Author Topic: Ambidextrous eyesight. (Read 619 times)

gunnstack · « **on:** April 20, 2005, 09:36:48 PM »

Hi-this has a connection to my previous post. Over the last few months I believe my right eye has deterorated to the point where I need need new specs (which may have a bearing on sighting, grouping the Tomahawk etc.). I have a feeling the sight in my right eye cannot be fuly corrected with a new eyeglass lens and will continue to deteriorate-just a hunch. Has anyone out there had to adapt to use the left eye even though you are right eye selective? (I know that's the wrong wording but can't remember the correct phrase). I have read posts from the UK forums where some appear to be able to shoot using either eye or even with both eyes open (tried both and nearly went blind!!) Assuming I have to use my left eye from now on are there any tips other than for normal shooting you would recomend-apart from lots of practice!!
Regards Gordon

Lawdog · « **Reply #1 on:** April 22, 2005, 01:32:06 PM »

gunnstack,

There is no big deal about learning to shoot from the weak side. My son had to do it after a neighbor's son threw a field tip arrow at him and put out his right eye at the age of 8. Your body will adept. Just takes time and training. That's the great thing about air guns, doesn't cost that much to practice, practice, practice. There are a number of people that are neither right or left eye dominant. I happened to be one of those. I shoot with either hand, off either shoulder with no trouble. You might ask your Doctor if wearing a patch or shield over your left eye while shooting would be of any help? Lawdog

gunnstack · « **Reply #2 on:** April 23, 2005, 03:48:21 PM »

Hi lawdog-thanks for the info. I go to see the optometrist in a couple of weeks and hopefully It's only a new eyeglass if not then there's a lot of practicing to do. Thanks also for the info on the Tomahawk. I guessed it was to do with hold-sometimes I have no broblem whatsoever providing I stick to the Tommy. But as soon as I do a bit of shooting with the HW95 then go back to the Tommy I have to concsoiusly change my hold. Practice, practice and more practice.
Regards Gordon

Lawdog · « **Reply #3 on:** April 23, 2005, 11:05:23 PM »

Gordon,

Let me know how things go with the Optometrist. Got my fingers crossed for you. Lawdog

gunnstack · « **Reply #4 on:** May 06, 2005, 03:19:05 PM »

Hi Lawdog-well the good news is that all that was required was a new lens and at last I can see the target! I hope that fixes the problem for a good while otherwise my specs are going to look like the bottom of a beer bottle! Mind you I think I shoot better after a few beers anyway-lessens the wobbles a bit. The bad news is I tore a muscle in my left shoulder and put my neck out and now I'm going bald from pulling my hair out in frustration!! I have the best oiled, polished, cleaned, oiled, polished, cleaned, oiled---rifles in the whole damned world. The missus reckons that even if I can't cock my rifles at least I can "cock my leg over that damned ride-on and get the lawns done"-you just can't win-and to make matters worse there are 4 magpies out front cackling their blasted heads off!
Regards Gordon.

Lawdog · « **Reply #5 on:** May 07, 2005, 08:54:57 AM »

Gordon,

Great news about your eyes and sorry about your shoulder.

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now I'm going bald from pulling my hair out in frustration!!

If you look at this in the right way this can be good news too. Just think of the money you'll save on haircuts and that you can save up to purchase more pellet rifles. :-D

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The missus reckons that even if I can't cock my rifles at least I can "cock my leg over that damned ride-on and get the lawns done"-you just can't win

Can't help you here. Maybe you could get a remote control device installed on the ride-on so you could sit in the shade and let the rider do all the work? As far as the Magpies go, ever think about having the wife shoot them? When my wife was convalescing at home from her auto accident in 2003, she kept the place clean of pests with her Beeman Super 12. She must have went through a case and a half of .20 Crow magnum pellets and kept me busy filling the scuba tanks full of air. When she got tired of the pellet rifle(or ran out of air/pellets) she then took up her 10/22 and worked the pests over when they came around. Got so there wasnt anything around the place for me to shoot at. Lawdog

gunnstack · « **Reply #6 on:** May 09, 2005, 10:27:59 PM »

Hi lawdog-I think this will be my last post on this subject. I did get the missus an air rifle as she wouldn't allow me to have a "real" rifle (another story) but still wanted to have a shoot herself. I bought her a Norica which shot around 650 fps. It was light enough for her and very accurate. I sighted it in for her at around 12 yards-just enough to pick off the starlings, etc. which came down for the duck food. I set up a target on a post for her to try, gave her the normal airgun training-light hold, breathing, squeezing the trigger etc. and she hit the target twice out of 5 shots. I thought I had taught her pretty well and went off to do the manly things around the place. Came back about 1/2 hour later to see how she was doing-there were still only 2 shots in the target!! I asked her how many shots she had fired-20 or 30 was the reply. I walked up to the target and could still see only 2 holes in the target. I checked the rifle and it was still hitting a golf ball at 28 yards. Then I noticed the chook house-it had been ventilated by at least 15 pellets. The chook house was 3 feet away from the target!! After plugging the holes we both agreed that she had just a teensie little problem and sold the rifle the next day. She did try a C02 pistol but even the ducks were ducking for cover. End of story