. You're overcomplicating this dramatically.

Left eye sees target, right eye sees red, brain blends it together.

Not true. The brain doesn't always combine the two images.

 

[KM1]

Not true... The brain doesn't always merge the two together

BINGO....that is what I am noticing. GREAT on my left....not so much on the right with my non dominant eye. My brain is having trouble doing that merging.

The left it is instantaneous as my brain takes the image from both eyes and superimposes the reticle right on the image....perfectly.

With my right eye...it almost makes me feel like I'm cross eyed, its bothersome....starts to give me a headache...and I have trouble refocusing when I bring the sight down out of my vision. None of this happens using my left eye.

I'm screwed....lol.

 

[Disfunctional_Engineer]

I'm going to come at this as the (really) odd guy out. I'm left hand right eyed and I definitely wasn't athletic. I used to be very dominant left but I worked on it over time and although I'm still very left handed I can function a lot better than I used to right handed as well now. I will bounce back and forth between left and right handed shooting at times and don't find a big deal over it; For an AR platform ambi safety is really nice as a lefty, so is a charging handle. The mag release doesn't bother me much but I do have the SIG ambi release on a few of my rifles.

 

[CaptArab]

Not true. The brain doesn't always combine the two images.

It does for me, those I shoot with, and most the shooting coaches I've listened to.

I'm sure if you want to make it more complicated you can though

Try taping a cover over the front of the optic (or a flip up cover).
State at the target.
Remove tape.
I bet the dot is where it's supposed to be

 

[seanh]

It does for me, those I shoot with, and most the shooting coaches I've listened to.

I'm sure if you want to make it more complicated you can though

Not making anything complicated at all. Simply pointing out an exercise that can help somebody that doesn't fall into a generic category.

Regarding coaches... Most of them that I've met had don't have any background regarding eye issues. They've read a bunch of stuff and can regurgitate what they read but they've never worked with ophthalmologist to understand how the eye / brain work together

 

[NineHotel]

Cross dominance is a myth when using a monocular sighting system.

 

[KM1]

It does for me, those I shoot with, and most the shooting coaches I've listened to.

I'm sure if you want to make it more complicated you can though

Try taping a cover over the front of the optic (or a flip up cover).
State at the target.
Remove tape.
I bet the dot is where it's supposed to be

Not making anything complicated at all. Simply pointing out an exercise that can help somebody that doesn't fall into a generic category.

Regarding coaches... Most of them that I've met had don't have any background regarding eye issues. They've read a bunch of stuff and can regurgitate what they read but they've never worked with ophthalmologist to understand how the eye / brain work together

Ok...instead of having both eyes open and moving the optic around between left and right eyes, at the distance it would be mounted on the rail, which I did over several days, I tried what CaptArab suggested.

Using a card I blocked the reticle from the front of the window of the Eotech, looked at a target about 25ft away and placed the reticle on the target that my brain superimposed over the image/target the opposite eye could see. I did this for both eyes.

When I removed the card so the eye looking through the Eotech could now see the target the reticle was off to one side....both eyes did this. Left eye reticle moved off to the right....right eye reticle moved off to the left, when removing the card.

Also, the image including the reticle was much clearer when the reticle was in position for my left eye vs my right eye....and I tended to have more double image issue, and fatigue, when the Eotech was used on my right eye.

Is this normal??? Maybe I'm just wierd.

 

[PracticalTactical]

It's not strange... The dot seemed to move for you because you switched between looking through the optic with one eye and OEG with uses both.

If you find that the OEG way works better for you then zero the optic for that method, and commit to it.

With OEG, the distance between your eyes will affect the zero, so I would expect the zero to change between multiple people, so don't share.

I think the POI may shift a little with OEG if you set up behind the rifle different ways, like standing or prone. Hopefully you can find a good compromise that works well in several positions.

 

[KM1]

It's not strange... The dot seemed to move for you because you switched between looking through the optic with one eye and OEG with uses both.

If you find that the OEG way works better for you then zero the optic for that method, and commit to it.

With OEG, the distance between your eyes will affect the zero, so I would expect the zero to change between multiple people, so don't share.

I think the POI may shift a little with OEG if you set up behind the rifle different ways, like standing or prone. Hopefully you can find a good compromise that works well in several positions.

What about the fact that the image/target itself is clearer looking through the Eotech/reticle, with booth eyes open, with my left eye than it is looking through it with my right. Doesn't that indicate I might be best shooting the rifle on my left side rather than my right? Especially since either way is new for me...except that I am right handed.

I say this with the understanding that I should be able to shoot that rifle off of either side using either eye.....so I am actually takking about which side would be best as my "go to" side of that makes sense.

 

[Hairball]

KM1,
You are at the beginning of what many of us that are faced with cross-dominate issues have had to deal with and you simply need to figure out what works best for you and go with it as one single suggestion may not be the best for you. I was brought up shooting where everyone shot right handed as there was never a discussion of eye dominance so we just figured it out. I am right hand left eye dominant and while I shoot pistols/revolvers with either hand and use my left eye, it gets really odd when I switch over to rifles/shotguns. If I am shooting anything with optics, I shoot it right handed. If the rifle/shotgun does not have optics, I shoot it left handed. I know, sounds completely ridiculous but that is how it has worked out for me and 40+ years into shooting, it works for me. I even shoot my compound bows right handed.
My recommendation to anyone new to shooting is to go with the dominant eye side and stick with it regardless of dominant hand and the learning process will be much easier. Most of my AR rifles have Aimpoint CompM4s optics on them. I shoot with both eyes open but I focus my sight on the red dot and not the target itself. You will still see the target just fine, especially at shorter AR range stuff, but if you start looking past the red dot and focusing in on the target, your red dot may become distorted or start to double up on you. Again, this may or may not be an issue for you so you just need to explore your options if you intend to stick with shooting rifles from your right side.

 

[KM1]

KM1,
You are at the beginning of what many of us that are faced with cross-dominate issues have had to deal with and you simply need to figure out what works best for you and go with it as one single suggestion may not be the best for you. I was brought up shooting where everyone shot right handed as there was never a discussion of eye dominance so we just figured it out. I am right hand left eye dominant and while I shoot pistols/revolvers with either hand and use my left eye, it gets really odd when I switch over to rifles/shotguns. If I am shooting anything with optics, I shoot it right handed. If the rifle/shotgun does not have optics, I shoot it left handed. I know, sounds completely ridiculous but that is how it has worked out for me and 40+ years into shooting, it works for me. I even shoot my compound bows right handed.
My recommendation to anyone new to shooting is to go with the dominant eye side and stick with it regardless of dominant hand and the learning process will be much easier. Most of my AR rifles have Aimpoint CompM4s optics on them. I shoot with both eyes open but I focus my sight on the red dot and not the target itself. You will still see the target just fine, especially at shorter AR range stuff, but if you start looking past the red dot and focusing in on the target, your red dot may become distorted or start to double up on you. Again, this may or may not be an issue for you so you just need to explore your options if you intend to stick with shooting rifles from your right side.

Yes...seeming like this issue is very much personal preference, and what works best for each person. I am only new to shooting a long gone....my experience, so far, is with handguns. I, like you, am right handed but left eye dominant. I shoot my handgun right handed, but with my left eye, and both eyes open. It took some practice in the beginning several years ago, but now it is natural for me. Just shift the gun slightly to my left and my left eye picks up the front sight no problem.

My understanding is that with a Eotech laser optic one should look through the reticle, not at it. That is what I got from things I've read, and in calling customer technical support at Eotech itself. This seems different than a red dot as the holographic reticle in the Eotech is produced by a laser and is projected out toward the target rather than on the screen itself like I've read on the red dot.

After doing the experiment with the card above, as CaptArab explained, and going outside where I can pick targets from 25yds to over 100 yds away, I must admit it is getting easier on both sides...and I am keeping both eyes open as is the norm with these types of optics.

The only thing now that I am noticing that is different is the general picture is clearer, more instantaneous accusation, with the reticle and image/target itself, when using the Eotech on my dominant left eye side. Not sure this will or would change over time, and I will train/practice off of both sides...but would like to establish my go to side before I zero out the optic on the rifle (but not sure that matters on not).

Interesting!!! Thanks!!!

 

[strikeeagle1]

Above, I painted the notion of eye dominance as being an all-or-none phenomenon, which is a first order approximation determination based on the usual simple eye test described in the video and what an ophthalmologist might perform as a screening test. I apologize for being so dogmatic. Full disclosure, there is a second order of current understanding in that there does exist a variable amount of eye dominance i.e. weak to strong, that exists, however it requires a measuring of sophisticated neuro-ophthalmology electro-imaging of neural impulses testing. Very few people in the world have undergone such clinical experimental testing to further understand the nature of eye dominance phenomenon; unless individually tested one would not be able to discern the degree of eye dominance they had, if not absolute.

 

[RTH1800]

I have trained quite a few shooters. Several became state, national and Olympic shooters.

Shooting begins with the eyes. Your lack of experience will be a huge asset.

Right now you are neither right or left handed shooter. You are a non shooter. Just go left all the way.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[KM1]

I have trained quite a few shooters. Several became state, national and Olympic shooters.

Shooting begins with the eyes. Your lack of experience will be a huge asset.

Right now you are neither right or left handed shooter. You are a non shooter. Just go left all the way.

Good luck and have fun!

Thanks!!!

Question....does it matter my years of experience shooting handguns (sighting left eye) or is it almost a completely different skillset...AR15 shooting (long guns)?

 

[RTH1800]

Some carryover. Trigger control etc.
otherwise not too much. Which will be your advantage.

 

[KM1]

Some carryover. Trigger control etc.
otherwise not too much. Which will be your advantage.

Except the trigger control I have is with my right hand.

But I assume there will be a quicker learning curve to my left because of my right. Typically that's how it works...at least in athletics.

I will likely train both sides...but make my left my go to for the AR and long guns. Same thing I do with hand guns....but I mainly shoot those right handed...left eye.