Deac Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 Hi everyone, I'm brand new to this so forgive my ignorance, but I had my second shooting lesson today. On my first lesson, because I couldn't close my left eye I wore some glasses with the left eye covered in tape. I went for a second lesson today and had a different instructor. He had my shoot left handed,and keep both eye's open, he said he wasn't a fan of the taping up the glasses approach. It felt pretty odd to put it mildly, but I shot pretty well (at least the instructor said I did.....) but my shoulder is killing me tonight. It felt like I couldn't pull the gun in tightly to my shoulder as I could when I was the other way around. Is that normal or should I be using a left handed gun from here onwards, and would that make a difference. I'm right handed by the way I've already got my licence application in as I was hooked after the first lesson....... Thanks a lot for your help Deac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COACH Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 As your new to the game, stay left handed, you will get use to it after a short while and in the long run you will shoot better. If you can get a left handed gun that fits reasonably well all the better. Not only will it make things easier to hit but should also be more comfortable. And don`t use a right handed semi auto if your going to shoot left handed as the escaping hot gases from the ejecting cases can go into your eyes. I`v seen it happen several times and its not good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 (edited) Hi and welcome, seems you maybe left eye dominant (like many of us) a left handed or Cast on stock wshould fit better particularly if you have a broad chest. I had to do the same and the best thing to do is practise mounting the gun to your left shoulder but not firing it to build up some muscle memory in the left side. Some instructors/grounds have left handed guns others dont although my gun is left handed it's fairly stright (Browning 525) and i can shoot it of either shoulder (but do better off my left) Edited April 9, 2011 by HDAV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenG Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 I struggled at the start to close my left eye, but after a while it became second nature. I tried shooting off the left shoulder but it felt so unnatural and awkward. Give it some time, and you will get used to closing your left eye just as you mount the gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edr Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 Shoot right handed, keep both eyes open and try and make sure that you alter the dominance (wear prescription glasses if needed, esay hit beads or just try diming one eye while the gun is mounted). I perosnally use the easy hit beads as they work well and it means that I can still shoot off my right shoulder. EDR * I would shoot off either shoulder but ensure that you can both eyes open, you will notice the difference later on; from being a good shot to an excellent shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reddan Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 You will get used to it and bruised shoulders/upper arms are normal as you learn to mount the gun consistently. I am right handed and shoot left handed because of eye domenence, i find even picking up a gun right handed feels werid now. Brownings are normally straight stocked so you can have the stock moved over quite simply but in the beginning while you are learn to mount the same every time straight stock will probably be ok. I don't buy the whole tape over the glasses thing, i used to do that for semi auto rifles because of the hot cases being ejected from the right but I don't think it is practical for shotguns + you look a plum. Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shropshire_Lad Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 I am quite lucky being left handed and left eye dominant. In the real world though things are not that straight foreward. Being left handed means you have to learn to do lots of things right handed. As a joiner nearly every power tool is right hand based, the continous power on button being under your left hand palm if you use them left handed. Joinery shop machines all right hand based, its a fact of life. It is surprising how soon you adapt to useing tools a certain way, lets face it a gun is a tool. Most right handers give up before they start as regards to shooting to match their eye, how lucky are they not to be born left handed where the choice of giving up is not an option. Even something as simple as a pair of scissors are a pain to use left handed. atvb Paul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 I'm glad easy hits work for some they don't for me and my optician was useless, find a good coach and stick to left handed, closing an eye will disadvantage you and while many shoot very well one eyed they could be better with both, eye dominance is an odd thing and often explained well, I don't claim to be a good shot, but having been through it all it dores get better, you shouldn't have bruises after a lesson tho Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustJon Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 Hi Deac, welcome to the forum. Where was the lesson? Where both lessons at the same ground? Inconsistency would worry me - I had lesson 1 a couple of weeks ago and the first point they made was that they all teach the same. The second was the same as you I am left eyes, right handed. The coach talked me through why this was an issue, showed me why with the gun mounted (sight profile) and let me mount left and right handed... Quickly it was obvious I should shoot left and I'm confident practice will make this much easier. I was also using a. Gun with a straight stock so that I wasn't disadvantaged with a RH orientated gun. Where was the lesson? Where the coaches picked based on positive comments and feedback of others? Just my thoughts. Find a good coach, discuss, try, test, understand, practice ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeker Posted April 10, 2011 Report Share Posted April 10, 2011 (edited) If its an eye dominance issue and you're at the beginning of your shooting career, go with the eyes .. probably far easier to 'change hands' than to change eyes! I shoot with 2 people who lost the use of their right eyes . both re-learned to shoot left handed... Why was coach 1 intent on getiing you to shoot with the weaker eye - it only gives you one more 'problem' to deal with. Keep the eye .. change hands & change coach. Edited April 10, 2011 by seeker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deac Posted April 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2011 Thanks very much for the feedback everyone, really helpful. I think I should persevere with the left handed shooting for now, I'll leave it a week or so before going back for another lesson though... not sure the shoulder can take it ! Deac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
utectok Posted April 10, 2011 Report Share Posted April 10, 2011 This is spot on IMHO As your new to the game, stay left handed, you will get use to it after a short while and in the long run you will shoot better. If you can get a left handed gun that fits reasonably well all the better. Not only will it make things easier to hit but should also be more comfortable. And don`t use a right handed semi auto if your going to shoot left handed as the escaping hot gases from the ejecting cases can go into your eyes. I`v seen it happen several times and its not good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kermit the frog Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 Dear Deac, Eye dominance has nothing to do with the quality of the sight of your each eye, but the length of the optic nerve. The eye that gets the message to the brain first is the master eye! Clays emerging from a bad background can sometimes be seen by your wrong (non master eye) first, and you end miles in front of it! kermit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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