One eyed shooter.

spthomas · June 14, 2020, 08:55 PM

I was a right handed shooter for 40 years. Then I lost my right eye. So do I shoot right handed but only seeing with my left eye, or switch to left handed rifles?

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**JohnKSa** · June 14, 2020, 09:51 PM

You're going to have to have your remaining eye behind the sights or you're not going to be able to hit anything.

Maybe you can get your head far enough over on the stock to get your left eye behind the sights. It might work for you, but it won't be ideal. Try it out and see.

Your other option is to shoot left-handed. You aren't constrained to only left-handed models-- right-handed rifles are often usable from the left side, albeit with some issues that need to be addressed or at least understood.

big al hunter · June 14, 2020, 10:38 PM

You will be more comfortable shooting left handed. It won't feel right for a while, but you will get used to it. Take your time and make sure you have the gun held properly. Again, it won't feel right, but you will get accustomed to shouldering the gun properly with practice. The technique will be the same, but your left hand will need to learn the feel of the trigger.

As in the rest of your life, you will adapt. Everything will take time to get used to. But it will become second nature with practice.

ammo.crafter · June 15, 2020, 06:37 AM

You should have little issues shooting a handgun after some practice.

I turn my head slightly to my right and my scores are the same as they used to be. I do find that it takes me a bit longer to "find" the sights before pulling the triggers.

Erno86 · June 15, 2020, 08:54 AM

You can shoot right handed, sighting with your left eye...along with a good cheek weld, using the Romanian PSL-54C in 7.62x54R, with a left offset mounted 4x rangefinder scope; similar to the Russian PSO-1. Though the scope does not have a reticle or parallax adjustment.

jmr40 · June 15, 2020, 04:34 PM

Learn to shoot lefty. It isn't that hard. My brother is right handed, left eye dominate. He made the change to shooting lefty years ago. It took a little time, but he is a much better shot because he made the effort to learn how.

Or you could have custom stocks made for your guns.

https://www.bing.com/images/search?v...130&ajaxhist=0

https://www.bing.com/images/search?v...127&ajaxhist=0

bipe215 · June 15, 2020, 05:16 PM

Hickok45 shoots right handed and left eyed. He does fairly well.

TXAZ · June 15, 2020, 09:24 PM

Learning to shoot “off hand” isn’t hard, it just takes some practice.
I very left handed, but ultimately got tired of shooting right handed rifles and some handguns eject shells into my face, so I learned to shoot right.
Lots more guns, particularly mil weapons, are available to shoot right handed was another reason.
Word of warning shooting a right handed semi left handed: make sure you know where the ejected casings are going. Eye protection is a must, as might be tight fitting shirt unless you like cartridge burns inside your shirt.
Really.

jmr40 · June 15, 2020, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Hickok45 shoots right handed and left eyed. He does fairly well.

With handguns held in the middle it isn't that hard. And if you close one eye, or put a patch over it you can shoot long guns pretty well with the non dominate eye. But if you only have one eye, it needs to be the one behind the sights.

wild willy · June 16, 2020, 05:03 AM

Sorry to hear that.I lost mine when I was 16 50 years ago.Learn to shoot left handed that the best way.Couple other things.Some people with two eyes shoot with one eye closed but they can open the other eye at any time to see what going on before and after the shot you don't have that option any more so you have to be careful you don't develop the bad habit of lifting your head just as you shoot.Another thing it can be hard to use fiber optic sights if they are too bright you can't see past the front sight.Sight in sunlight target in shadows.For me rifle shooting with a scope was affected the least shotgun shooting the most.Good luck to you.

ReloadKy · June 16, 2020, 07:50 PM

I was right handed and lost my right eye in a baseball injury when I was 15. If I wanted to hunt / shoot I had to learn to shoot left handed. It wasn't the easiest thing to do and took some time but it was doable. I shoot my bow and guns with my left hand and left eye. I do not use left handed rifles to shoot but I still shoot plenty well enough to be a hunter. Start practicing left would be suggestion.

tlm225 · June 16, 2020, 10:00 PM

My dad was right handed, left eye dominant. He shot handguns with his right hand, rifles and shotguns left handed. He was one of the best shooters I've ever known.

lefteye · June 17, 2020, 01:34 PM

My dad was right-handed and left eye dominant. He didn't have any handguns but shot rifles and shotguns left-handed. I also shoot rifles and shotguns left-handed because my left eye is dominant. I shoot handguns right-handed (because I'm right-handed) but I aim with my left eye. I also shoot compound bows left-handed.

rsnell · June 22, 2020, 12:06 PM

I am left handed but can not see out of my left eye. I could shoot an air gun or a twenty 22 but a shotgun and a 30-06 kicked the S### of of me. I learned to shoot right handed.

RAfiringline · June 28, 2020, 09:59 PM

>I was a right handed shooter for 40 years. Then I lost my right eye. So do I shoot right handed but only seeing with my left eye, or switch to left handed rifles?<

I'm left handed left eye dominant. In the Marine boot camp they made me shoot right handed, and I scored expert.

A couple yrs ago I had a left eye retina problem which was operated on with a big improvement, but now my right eye is the sharper one. So I'm back to shooting both ways- left with an AR offhand quick shooting, right handed for long range bench shooting.

Everyday, do snap ins left handed, everyday, 10 times, 30 times per session, whatever. It'll come.

30Cal · June 29, 2020, 06:03 PM

Learning to shoot left handed is pretty easy. You simply have to decide to do it.

spthomas · July 1, 2020, 03:36 PM

I think thats what i have to do since thats the only eye I have. Do yiu think I need a left handed AR? I know boltactiona will be a ptoblem, but what about an QR since it seems a bit more ambidextrous.

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wild willy · July 2, 2020, 06:18 AM

I lost my right eye when I was 16 learn to shoot left handed after some time it will feel natural.I have 4 ARs one left hand I like the left hand better but they cost a lot more harder to find.Right hand works.As far as bolt guns a right hand bolt is about as easy to use from the bench as a left hand but in the field a left hand is much nicer.If a right hand bolt is so great for leftys than a left hand bolt would be wonderful for right handed shooters.As far as the post telling you to keep both eyes open

RAfiringline · July 2, 2020, 03:58 PM

>Do yiu think I need a left handed AR?<

No. In fact, even a left hand setup for the safety is of minimum advantage. You do need an AR with the ejection deflector if you don't like hot casings down your shirt. There are models that don't have those.

Get 1000 rds .22 LR ammo, go out and shoot the hell out of it, bench, offhand freehand, with a tree rest, fast shooting, slow shooting, paper targets, plates whatever.

Get a few hundred rds of 223 and do the same - you'll see.

Any scopes you use, you'll probably need to reset focus, and re-zero before you get into your re-training.

langenc · July 2, 2020, 08:10 PM

Shoot lefty w/ an AR--get a couple uppers and you can hunt everything w/ one gun.

There used to be lefty ARs but have not seem them promoted lately. I dont think you need one, rightys will do fine for you.

June 14, 2020, 08:55 PM	#1
spthomas Junior Member Join Date: January 26, 2015 Posts: 8	One eyed shooter. I was a right handed shooter for 40 years. Then I lost my right eye. So do I shoot right handed but only seeing with my left eye, or switch to left handed rifles? Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

June 14, 2020, 09:51 PM	#2
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 24,989	You're going to have to have your remaining eye behind the sights or you're not going to be able to hit anything. Maybe you can get your head far enough over on the stock to get your left eye behind the sights. It might work for you, but it won't be ideal. Try it out and see. Your other option is to shoot left-handed. You aren't constrained to only left-handed models-- right-handed rifles are often usable from the left side, albeit with some issues that need to be addressed or at least understood. __________________ Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?

June 14, 2020, 10:38 PM	#3
big al hunter Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2011 Location: Washington state Posts: 1,558	You will be more comfortable shooting left handed. It won't feel right for a while, but you will get used to it. Take your time and make sure you have the gun held properly. Again, it won't feel right, but you will get accustomed to shouldering the gun properly with practice. The technique will be the same, but your left hand will need to learn the feel of the trigger. As in the rest of your life, you will adapt. Everything will take time to get used to. But it will become second nature with practice. __________________ You can't fix stupid....however ignorance can be cured through education!

June 15, 2020, 06:37 AM	#4
ammo.crafter Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2006 Location: The Keystone State Posts: 1,970	left-eyed You should have little issues shooting a handgun after some practice. I turn my head slightly to my right and my scores are the same as they used to be. I do find that it takes me a bit longer to "find" the sights before pulling the triggers. __________________ "Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading". --Thomas Jefferson

June 15, 2020, 08:54 AM	#5
Erno86 Senior Member Join Date: September 22, 2012 Location: Marriottsville, Maryland Posts: 1,739	You can shoot right handed, sighting with your left eye...along with a good cheek weld, using the Romanian PSL-54C in 7.62x54R, with a left offset mounted 4x rangefinder scope; similar to the Russian PSO-1. Though the scope does not have a reticle or parallax adjustment. __________________ That rifle hanging on the wall of the working class flat or labourer's cottage is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there." --- George Orwell

June 15, 2020, 04:34 PM	#6
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,808	Learn to shoot lefty. It isn't that hard. My brother is right handed, left eye dominate. He made the change to shooting lefty years ago. It took a little time, but he is a much better shot because he made the effort to learn how. Or you could have custom stocks made for your guns. https://www.bing.com/images/search?v...130&ajaxhist=0 https://www.bing.com/images/search?v...127&ajaxhist=0 __________________ "If you're still doing things the same way you were doing them 10 years ago, you're doing it wrong" Winston Churchill

June 15, 2020, 05:16 PM	#7
bipe215 Senior Member Join Date: December 3, 2008 Posts: 122	Hickok45 shoots right handed and left eyed. He does fairly well.

June 15, 2020, 09:24 PM	#8
TXAZ Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2010 Location: McMurdo Sound Texas Posts: 4,322	Learning to shoot “off hand” isn’t hard, it just takes some practice. I very left handed, but ultimately got tired of shooting right handed rifles and some handguns eject shells into my face, so I learned to shoot right. Lots more guns, particularly mil weapons, are available to shoot right handed was another reason. Word of warning shooting a right handed semi left handed: make sure you know where the ejected casings are going. Eye protection is a must, as might be tight fitting shirt unless you like cartridge burns inside your shirt. Really. __________________ Cave illos in guns et backhoes

June 16, 2020, 05:03 AM	#10
wild willy Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2006 Posts: 404	Sorry to hear that.I lost mine when I was 16 50 years ago.Learn to shoot left handed that the best way.Couple other things.Some people with two eyes shoot with one eye closed but they can open the other eye at any time to see what going on before and after the shot you don't have that option any more so you have to be careful you don't develop the bad habit of lifting your head just as you shoot.Another thing it can be hard to use fiber optic sights if they are too bright you can't see past the front sight.Sight in sunlight target in shadows.For me rifle shooting with a scope was affected the least shotgun shooting the most.Good luck to you.

June 16, 2020, 07:50 PM	#11
ReloadKy Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2018 Posts: 191	I was right handed and lost my right eye in a baseball injury when I was 15. If I wanted to hunt / shoot I had to learn to shoot left handed. It wasn't the easiest thing to do and took some time but it was doable. I shoot my bow and guns with my left hand and left eye. I do not use left handed rifles to shoot but I still shoot plenty well enough to be a hunter. Start practicing left would be suggestion.

June 16, 2020, 10:00 PM	#12
tlm225 Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2004 Location: Arkansas Posts: 962	My dad was right handed, left eye dominant. He shot handguns with his right hand, rifles and shotguns left handed. He was one of the best shooters I've ever known. __________________ All that is neccessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. Edmund Burke

June 17, 2020, 01:34 PM	#13
lefteye Senior Member Join Date: January 30, 2006 Posts: 1,433	My dad was right-handed and left eye dominant. He didn't have any handguns but shot rifles and shotguns left-handed. I also shoot rifles and shotguns left-handed because my left eye is dominant. I shoot handguns right-handed (because I'm right-handed) but I aim with my left eye. I also shoot compound bows left-handed. __________________ Vietnam Veteran ('69-'70) NRA Life Member RMEF Life Member

June 22, 2020, 12:06 PM	#14
rsnell Member Join Date: January 25, 2011 Location: Cleveland, TN Posts: 74	I am left handed but can not see out of my left eye. I could shoot an air gun or a twenty 22 but a shotgun and a 30-06 kicked the S### of of me. I learned to shoot right handed.

June 28, 2020, 09:59 PM	#15
RAfiringline Senior Member Join Date: November 15, 2014 Location: western US Posts: 290	>I was a right handed shooter for 40 years. Then I lost my right eye. So do I shoot right handed but only seeing with my left eye, or switch to left handed rifles?< I'm left handed left eye dominant. In the Marine boot camp they made me shoot right handed, and I scored expert. A couple yrs ago I had a left eye retina problem which was operated on with a big improvement, but now my right eye is the sharper one. So I'm back to shooting both ways- left with an AR offhand quick shooting, right handed for long range bench shooting. Everyday, do snap ins left handed, everyday, 10 times, 30 times per session, whatever. It'll come. __________________ Fast is fine, but accuracy is everything. You need to take your time, in a hurry. Wyatt Earp Last edited by RAfiringline; June 28, 2020 at 10:13 PM.

June 29, 2020, 06:03 PM	#16
30Cal Senior Member Join Date: December 3, 2002 Posts: 1,264	Learning to shoot left handed is pretty easy. You simply have to decide to do it.

July 1, 2020, 03:36 PM	#17
spthomas Junior Member Join Date: January 26, 2015 Posts: 8	I think thats what i have to do since thats the only eye I have. Do yiu think I need a left handed AR? I know boltactiona will be a ptoblem, but what about an QR since it seems a bit more ambidextrous. Sent from my LG-LK460 using Tapatalk

July 2, 2020, 06:18 AM	#18
wild willy Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2006 Posts: 404	I lost my right eye when I was 16 learn to shoot left handed after some time it will feel natural.I have 4 ARs one left hand I like the left hand better but they cost a lot more harder to find.Right hand works.As far as bolt guns a right hand bolt is about as easy to use from the bench as a left hand but in the field a left hand is much nicer.If a right hand bolt is so great for leftys than a left hand bolt would be wonderful for right handed shooters.As far as the post telling you to keep both eyes open

July 2, 2020, 03:58 PM	#19
RAfiringline Senior Member Join Date: November 15, 2014 Location: western US Posts: 290	>Do yiu think I need a left handed AR?< No. In fact, even a left hand setup for the safety is of minimum advantage. You do need an AR with the ejection deflector if you don't like hot casings down your shirt. There are models that don't have those. Get 1000 rds .22 LR ammo, go out and shoot the hell out of it, bench, offhand freehand, with a tree rest, fast shooting, slow shooting, paper targets, plates whatever. Get a few hundred rds of 223 and do the same - you'll see. Any scopes you use, you'll probably need to reset focus, and re-zero before you get into your re-training. __________________ Fast is fine, but accuracy is everything. You need to take your time, in a hurry. Wyatt Earp Last edited by RAfiringline; July 2, 2020 at 04:13 PM.

July 2, 2020, 08:10 PM	#20
langenc Senior Member Join Date: August 19, 2007 Location: Montmorency Co, MI Posts: 1,551	Shoot lefty w/ an AR--get a couple uppers and you can hunt everything w/ one gun. There used to be lefty ARs but have not seem them promoted lately. I dont think you need one, rightys will do fine for you.