Dumb Handgun Questions

[Band]

Dumb question #1: "A guy I know" is right handed but shoots a rifle left handed due to left eye dominance.  That "guy" believes shooting a handgun right handed but using his left eye to line up the sight might be the way to go.  What do you think?

Dumb question #2: Same "guy" wants to know if handguns come right/left handed like rifles do?

[singleshot12]

Sounds like a dumb guy

[Knocker of rocks]

There are semi auto left handed pistols, I think the 1911 is the most common

[JLS]

If he can shoot a rifle left handed, he can shoot a pistol left handed.  He would likely be fine for focal point shooting to use right hand/left eye.  However, when he starts precision shooting with his sights I think he will have issues.  When I shoot left handed drills, I use my left eye. 

Most pistols are made right handed, but many of the newer ones can be converted so that the magazine release is on the opposite side for lefties. 

[Band]

Sounds like a dumb guy

I...uh, I mean he takes offense to that!

[300rum]

There are multiple ways to approach eye dominance with no one way that is better then the other.  Eye dominance varies, for instance I have taught myself to shoot right handed/right eyed, both eyes open, even though I am Left eye dominate.  It think it is the best way to go.  I do know multiple decent pistol shooters who shoot Left hand, right eyed or Right hand/Left eye.  You can tape your eye but it affects your vision and vision is what shooting is all about once the fundamentals are learned.

There are pistols, such as the Glock Gen 4, where the magazine release can be switched to the other side for Left handers.  I know a few Left handers that just use their Left pointer finger to drop the mag on 1911's, etc.  Takes a little practice but there isn't that much of a difference after a lot of practice. 

[Fl0und3rz]

Dumb question #1: "A guy I know" is right handed but shoots a rifle left handed due to left eye dominance.  That "guy" believes shooting a handgun right handed but using his left eye to line up the sight might be the way to go.  What do you think?

Dumb question #2: Same "guy" wants to know if handguns come right/left handed like rifles do?

On 1. Hickok45 shoots both hands (primarily right handed) with left eye dominance, even after having shot with the right eye for many years.

FAQ - 33 (Left Eye Dominant 2)

[BsB]

Am I the only one that shoots pistols with both eyes open? Anyone else?

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4

[JLS]

Am I the only one that shoots pistols with both eyes open? Anyone else?

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4

No, I do most all of mine with both eyes open.   Same with an M4 carbine at closer ranges.

[Special T]

For whatever reason i could not view this video.

I AM THAT GUY.. I just read an article on this. the best way to shoot RH  is to tilt the pistol at a 45deg angle tword the L eye. Not full on sideways gangster style but just rotated. This is supposed to help align the sights better witht the dominat eye. I can shoot either way, ok. I won't be winning any medals but at close distance its acceptable.  Hope that helps.

[carpsniperg2]

My father was in a bad car accident when he was 8 If I remember right. He lost some of his vision in his right eye. So he has always hunted with a right handed bolt rifle and used his left eye. Just have to mount the scope a little funny for him to shoot them well. He shoot a handgun with both eyes open and I put a laser on his carry gun and that really helped him.

My brothers wife is going to deer hunt for the first time this year. She is so left eye dominant that I have to blind fold her so that she will keep her right eye open when trying to look threw a scope. It has been a struggle but she is finally coming around and doing well.

[Alchase]

What are you he trying to accomplish?
Are you shooting for self defense?
Or are you looking to compete, or target shoot.
Multiple approaches depending on what you  he chooses.

I shoot both eyes open, this gives you better situational awareness, peripheral vision, and no target lock (tunnel vision on your target) which is the last thing you want in a combat/self defence situation..
I shoot right handed (trigger finger on my right hand, left hand wrapping the right) but left eye dominant.
You focus is the front sight, unless you are point shooting.
If you shoot both eyes open, it should not be a problem as long as you practice often. You can practice your sight picture anywhere (with an empty hand gun of course).
I shoot my TV, the dog, pictures in the house, etc...

It feels weird now, because it is new.
Practice, practice, practice, your sight picture until muscle memory kicks in, and it becomes an extension of your hand.

[coachcw]

Doe's his screen name start with a R and end With a G ? lol

[Alchase]

Springfield Armory XD's are ambidextrous.

[300rum]

Canting the pistol isn't a good idea if you want to shoot well.  Your front sight will "jump" to the left in recoil and won't return well at all.  It is best to be in a position where the front sight lifts and then returns to the notch, up and down. 

Try it sometime.  Cant your pistol shooting strong hand only (it will be more pronounced then using two hands) and watch what the front sight does.  It will shoot off to the left (right hand) and it will make a downward arch before returning to the rear notch.  After that, shoot it with the sights vertical (still one handed), make sure your elbow is tucked under the pistol.  Watch the front sight to see what it does, it lifts and will return right back into the rear notch.  That's what you want.

Your splits (time between shots) will be much quicker and much more accurate.  You will also find that you won't have to "muscle" the gun as much in recoil in order to get it to return.   

For whatever reason i could not view this video.

I AM THAT GUY.. I just read an article on this. the best way to shoot RH  is to tilt the pistol at a 45deg angle toward the L eye. Not full on sideways gangster style but just rotated. This is supposed to help align the sights better witht the dominat eye. I can shoot either way, ok. I won't be winning any medals but at close distance its acceptable.  Hope that helps.