Right-handed rifle, Left-eye dominant

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AEROMechanic

Always Learning....
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Minuteman
Oct 13, 2009
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Defuniak Springs FL
#1
Did a search but came up empty. Do any of you know if it's possible to overcome left-eye dominance while shooting a RH rifle from the right shoulder? I guess I'm more specifically asking if there is a way to look through the scope while both eye's are open and still be able to see the reticle??

Reason I ask is I've come to the realization that the rifles I'm currently interested in will probably never be made in LH so I'm going to try and adapt. Now I know I could fire the rifle from my left shoulder and simply reach over to manipulate the bolt, while also being able to view the chamber (though there are safety concerns this brings with it as well) but I would like to try the afore mentioned way first.

Have any of you lefties (or righties that know lefties) been able to see the reticle with both eyes open and if so, how did you train yourself, and set up your equipment to do it?

Thanks
 
#2
Re: Right-handed rifle, Left-eye dominant

I have same issue and a few years back switched to using RH rifles shooting lefty. My research demonstrated that this was the way to go. Trying to shoot righty with left eye dominance is ultimately sub-optimal over just learning to shoot lefty. My results have improved dramatically. Sure, there are folks who manage to shoot well righty even though they are left eye dominant but that seems to be the exception not the norm from all the research I did. I prefer RH rifles and have not had a need to get any LH rifles. I think that is just shooter preference.
 
#3
Re: Right-handed rifle, Left-eye dominant

I am right handed left eye dominant, actually have a very bad right eye, something like 20/400 uncorrected. (I am also a bit ambidextrous, as I can write with my left hand)

you can over come it, and I found wearing glass is the first step it definitely helps.

The optics of the scope make it much easier even without my glasses, although I have to trick my left eye, especially when I am tired. The more fatigue the harder it becomes without my glasses.

What I do, is remove the information for the left eye until the right adjusts, you can cover it, or close it, but then open it and let the right eye stay focused on the target. It requires a lot of effort but it is doable. Some times you'll see me close the left eye and if I am not thinking about it, wrongly it will stay close, but you don't want to do that for a lot of shots in a row. You want both eyes open... again the easiest solution I have found is actually wearing my glasses which I am very bad at doing.

With a handgun I almost always use my left eye with a right hand hold, especially if I don't have prescription glasses on. So I have to make a small adjustment to sights or the windage is off a bit.

It's not easy, takes a bunch of practice where you have to focus on just training the right eye to take over, but it can be done. The worst part of the ordeal is adjusting the diopter to max because getting the reticle to clear is tough, my right eye has always had a pretty bad astigmatism so fixing it is not that easy. My glass help to see far, but suck up close, and the older i get the longer it takes to re-focus.

I am definitely much better shooting left handed, that is true, so if I switch I have very little problem executing well. So that is an option.
 
#4
Re: Right-handed rifle, Left-eye dominant

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lowlight</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am right handed left eye dominant, actually have a very bad right eye, something like 20/400 uncorrected. (I am also a bit ambidextrous, as I can write with my left hand)

you can over come it, and I found wearing glass is the first step it definitely helps.

The optics of the scope make it much easier even without my glasses, although I have to trick my left eye, especially when I am tired. The more fatigue the harder it becomes without my glasses.

What I do, is remove the information for the left eye until the right adjusts, you can cover it, or close it, but then open it and let the right eye stay focused on the target. It requires a lot of effort but it is doable. Some times you'll see me close the left eye and if I am not thinking about it, wrongly it will stay close, but you don't want to do that for a lot of shots in a row. You want both eyes open... again the easiest solution I have found is actually wearing my glasses which I am very bad at doing.

With a handgun I almost always use my left eye with a right hand hold, especially if I don't have prescription glasses on. So I have to make a small adjustment to sights or the windage is off a bit.

It's not easy, takes a bunch of practice where you have to focus on just training the right eye to take over, but it can be done. The worst part of the ordeal is adjusting the diopter to max because getting the reticle to clear is tough, my right eye has always had a pretty bad astigmatism so fixing it is not that easy. My glass help to see far, but suck up close, and the older i get the longer it takes to re-focus.

I am definitely much better shooting left handed, that is true, so if I switch I have very little problem executing well. So that is an option. </div></div>

Thank you LowLight, I will begin training this way the next chance I get.
 
#5
Re: Right-handed rifle, Left-eye dominant

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: littlecalm</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have same issue and a few years back switched to using RH rifles shooting lefty. My research demonstrated that this was the way to go. Trying to shoot righty with left eye dominance is ultimately sub-optimal over just learning to shoot lefty. My results have improved dramatically. Sure, there are folks who manage to shoot well righty even though they are left eye dominant but that seems to be the exception not the norm from all the research I did. I prefer RH rifles and have not had a need to get any LH rifles. I think that is just shooter preference. </div></div>

If the way LowLight described just doesn't seem to work for me this was going to be my secondary solution.
 
#6
Re: Right-handed rifle, Left-eye dominant

I'm here w/ ya brother!! I'm right handed/left eye dominant! I shoot right handed. I overcame this problem by slightly closing my left eye until the right eye took over. By looking through the scope, you can overcome this!! It's worse shooting pistol!! Let's not go there! You may even have to close the left eye completely until you can train yourself to shoot this way. OR, just shoot left handed!! I tried to train myself to shoot left handed, but ultimately it didn't work and I had to "train" myself to "crossover" until it comes naturally. Good luck w/ what ever you decide!!
 
#7
Re: Right-handed rifle, Left-eye dominant

Amen ... I wear glasses ... so I started by putting a piece of Scotch magic tape on my glass lens on my left eye. it allowed me to keep my eye open while the tape obscured the image and my right eye took over. After a few sessions I forgot to put the tape on my glasses and for the first few shots my right eye was on it. Then my left eye started to creep in and I put the tape back on. Each time I am able to go longer and longer. That at least helped me.

-Kevin
 
#8
Re: Right-handed rifle, Left-eye dominant

sometimes a cut piece of translucent milk jug cut to fit around scope tube blocking the non-aiming eye works. this also works for peep sights. this technique works great for static targets. true binocular vision works better for moving targets.
 
#9
Re: Right-handed rifle, Left-eye dominant

Conventional wisdom would say that if you're left eye dominant, you're a left handed shooter, period. If all you're doing is shooting from a bench for sport then covering or closing the left eye as described may work for you. If you are using your bench shooting experience for tactical / practical training purposes then you'd likely be better served learning to operate your right handed gun left handed. As the stress level ramps up, you're going to want to depend on your muscle memory and not think about too much else besides getting accurate rounds on target.

So it depends on your goals.
 
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#10
Re: Right-handed rifle, Left-eye dominant

I'm left eye dominant, right handed. I shoot RH rifles with my left hand. Left hand stays on the grip, right works the bolt and provides support if I'm not using a bag. This became very comfortable to me. I got a LH rifle to try to shoot the "correct" way, and it didn't take.

Once you've done this a few sessions, it should start to feel less awkward, and eventually you'll be fine. I'm able to get rounds down range faster with this setup, too - right hand stays on the bolt and cycles pretty quickly.
 
#11
Re: Right-handed rifle, Left-eye dominant

Shooting IHMSA in the creedmore position, which amounts to 7 guns a match for me, I was forced to learn how to shoot both eyes open. There is just no way to continually close one eye and not fatigue the other.
I have actually rolled my head a bit more to the right when the floaters get bad in my R eye, and shoot L eye part way through a match. One of the first signs of dehydration for me, floaters, damn things actually obscure the sights at times.

So, Yes, you can teach your brain to do this. Takes some time as Lowlight eluded too. Just like shooting weak side. Practice, practice, practice.

I see a bunch of BPCR shooters using a sight blocker stuck on the vernier staffs by way of a magnet.
Scotch tape is quick. I found also a tape, thinking it's used in hospitals for its skin friendliness, works well and leaves no residue behind, peels off nicely to.
 
#12
Re: Right-handed rifle, Left-eye dominant

This contraption actually works very well. I've shot a lot with an identical rifle to this vintage sniperrifle. Fast reloading with stripper clips and no mirage problem from barrel. I had a S&B 6x42 DMR scope on the one I used. The mount is QD and the rifle could shoot 5 rounds inside 10cm@300m when the scope was taken off end remounted between shots with selected lots of Raufoss 146gr 7.62NATO ball. Sniperrifle is Kongsberg KV59F1, M98 action.

KV-M59F1.JPG




 
#13
Re: Right-handed rifle, Left-eye dominant

I'm right handed and severely left-eye dominant. I had issues for a year or two when I first starting shooting. Like with anything, time and training are the key. My problem was compounded by the fact that due to a previous injury, I could not close my left eye by itself (I can close both, or the right, but not the left alone, nerve thing).

Anyway, I would basically use my left hand to close the eye, and I could keep it shut by itself. Then I would shoot through scope. Over time, my muscles on left side of face built up so that I can scrunch my face up enough to close the left by itself. It isn't like on my right where eyelid comes down, on left I kind of smush my face in on itself. Either way, it works, and I could now look through scope with right eye.

Then after another few months, I kept reducing how much I closed the left eye. So I would start with all the way, then get it to the point where things were "gray" in that eye. I kept slowly working at it. Now I can almost mentally just "haze out" the left eye, and my right eye kicks in. The left eye isn't closed, and I don't wear anything over it. I almost just sort of "squint" with both eyes, like I'm concentrating, and the right one kicks in and the left ends up just being field of vision.

The process took a couple of years, but I'm right handed, and things still feel natural to me. And it works for handgun too, before I used to have to turn my head to the right to align my left eye with handgun. Now I can look straight on.

Just time and effort.
 
#14
Re: Right-handed rifle, Left-eye dominant

I had this problem also. Participating in competitive archery shooting with all the associated practice and being to cheap to buy new equipment both came together to over time remedy the problem. I can now aim quite well with both eyes open using my right eye. It can be overcome without buying new equipment with a lot patients and work.
 
#15
Re: Right-handed rifle, Left-eye dominant

Same here, Right hand left eye dominant. Similar to LV, I just trained myself to block out the left information. I only close my left eye briefly, then let the right take over, then shoot with both eyes open. It wasn't easy at first, especially when it was bright outside as I would get a headache. Now it is not a problem for me. Just keep both eyes open.

Just as I write this post, you dont realize that your nose is in your field of view, now that I brought that to your attention you are probably looking down and left (left eye guys) or down and right (right eye guys) to look at your own. For me I can see my nose easily from my let eye, but have to briefly close my left eye to see it with my right. Did you ever notice it before? You just trained yourself to block it out. I guess without going cross eyed, it is something you can work on at anytime. Get to the point that you can look at your own nose without closing your left eye. Sounds silly but whatever is clever.
The good thing about being cross dominant is when using a red dot or scout scope, as I can really take in the whole field of view.
 
#16
Re: Right-handed rifle, Left-eye dominant

Great posts guys. I have been struggling with this issue since my first day behind rifle in basic. I have managed as a lefty shooting a righty gun (not big deal w/ gasser, but more of an issue with a bolt), but would like to be a "switch gunner" so to speak. I will try some of these drills and see if I can make some progress. Thanks.
 
#17
Re: Right-handed rifle, Left-eye dominant

I am left eye dominant and shoot right handed. The dominance is not severe, but it is there. Shooting scoped, it is very easy for me to overcome just because the images between my left eye and right eye are so different, it is easy to see which is my target when I have both eyes open.

When shooting open sites, the images from each eye are not as different from one another. Training helps, but I find that at times, I close my left eye. I never close my left eye with a scope unless I want to use it for observation.
 
#18
Re: Right-handed rifle, Left-eye dominant

I am left eye dominate but right handed so I don't fight it and I got left handed rifles. They just feel so much more natural to me. I admit it is a pain shooting left handed in a right handed world but it can be overcome. I shot right handed rifles for years and it was Ok when I was in the Army and shooting M16's and M4's; however, when I started down the bolt gun world I decided I wanted left handed rifles. I do have right handed bolt guns too but I feel so much more natural on my left side.

I say don't fight it and go with what is natural feeling.
 
#20
Re: Right-handed rifle, Left-eye dominant

I think it also depends on how severely left-eye dominant you are. I am severe enough that I have to shoot left-handed b/c even covering my left eye would not allow me to see well enough to shoot right-handed. LH shooting with a RH rifle has worked well for me.
 
#21
Re: Right-handed rifle, Left-eye dominant

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: N.Allen</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Shooting IHMSA in the creedmore position, which amounts to 7 guns a match for me, I was forced to learn how to shoot both eyes open. There is just no way to continually close one eye and not fatigue the other.
I have actually rolled my head a bit more to the right when the floaters get bad in my R eye, and shoot L eye part way through a match. One of the first signs of dehydration for me, floaters, damn things actually obscure the sights at times.

So, Yes, you can teach your brain to do this. Takes some time as Lowlight eluded too. Just like shooting weak side. Practice, practice, practice.
I see a bunch of BPCR shooters using a sight blocker stuck on the vernier staffs by
way of a magnet.
Scotch tape is quick. I found also a tape, thinking it's used in hospitals for its skin friendliness, works well and leaves no residue behind, peels off nicely to. </div></div>

Easy way: accept cross-dominance and shoot left-handed. As mentioned you should learn and practice strong side; IMHO it's easier to train your fingers. Next question is RH vs LH rifles. Although some things like running a bolt quickly while prone & stable
are easier when using a RH rifle, the negative is running the bolt off-hand or other unusual positions can be difficult - depends what you will use the rifle for.

There are lots of good reasons to use BOTH eyes (keep eyes open) when shooting, but I do know some people train with eye patches -easily found in grocery/pharmacy store; got to make a comment here: do not use scotch tape!

And BTW for the pretty boys: if you ever gt your forehead Botoxed you may not be able to close one eye alone.
 
#22
Re: Right-handed rifle, Left-eye dominant

I am left eye dominant but shoot right handed rifles, left-handed and have for some time. I have trained myself to shoot with both eyes open and allow my left eye to focus through the scope on my target. I like that I can manipulate the bolt and check the chamber with my right side while keeping my left hand on the trigger for follow-up shots.

Now for shooting pistols, I shoot right handed but still with the left eye alignment dowm my weapon to the target. I know it is a little counter intuitive but it works for me. Funny that I shoot bows left handed but play golf and play baseball (as in batting) right handed, even kick right footed. But I throw left-handed. Go Figure...I am all messed up, HA!

Learning to shoot with both eyes open has helped me a great deal and really brings in a better situational awareness when it comes to your shooting environment. Just let the natural progression of your sight picture to take hold....JaxOps
 
#23
Re: Right-handed rifle, Left-eye dominant

Hot damn! Shooting with both eyes open behind a magnified scope worked for me! This is a major breakthru for me, because I have struggled as a righty that is cross-eye dominate for years. I know that both eyes open works great for red dots, but didn't think it would work with a magnified optic - wrong!

Here are some tricks I found that helped me-

(1) eye relief is critical. You need to make sure your position on the buttstock is perfect. This takes some time to learn, as you are used to mounting rifle from other side and it feels strange at first.
(2) to help eye relief, turn the magnification down to start. I have a 3.2-17x and I found 8x was a good starting point.
(3) turn on illumination. This helped my weak right eye have something to "grab" and help turn off my left eye.
(4) As Low Light suggested, do something to turn off the left eye. I found several things that worked here: (a) put your left hand in front of your left eye at the start, (b) try to close your left eye (if you can, don't force it if not natural) and allow right eye to wake up and then open left eye once right eye is awake, (c) tilt your scope cover to the left, thereby presenting something of a blocking object (the cut-out milk jug idea stated above might be worth trying as well).
(5) practice practice practice. I plan on hammering this hard and repeatedly, to make sure I don't loose the skill and improve on the speed (so turning off the left eye is quicker and easier).

Hope some of this helps some of you guys. Trust me, I know how frustrating it is
smile.gif
 
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