I've finally convinced my wife to (at least) learn the basis of handguns and I'll take her to my range next week. She kind of wrinkles up her nose on the subject of guns but is OK with me having them. IMO she should learn just in case that million to one thing happens.
My question is.. She is left eye dominant whereas I am right eye dominant. Should she be taught to shoot left handed? Or does it not matter.
I don't want to make this any harder than necessary as it was tough enough to get her to agree to learn in the first place.
BTW, I'll start her with my M&P .22 and then plan to step her up to my M&P 9mm CORE. Any advise would be appreciated.

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It's Alive !!

It depends on her dexterity. All things being equal, it's better to shoot from the dominant side.

In the interest of marital harmony, you might consider hiring another instructor to give her lessons. Wives don't always take well to spousal direction.

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"I also cook."

My wife and I are the reverse. I'm a lefty and my she is abnorma...I mean, a righty. I would suggest you let her handle and dry fire several handguns. How see reacts will tell you what hand she should use. Some DA revolvers and even long pull, DA bottom feeders are difficult for my wife to easily fire (especially off-hand). My guess is she will feel more comfortable with her dominate hand/eye.

Just let her know that brass will come back towards her. It can be un-nerving until she gets used to it. I don't have any problem with it, but I do occasionally take a direct "hit". Maybe you should fire a few rounds off-hand to show her what to expect.

Don't make a big deal of it. Practice helping her with proper hand placement, stance, etc. beforehand. You don't want to confuse things at the range. It's not really any more difficult to teach someone with the opposite hand if you're prepared too.

Good luck to both of you!

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paws for friendship

I'm a righty, right eye dominant, but have cataracts and arthritis developing right side, so have been teaching myself to shoot left hand / left eye. Was a bit dicey at first, and hitting paper was not a given. But at this point I'm shooting better lefty than right.

It's not impossible.

I have chosen to practice with both strong hand and weak hand with my SA revolvers. I am right eye dominant and right handed but because of deterioration in my right eye, I've found that I actually shoot better with my left hand and left eye. I've tried right handed with left eye and I can't seem to get the hang of it unless I really concentrate. I did teach my wife to shoot and she is a fairly accomplished shooter thru regular practice. Not sure she fully understands all the nuances of different handguns, but she is a willing student.

Why not teach her to point shoot with both eyes open. She has no bad habits yet. Might be easier. SD does not have to be a quarter size group.

Absolutely...if the unfortunate time were to happen, you could have the Hubble telescope mounted on a gun and you would never use it.

Also this might sound silly but get her to use the old 'gun hand..pointer finger straight out" pull up you "gun hand" at a target and point. Then look (sight) where your finger is pointing...interesting results.

My daughter is right handed and left eye dominant. She holds the gun like a righty but uses her left eye to line up her SIGHTS. (That's what they are there for.) Just move the gun to the left so it lines up with her left eye.
By the way, she is the best (most accurate) shot in the family.

My wife's mouth fires at a higher velocity and with more impact than a mere firearm.

If she's right handed, have her shoot right handed.

the suggestion above-^^^^^- have someone else instruct aspects of firearm usuage. that said. my 2cts. stances, grip, instruction of usage of firearm she's going to use. start her out at 3 yds. so she can actually see the holes. plenty of time to shoot steel plates @ 15 yds. after the basics. small 2" bull, flat bottom. 22 rev. if you have one or can borrow one. single action 1st. it will show her a different trigger pull weight than when she does the double action trigger pull. switch her back and forth, she'll do well when she fires the m&p 22 of yours. patence, repetion and handleing. if she asks about breathing, it will come w/ weapons usuage.