Switching to right-handed shooting

[BMW Racer]

I bought my M&P 9C for concealed carry, and because of the option to switch the mag release to the right side, for left-handed use.

Shooting the 15-22 left handed is not optimal, but not too bad. At the range, the range/store owner suggested I continue to shoot handguns left handed but to try shooting rifles right handed.

We lefties usually do some things right-handed anyway (I brush teeth, use scissors, kick, swing a baseball bat, and play golf right handed - and I'm right eye dominant) so when I got home, I made sure it was unloaded (and no one was in the room) and aimed it at an outside wall, right handed. It didn't really feel that awkward and I'm wondering if any other lefties shoot right-handed. I'll try it next time for sure because I liked having the mag release so easy to reach.

Anyone else?

[mikehoncho]

i'm a righty but i practice shooting my .223 AR left handed, just in case. i will do the same with the 15-22. it's nice to be able to shoot either handed. the problem is with eye dominance but since you are right eye dominant, you should be blowing out bullseyes soon. good luck.

[melloyello]

If you are right eye dominant you should be shooting right handed.

[BMW Racer]

Thanks for the replies.

Switching for sure.

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Originally Posted by mikehoncho

i'm a righty but i practice shooting my .223 AR left handed, just in case. i will do the same with the 15-22. it's nice to be able to shoot either handed. the problem is with eye dominance but since you are right eye dominant, you should be blowing out bullseyes soon. good luck.

Being right handed, I do some left handed practice with handguns I have designated for self defense. I doubt I'll do much left handed practice with my 15-22. If I am injured or otherwise unable to go right handed plinking with the 15-22 for a period of time, I guess I'll just have to survive the withdrawals.

[mikehoncho]

Originally Posted by ChattanoogaPhil

Being right handed, I do some left handed practice with handguns I have designated for self defense. I doubt I'll do much left handed practice with my 15-22. If I am injured or otherwise unable to go right handed plinking with the 15-22 for a period of time, I guess I'll just have to survive the withdrawals.

yeah, but what if the russians and cubans parachute in and you have to live in the woods like a wolverine and the survival of your freedom rests on being able to stay in the fight, even if your right arm is injured

[Thomas_H]

Originally Posted by BMW Racer

I bought my M&P 9C for concealed carry, and because of the option to switch the mag release to the right side, for left-handed use.

Shooting the 15-22 left handed is not optimal, but not too bad. At the range, the range/store owner suggested I continue to shoot handguns left handed but to try shooting rifles right handed.

We lefties usually do some things right-handed anyway (I brush teeth, use scissors, kick, swing a baseball bat, and play golf right handed - and I'm right eye dominant) so when I got home, I made sure it was unloaded (and no one was in the room) and aimed it at an outside wall, right handed. It didn't really feel that awkward and I'm wondering if any other lefties shoot right-handed. I'll try it next time for sure because I liked having the mag release so easy to reach.

Anyone else?

I do exactly the opposite. I'm right handed, but left eye dominant. So I shoot left handed (rifles, pistols, bows).

[GillAgin]

I'm left eye dominant and shoot my pistols right handed and aim with my left dominant eye, but with the 15-22 I still shoot right handed and aim with my right eye which seems to work for me. I don't know if I could shoot a rifle left handed just so I could aim with my left dominant eye?

[chuck s]

Just tip the pistol toward your dominant eye if it's different from your dominant hand.

Swapping the magazine release to the other side will make it non-standard and if you train with a non-standard pistol you'll wet your pants in a gunfight where you had to pick up a standard weapon. I fully agree that lefties have problems but don't think moving things like magazine catches (or selectors) to non-standard positions will help when really needed.

-- Chuck

[Nightowl]

My brother is left handed and has always shot right handed and played golf right handed. My son, on the other hand, is right handed and plays golf left handed. I guess you have to do what does best for you.

[vitamind3]

Originally Posted by Nightowl

My brother is left handed and has always shot right handed and played golf right handed. My son, on the other hand, is right handed and plays golf left handed. I guess you have to do what does best for you.

Im in the same boat. I write righty, switch-hit at the plate (ONLY IN BASEBALL!! no silly jokes here! ) shoot (80%) ambi (i forced myself to learn the lefty world) slap a puck and golf lefty, and i look like a total retard if i try from the right side! go figure.. I guess its just what you know, or force yourself to learn.

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Originally Posted by mikehoncho

yeah, but what if the russians and cubans parachute in and you have to live in the woods like a wolverine and the survival of your freedom rests on being able to stay in the fight, even if your right arm is injured

Red Dawn.... one of my favorites.

[Evile]

I shoot left handed but one day i had a shell bounce off the lane wall and go in my shirt and burnt my neck, so ive been doing some right handed shooting i can do it but it takes some adjusting

[Scotter260]

I'm right-handed but grew up shooting pool and trap left-handed. I have always shot pistols right-handed. I shoot with both eyes open so I figured I'd better learn how to use my rifles/carbines right-handed and I have. At this point I can switch up very easily and run everything right-handed but if you hand me a new long-gun I'll almost always mount it to my left first because it feels so much more natural for me.

I like having the option of using either.

Scott

[OLDGUNMAN]

Originally Posted by mikehoncho

yeah, but what if the russians and cubans parachute in and you have to live in the woods like a wolverine and the survival of your freedom rests on being able to stay in the fight, even if your right arm is injured

Then you'll need the twist off beer bottles instead of using a can opener and needing two hnds.

[BMW Racer]

Originally Posted by Evile

I shoot left handed but one day i had a shell bounce off the lane wall and go in my shirt and burnt my neck, so ive been doing some right handed shooting i can do it but it takes some adjusting

That happened, probably more because of bad luck than because of how you shoot. Last week, my 10 year-old son was shooting at the range with me and his Winchester .22 bounced a shell off the wall and it landed between the back side of the safety glasses lens, and his right cheek. I was standing behind him watching him shoot and was looking down range, not at where every shell was landing. When it happened, he stopped shooting and calmly and firmly held the rifle with his left hand, and swatted his right cheek with is right hand. I immediately tried to help but still didn't know exactly what had happened.

I then saw a perfect outline burn of a shell on his cheek. We immediately went to the bathroom and cleaned it with soap and warm water and put Neosporin (sp?) on it at home. It's healing fine and I doubt he'll have a scar.

Yes, his teachers and friends asked about it and I told him to tell the truth when answering. For the casual questions he would say that a piece of hot metal burned him. For the more specific questions, he told them what happened. So far, we haven't received any PC over-reactions.

So, he'll keep shooting right handed and I'll make the switch. I'm thinking this was a fluke but has anyone else had this happen? We're only about a year into our "gun life" and we're trying to use all the right safety measures. Any chance of it happening again?

[BELT_FED]

thats a disadvantage of an indoor range... confined spaces.... ive had this happin with a 357 sig it landed on my neck and i still have a small mark... they make brass catchers if ur worried about it but it does happen from time to time... granted you couldnt put the amount of brass ive fired in my life time in a semi truck and i have 1 little mark so its not common just bad luck

[27 Beck]

Originally Posted by BMW Racer

That happened, probably more because of bad luck than because of how you shoot. Last week, my 10 year-old son was shooting at the range with me and his Winchester .22 bounced a shell off the wall and it landed between the back side of the safety glasses lens, and his right cheek. I was standing behind him watching him shoot and was looking down range, not at where every shell was landing. When it happened, he stopped shooting and calmly and firmly held the rifle with his left hand, and swatted his right cheek with is right hand. I immediately tried to help but still didn't know exactly what had happened.

I then saw a perfect outline burn of a shell on his cheek. We immediately went to the bathroom and cleaned it with soap and warm water and put Neosporin (sp?) on it at home. It's healing fine and I doubt he'll have a scar.

Yes, his teachers and friends asked about it and I told him to tell the truth when answering. For the casual questions he would say that a piece of hot metal burned him. For the more specific questions, he told them what happened. So far, we haven't received any PC over-reactions.

So, he'll keep shooting right handed and I'll make the switch. I'm thinking this was a fluke but has anyone else had this happen? We're only about a year into our "gun life" and we're trying to use all the right safety measures. Any chance of it happening again?

Sure, there is a chance of it happening again. Also chance of an OOB. Wearing protective eyewear is important.