Both eyes open question

ETA:


Would try the tape over the left lens. You want to position it so its directly centered over your eyeball when in a shooting position. About a 1" long peice of scotch tape works. Nothing colored but the scotch tape is "opaque".


Try shooting from the left side, and you actually do have to develop some muscles and hand/eye coordination. Im not sure a naturally right handed person would ever develop the same coordination they they have on the opposite side. I can tell you right off the bat, at least for me, it would be no small feat.


Only once in a while for me do I get my left eye taking over looking through a scope. Then I have to close my eyes an 'tell' my right eye to get its act under control. It will never be 100% natural but I don't think learning to shoot from my "weak" side would be, either.


No idea how "laser" surgery would affect this either. Even with cross domination Ive always tested 20/20 or better.

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Originally Posted by Ironman8

You "almost" have it right according to Larry Vickers. At a recent class, he said that when he was training Delta, they would have those guys who were "cross-eye dominant" (who had been shooting for years as a "righty" at that point) switch their carbine over to their left shoulder as a permanent solution....whether they liked it or not.

Pistol, however, would be kept in the right hand since, according to Mr. Vickers, it's "already hard enough to shoot as it is". To pick up the sights on your pistol in that case, all you have to do is turn your head to the point that your nose is basically blocking your right eye, while your dominant left eye picks up the sights.

What you choose to do is up to you, but being at the "level" that he is/was, there just might be something to it.

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I would strongly agree with this. I tried this several years ago based on Mr. Vickers' tips, and it works well. It took about a year to get the carbine to "feel right" on the left shoulder, but it does work.

One advantage, is that it makes transitioning the carbine to your other shoulder, or to your pistol very easy.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ironman8

You "almost" have it right according to Larry Vickers. At a recent class, he said that when he was training Delta, they would have those guys who were "cross-eye dominant" (who had been shooting for years as a "righty" at that point) switch their carbine over to their left shoulder as a permanent solution....whether they liked it or not.

Pistol, however, would be kept in the right hand since, according to Mr. Vickers, it's "already hard enough to shoot as it is". To pick up the sights on your pistol in that case, all you have to do is turn your head to the point that your nose is basically blocking your right eye, while your dominant left eye picks up the sights.

What you choose to do is up to you, but being at the "level" that he is/was, there just might be something to it.

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That is precisely what Pat McNamara told us as well (not surprising given they came from the same unit).

One thing you might try is an eye patch. I am left eye dominant and right handed. I shot rifle competitively in high school and the coach figured out something had to be done. He had me wear an eye patch on my left eye every time we shot. These were peep sight, 22LR Olympic style rifles. After a couple seasons of this, I was able to shoot without the patch.

I can now shoot long guns right handed, with my right eye (works for iron sights, red dots, scopes, etc.) and keep both eyes open. I keep both eyes open for handgun shooting, but the left eye still takes over.

The other option involves a periscope and ladies underwear... (that joke will only make sense if you saw Tommy Lee Jones and Nic Cage in the movie "Firebirds".) lol!

I'm right handed and left eye dominant. For handgun I just shift the gun over and line up the sights with my dominant eye. This allows me to keep both eyes open and my head upright and pointed forward. Carbine with red dot doesn't seem to be an issue at all nor does precision rifle. Irons are a PITA as I pretty much have to close one eye. Same goes for shotgun. In those instances I pretty much body index the weapon in target and before I break the shot I do a wink and get a final sight picture.

If you're learning to shoot, or teaching someone new to shoot it shouldn't be an issue at all. Identify the strong eye and tech/learn to shoot that side.

have you tried utilizing and eye patch on your dominant eye? as in, place an eye patch on your left eye, and therefore you have to utilize just you weak eye (right)... I would think doing this pretty frequently could help with using your weak eye... mainly because you aren't stuck squinting, you can leave both eyes open but only utilize the right one.... I've heard this helps a lot with distance shooting... reduces eye fatigue from squinting, also helps with parallax issues

I am a both eyes open proponent. It is a far superior way to shoot efficiently and effectively. I also instruct everyone I teach to shoot a long gun from the same side as their dominant eye. You can teach weapon manipulation much easier and effectively than trying to change or adapt eye dominance. If you are a target shooter or competitive shooter then taping your glasses or whatever will work but it is not an acceptable option for combat or LE work.

Matt