Vision issues

[Cal44]

I put this under revolvers because I mainly shoot revolvers, but it could apply to any class of target gun.

I'm right handed and hold the gun in my right hand.

But, my right eye is significantly weaker than my left eye.

Is there any reason I should try to struggle to use my right eye for sighting the gun?

Or can a right handed person learn to shoot a gun with iron sights just as well with the left eye?

 

[Norsk_jaeger]

I have a good friend who is right handed, but shoots left because his left eye is dominant. I have never tried doing it, but he seems quite capable doing it. I would just suggest trying to shoot "left handed" and see how it goes.

 

[OKFC05]

I am right handed and left eye dominant, and I shoot IDPA and USPSA competition, and teach pistol classes. I shoot R and look L or R, depending on shot.
Just move the pistol slightly and use your dominant eye if you can't use your right.
Or you can learn to shoot left handed if you want.
Handguns are not a problem.

Shotguns are more of a problem!!

 

[arjay]

Try shooting left handed,it isn't that hard.

 

[SW&Larry]

Are you right eye or left eye dominant?

I put this under revolvers because I mainly shoot revolvers, but it could apply to any class of target gun.

I'm right handed and hold the gun in my right hand.

But, my right eye is significantly weaker than my left eye.

Is there any reason I should try to struggle to use my right eye for sighting the gun?

Or can a right handed person learn to shoot a gun with iron sights just as well with the left eye?

 

[SW&Larry]

Ok, forget my previous question

Right handed, left eye dominant is a very common issue that can be overcome.

Personally, I use a Modified/baasdadized Weaver stance. It allows me to align things up nicely.

I've seen some guys that tilt the gun slightly to the left as they come up to bear on the target. I could never get used to that so I gave up.

I can't explain why, but to continue my weirdness, I'm right handed and shoot handgun right handed, but shoot rifle left handed

I am right handed and left eye dominant, and I shoot IDPA and USPSA competition, and teach pistol classes. I shoot R and look L or R, depending on shot.
Just move the pistol slightly and use your dominant eye if you can't use your right.
Or you can learn to shoot left handed if you want.
Handguns are not a problem.

Shotguns are more of a problem!!

 

[Cal44]

Are you right eye or left eye dominant?

Left, I guess.

I had eye trouble as a kid and a surgery at about age 10.

I only use one eye at a time and have a "switch" in my brain that lets me select which eye.

My left eye is better at distances like 10 yds+

At 25yds I can see the front sight fine, but the target is a fuzzy blob at best when using the right eye.

Left is much better and close to 20/20.

More than you wanted to know, I'm sure.

 

[varmint243]

it's ok to shoot with both eyes open
especially with a dot sight

 

[jsmokey]

I always shoot with both eyes open, even tho my left eye is the strong one......

Smokey

 

[quinn]

I'm functionally blind in my right eye, and I'm right handed. Been shooting that way a long, long time and never thought anything about it as far a pistols go. I do shoot rifles left handed, tho.

 

[jrm53]

There is a device made by Merrit optical/farsite that clips on the frame of your glases with a smallhole that you look through that will focus bot sights and target and all three will be clear. this may not be the proper name but Merrit makes them. they work like a pin hole camera. This will beat shooting with the weak hand. Jeff

 

[RichCapeCod]

.....At 25yds I can see the front sight fine, but the target is a fuzzy blob at best when using the right eye. ....

From this post you imply that you expect to see both clear sights and target at the same time. Not a physical possibility. The human eye can focus on only one object at a time. Your primary focus point must be the front sight. The target downrange will be, must be, blurry to your eyes. The rear sight may or may not be a blur, depending on the health of your eyes, your age and the distance between the sights.

This may be a training issue rather than an eyesight problem issue.

Rich

 

[scooter123]

From this post you imply that you expect to see both clear sights and target at the same time. Not a physical possibility. The human eye can focus on only one object at a time. Your primary focus point must be the front sight. The target downrange will be, must be, blurry to your eyes. The rear sight may or may not be a blur, depending on the health of your eyes, your age and the distance between the sights.

This may be a training issue rather than an eyesight problem issue.

Rich

Rich, I am going to have to disagree with you on this. Yeah, I know it's what all the gun rags keep advising. However, what they aren't telling you is that when you focus on the front sight you'll end up training yourself to follow that sight when the gun is recoiling. End result of doing that is to slow down your rate of fire because you have to visually reacquire the target with each shot. In addition once you get into your 50's it's very likely that you'll lose the ability to focus on the front sight at all. I was initially turned on to Target Focused shooting by a local PD's Firearms Instructor and once I "got it" I cut my split times in HALF in the initial session and achieved a further reduction with time spent training. The simple truth is that Target Focused shooting is faster. As for the impact on accuracy, when you focus on one single point on a target without shifting your gaze you tend to return the aim to that point as a matter of pure instinct. Typically there will be a small loss of accuracy when someone first starts using Target Focused shooting but as they gain experience using this method they'll usually see a gain in accuracy over the long term.

I shoot with either eye, left eye when shooting left handed and right eye when shooting right handed. It's a result of using my left eye when shooting with an SLR camera for over 40 years, it's left me with the ability to be selectively dominant. In addition, as a result of breaking my right arm at 8 years of age, I've acquired the ability to do many things with either hand.

Point is that you can train yourself to do almost anything you wish to with either hand or either eye. It's simply a matter of either necessity or just putting your mind to it.

 

[AveragEd]

I'm a right-handed shooter with Post Vitreous Detachment in my right eye, so my left eye has become dominant. I'm also a former competitive trapshooter, so I know of what OKFC05 speaks. As long as you hold a handgun in line with the eye with which you wish to sight it, it doesn't matter which hand is holding it. Anytime an eye problem is in the mix, I strongly suggest closing the off-side eye so cross-dominance cannot enter the picture.

Another option is lenses that combat your handicap. At age 66, I can not longer see my handgun's sights with anything approaching clarity. Using my bifocal lens or drug store "readers" allowed me to see my sights with crystal clarity but the bull of a 25-yard pistol target looked like a blurry football standing on end. Dr. Harold Morgan of Morgan Sport Optics in Olean, New York made lenses for me that allow me to see both my sights and the target with 95% clarity. You might want to talk with Harold or his son, Wayne at 800-594-0175.

Wyoming All-American trapshooter Phil Kiner holds trapshooting clinics in which he discusses the visual part of shooting in great detail. He also has eye exercise tools as well as a DVD on the visual part of shooting. He is the unofficial assistant coach in charge of visual instruction for the University of Wyoming's men's basketball team, so he knows what he's talking about. Phil's contact information is on his website, Phil Kiner Trapshooting Clinics and DVD's.

Hope these suggestions help! I know firsthand that you can't hit what you can't see.

Ed

 

[RGMoore]

Never had a problem with this. I am right handed but my right eye only corrects to 20-40. I shot long guns for years right handed but eventually realized I would never be as good as I wanted to be shooting that way. I have always shot pistol right handed/ left eyed even in Creedmore position shooting silhouette.
If you want to shoot with both eyes open but train to shoot with your left eye simply put a piece of black electrical tape inside your shooting glasses on the right side. After a couple of sessions at the range you will be able to dispense with the tape and you won't even notice you are using your left eye.
If you feel you need to shoot long guns left handed, rifle is easy, shotgun like skeet and trap takes some practice but you can do it.

 

[gatchelguy]

A recent light stroke messed up the muscles that move my right eye and left me with double vision. As a stopgap measure the right side of my glasses is covered. I quickly learned to shoot handguns crosseyed, right hand/left eye. Rifles and left handed are out of the question as I have no wrist in my left arm.