Left-Eye Dominant

[oscarlovel]

I'm not quite sure what is going on. Most of my life I have been right eye dominant and right-handed. I have cataracts, and will probably get them operated on in the next couple of years. In the mentime, my sight picture has suffered with iron sights. At 62 years old, I can't make my right eye focus on my front sight all that well, even with my prescription eyeglasses. I'm near-sighted in my right eye, but see distances very well with the left. So last night I happedned to pick up my flintlock long rifle and for some reason decided to shoulder it (it's a right handed gun) left-handed. BOY!!! I can get a beautiful sight picture now. Just tested and found that I am now left-eye dominant. WTH? So now, with an abundance of right-handed long guns and no left-handed ones, my other question is can I shoot my right-handed flintlocks in a left-handed stance with my left dominant eye, and do so safely wearing shooting glasses or safety glasses? Anyone else have any experience with this?

 

[Phil Coffins]

Safety glasses are always a good idea. I'm right handed and have always been left eye dominate shooting all types of guns right handed. It's easy to think some thing is different in shooting this way but it isn't. My experience of over 60 years of shooting every thing from flint locks to machineguns says just do it!

 

[Loyalist Dave]

OK yes..., I'm the youngster in many of the black powder groups with which I shoot at almost 57 yoa. Lots of guys in their 60's or more.
My dad was 50 when he found the reason he was such a mediocre shot, was he was left-eye dominant from birth. So a big switch over to left handed guns, and a left handed TC New Englander for muzzle loading.

Now in your case, you're not truly "left eye dominant", but your brain has adapted to the vision problem, just as it would for anybody at any age who had a problem with the dominant eye. The most likely scenario is that when you get the cataract in the right eye treated, you will go back to being right-eye dominant. I'd suggest that unless your eye doctor says the cataract is not "ripe" enough for treatment, you get it taken care of sooner than later. My parents, my wife, and her mother, have all had them done. Clears them up right quick!

So in the meantime, remember that guys like myself who have SxS shotguns, shoot one of those locks on the same side of the gun where my head meets the gun.
You are fine, especially if you are wearing shooting glasses for safety.


IF it really worries you so that it interferes with you relaxing when you take a shot, you could use a brass cup for a caplock gun which goes between the nipple and the lock and captures the flash that doesn't go inside the nipple,



And for a flinter you can get a flash guard. They come in several variations to fit all sorts of flint locks. Here is but one example.



"Adapt; improvise; overcome!" - Clint Eastwood as GySgt Highway in Heartbreak Ridge.

LD

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

My granddaughter is a RH shooter, but left eye dominant and shoots that way. What about a double barreled flintlock? I am a RH shooter and don't even notice a difference when shooting the left barrel. I never shoot without safety glasses.
Try shooting RH, but using the left eye. If that don't work, shoot LH.
P.S. I needed trifocals before cataract surgery and now wear only safety glasses. If your doctor says the cataracts are ripe for surgery, don't wait. If money is an issue, still don't wait.
Hang in there
Flintlocklar

 

[Kno-ie]

Lost my right eye in '76, was forced to switch to left hand if I wanted to continue to enjoy our shooting sports. Put on a pair of safety glass and go out and blaze away, have fun. My go to shooter is a right handed 65cal smooth bore, flinter with a flash guard for more than 46yrs. Just to reinforce the need for those glass, If I had them on in '76 I'd still be shooting right handed.

 

[rp77469]

I have been LED for 40 years or more, and shoot right hand. I discovered it when shooting trap and all of a sudden saw two barrels in an X shape while trying to track a clay. The X is quite clear and confusing as to which barrel is actually the one tracking the target. I close the left eye now so I only see one barrel image. I really am a poor wing shot. Having cataracts done a couple years ago did nothing to remove the LED. Following this thread for hints to get around the problem.

 

[Phil Coffins]

Safety glasses are always a good idea. I'm right handed and have always been left eye dominate shooting all types of guns left handed. It's easy to think some thing is different in shooting this way but it isn't. My experience of over 60 years of shooting every thing from flint locks to machineguns says just do it!

Correction I shoot right handed gun left handed.

 

[Kansas Jake]

Having had cataracts removed about 15 years ago, I’ll second the “get it done” suggestions. After I had mine done I had issues shooting because of a slight mono vision done to the eyes to allow reading and distance without glasses. My left eye kept wanting to be dominant at sight lengths. Prescription glasses set up for distance in both eyes solved it for me. I would also suggest waiting till eyes are done before jumping with both feet into southpaw shooting.

Of course being able to shoot from either side is not a bad thing.

 

[curator]

Good safety glasses will allow you to shoot left handed with right handed flint locks until you get your cataracts removed. I had the same issue with cataracts changing my eye dominance. I shot left handed until the surgery. Miraculously, my right eye dominance returned after the surgery. Check out the multi-focus lenses that are now available, No glasses needed for near or far. Unfortunately most insurance and medicare will only pay for the single focus lens. I opted for the "upgrade" and am very happy I did, comparing my situation with friends who wouldn't go for the additional expense.

 

[bubba.50]

Shoot left-handed. Problem solved.

 

[SmokepoleSam]

I too had cataract surgery a few years ago and wish I had got the multi focus lens. I wore glasses since I was 12 and didn't think it would bother me to wear readers but I'm always putting them on and off and it's a pain. I used to put them on in the morning and take them off at night. Simple and easy.

 

[cositrike]

I’ve been shooting right handed guns, left handed for over 40 years. No problems. You soon get used to it.

 

[Sun City]

No problem for me; either percussion or flintlock!

Untitled by Sharps Man, on Flickr

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

No problem for me; either percussion or flintlock!

Untitled by Sharps Man, on Flickr

Great looking shooting table, but I would have to add about 22" of length. I prefer my long gun supported at the muzzle.
Flintlocklar

 

[Sun City]

Great looking shooting table, but I would have to add about 22" of length. I prefer my long gun supported at the muzzle.
Flintlocklar

Tried that years ago in the BPCR game and never could get accuracy! That rule goes against everything I've ever read concerning accuracy and I've tried both ways....more than once!