I have been playing golf right-handed for over thirty years, which means my left eye has become my dominant eye anymore. I am a left-handed shooter. Is there any way I can retrain myself to shoot right-handed and thus take advantage of all the goodies available for right-handed shooters? I can close my right eye as easily as 1-2-3, but I have great difficulty keeping my left eye closed (Yes, I know a "real" rifleman keeps both eyes open, but I'm just your garden-variety trigger puller and make no apologies).

Yes. I believe you can, but it will take a lot of patience. There is a n elderly shotgunner in my gunclub, that for medical reasons, could no longer shoot right handed. Well it took him about a year, he is again shooting in the low 90's. The gentleman is 81 years old.

Personally, I can shoot shotgun (skeet)either handed, I shoot my bow right handed, but I have a tough time with rifles right handed, except for the prone and benchrest positions, and none of the reasons have anything to do with my vision. So go figure.

[ 08-22-2003, 17:30: Message edited by: Pa.Frank ]

Rootbeer,
I'm the opposite, a righty that has always shot lefthanded. My old man was a lefty that played pro golf righthanded, my youngest daughter is a righty but kicks with her left foot and my wife can spend money while she farts and complains all at the same time.
I'm starting to think my grandparents used to make love on fun park rides.

Anyway I don't want to change as I can steady the fore-end of a rifle much easier with my stronger arm. I actually think it's an advantage. Only problem is trying to get quick second shot away with a right handed bolt action so I settle for pumps when it comes to hunting.

I don't think it would be too hard to retrain yourself, after all, if you lost the sight in your dominant eye you wouldn't have a choice.

Try using a patch on the lens of your shooting glasses until your used to shouldering the gun to the correct position the gradually train yourself without the patch. It will also be a lot easier to start with iron sights as opposed to a scope.

Don't expect it to happen overnight and it might be an idea to shoot more bullets than hit golf balls while your going through the process.

Cheers...

[ 08-22-2003, 17:54: Message edited by: Boofhead ]

Thanks, gentlemen. I just now updated my profile, but I don't see the little email envelope along the top of the post. Is it not visible to me? Someone send me an email (Not a PM) if you see it. To avoid getting too many, don't email beyond an hour or two past this posting time. Jeez, I hope I get at least one before then!

Never mind; it's there. Maybe I just had to post once after the change to have it take effect.

Boof, I think everybody's wife can spend money both right- and left-handed, with a cigarette in her mouth, a martini in her hand and gossip flying off her lips, the truth be damned. I am happy in these instances that I am not married and that women seem not to like me unless I am compensating them for their time and attention.

[ 08-22-2003, 18:42: Message edited by: rootbeer ]

I'm a hard core lefty, I was blessed that way at birth and made it through 58 years using my right brain for most things.
The 6 wonderful years I was a member of the US Marines I soon found out there was no such thing as a left hander.
Through a little practice and a drill instructors boot I learned pretty darn well how to shoot expert with the M14 right handed.
When I became a civilian again I reverted back to my old ways of shooting left handed and soon graduated from lever actions to left handed bolts.
I can't tell you the number of times, because of the position I was sitting in my tree stand or ground blind that being able to switch over and shoot right handed made for a successful hunt.
I think everyone should practice shooting offhand just for this reason.
You can do just about anything you want with enough motivation and practice. It sort of puts a new twist on things too.

Absolutely, it's just a matter of training muscle memory. I'm a natural lefty with a strong left eye dominance. I regularily practice shooting right handed and closing my left eye. I've reached the point when I'm shooting ground squirrels that I will grab my 10/22 and shoulder it to take advantage of the best direction to swing. I'm not even conscious of whether I'm shooting right or left handed anymore.
Of course when I'm on the bench or prone the varmint guns are set up on the left and when carrying a big game rifle I'm naturally carrying it with a left hand dominance.

[ 08-23-2003, 00:56: Message edited by: Fjold ]

Rather than putting a patch over your left eye, simply stick a dot over the center (cover the pupil area) of your shooting glasses over the left eye and leave both eyes open. One of those small stick-on bullseyes will work fine. Your brain will eventually get the hang of it.

Thanks, gentlemen. I sort of wish that I had been forced to become right-handed way back when I started school in 1963. How many of you remember those days when everyone was taught the same way? If I had, I wouldn't be in the minority. My consolation is that Ben Franklin, Harry Truman and Thomas Edison were left-handed. I think both G. Bushes are lefty as well. Unlike many lefties, I don't cover what I write with my hand; I write like a righty and have never understood why some lefties do that.

SST

That's what I meant,
Would look a bit silly turning up at the range with a patch covering the whole of your eye and glasses unless you have pirate tendancies.

Reminds me of the story about the guy that jumps off the bridge with a bird taped to his shoulder.
Halfway down he pulls out his 44 and blows it's head clean off.
This attracted a bit of attention and when the cops dragged him from the river and asked him to explain, a strong Irish accent commented, "What's all the fuss, I'm just trying that new free fall parrot shootin".

Cheers...