I’m not sure if this is the place to post this, but it seems to be to me…
Given that most people recommend shooting with both eyes open, does cross dominance really matter all that much? I am right-handed and left-eyed and have always shot rifles left-handed while keeping my right eye shut. However, I shoot handguns right-handed because I don’t have a problem shooting them with both eyes open.
If I were to learn to shoot irons on my AR with both eyes open and/or got myself an Aimpoint (which I’ve used before, and had no problems shooting with both eyes open, but still shot left handed), would it make sense to simply shoot right handed as well? Would there be drawbacks to this? Has anyone else done this?
I’m right handed and left eye dominant. I would always get a double image of the sights when I would use my right eye with a rifle, but after I started using red dot sights it wasn’t a problem. After a good amount of use with the red dot, it seems like it’s trained my right eye quite a bit. I can run irons with my right eye and not get a double image anymore, but I still use my left eye when shooting handgun. P.S. I can run a shotgun or a rifle on either shoulder with both eyes open now. It may work for you too.
Just my personal experience, I am left handed, right eye dominant.
I shoot both short and long weapons left handed.
Shooting SMGs/rifles ( and pistols ) both eyes open has not been an issue, atleast I have not seen it as something that would hinder my performance with long guns, either with iron sights or red dot / variable power scopes.
In the Army I shot well in the range quals and due to my civilian shooting background, our instructor was pushing me for a slot in the sniper NCO course, but I declined that offer to go to a another unit. Also shot well in our applied training shoots later on.
I shoot both pistol and rifle IPSC at a national level and like said above, have not noticed any limitation to my performance from cross eye dominance.
I had emailed Kyle Defoor a while back asking him about this same issue:
Here is the emails posted with Mr. Defoor’s permission:
Original Message:
Kyle,
I know you work with LAV and he is cross dominant (left eye, right hand). In your opinion, or any info you can pass off from LAV or the guys at TS, what drives the train to shoot rifle lefty? Does it come down to personal preference or is the there significant advantages to shooting lefty because of eye dominance? I am very cross dominant and currently working through and experimenting with going lefty. Any info is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
PJ
Reply
If you can start out early enough to train yourself to manipulate the rifle whatever handed your dominate eye is it might help, but it will take time to do something left handed when you’re actually right handed. Then again I know a lot of guys who just squint a little and take the dominate eye out of the equation. You can do that as long as you don’t keep it closed long enough to affect your situational awareness.
You’ll notice when Larry shoots pistol he cocks his head to the right to put his left eye in front of the sights more, and he brings the pistol a little more to the left side of his body.
As far as shooting rifle one way and pistol the other to make for better transitions, that’s just not realistic. There have only been about 2 dozen real world transitions in OEF and OIF. Not enough in my opinion to justify it for that reason.
For the record- I am right handed but I shoot both because of my job. Larry is right handed but has shot rifle left his whole life and he too can shoot both if he wants
Thanks again to Kyle for fast and informative responses.