Author Topic: Anyone ever switch shooting sides (Read 2094 times)

charles p · « **on:** June 06, 2013, 02:59:20 PM »

I have had a lot of shoulder problems on the right side and am thinking of switching to a lefty. Fortunatey I do a lot of stuff from the left side. I write and eat left handed. My elevated deer stands allow me lots of time to get off my shots. I am right eye dominant but when shooting with a scope, the left eye is just fine.
Anybody had health issues that caused them to switch? Maybe I should just shoot from the left side at the range.

AtlLaw · « **Reply #1 on:** June 06, 2013, 04:40:44 PM »

Yup...

I lost most of the sight in my right eye last July...

It's real hard to change the way I've been shooting for the last 60 years!

Fortunately I have a range for 22's and rubber bullets in my basement so I'll be able to practice shooting from the off side. $:-\$ when I find time... before deer season... I hope...

bikerbeans · « **Reply #2 on:** June 07, 2013, 01:20:15 AM »

I am a right handed shooter without a shoulder problem but I practice shooting left handed because I usually hunt deer from the ground sitting against a tree. From time to time I have to take a left handed shot because I don't want to move my body. My practice has paid off as I have killed several deer left handed, with both shotguns and Xbows. The only real issue I see is some guns are not really meant to be shot ambidextrous. Good luck.

BB

PowPow · « **Reply #3 on:** June 07, 2013, 01:27:37 AM »

I hunt out of a climber that is a pretty tight fit.
Not much room to move around and no control over where the game shows up, so a lot of my shots are opposite handed.
Probably because I am intentionally more deliberate with opposite hand shots, they are more well-placed shots.

45-70.gov · « **Reply #4 on:** June 07, 2013, 01:32:59 AM »

when i was 21 my left hand got damaged....left handed
shot right handed for a few years...then went back to left

i have always shot a rifle either way.....just prefer the right side there
shot gun feels a little odd left handed

CAN NOT shoot a bow left handed

also i don't have a dominant eye

you will adapt

charles p · « **Reply #5 on:** June 07, 2013, 04:11:54 AM »

I've taken a few deer left handed and the very best group I ever shot was left handed. Haven't learned to flinch from the left side yet.

dabersold · « **Reply #6 on:** June 07, 2013, 05:43:49 PM »

I make it a point to practice from both sides at the range. It has paid off several times, the last was two years ago when a buck showed up at close range off to my left. (I'm left handed) Not wanting to spook him by moving my body around, I just shot him right handed without him ever knowing I was there. Like Charles P, I haven't discovered how to flinch from the right side yet. $:-\$

FPH · « **Reply #7 on:** June 07, 2013, 05:50:25 PM »

I grew up shooting from the left side (wanted to be like my Dad). When it was pointed out that I was right eye dominate when I was taught to shoot a pistol.....I switched to the right side. I have always shot with both eyes open.....so I'm just as comfortable shooting a rifle or shotgun from either side, I prefer the right side with a pistol.

kombi1976 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 09, 2013, 07:35:45 AM »

Interesting stories. I took a rabbit earlier this year with my Martini Cadet 25-20 at, admittedly, quite close range. But I was surprised how relatively easy it was. It makes me think I should be practising, at least with my .22lr, to make sure my skills are ok left handed. I'm sure I'll get some odd looks!

charles p · « **Reply #9 on:** June 09, 2013, 12:03:29 PM »

I had rotator cuff surgery one Labor Day week and the surgeon told me no shooting that year. I promptly ordered a TC Contender in 7-30W, scoped it, and began shooting it left handed. I shoot rifles and shotguns from the right side, but I have shot my TCs mostly left handed. From sand bags it doesn't seem to be a problem. My longest kill is a doe at 156 yards.

IOWA DON · « **Reply #10 on:** June 09, 2013, 01:53:55 PM »

I'm right handed but shot a couple deer left handed because shooting left handed got me a steady rest whereas right handed would have been a very unsteady unsupported shot. I have a right master eye but it's not that dominant so eye dominance is not that big of an issue, at least for rifle shooting where one has a little time to get in position. I don't think I would do as well for shotgun shooting fast flushing birds where one has little time to think, but must react quickly.

jedman · « **Reply #11 on:** June 18, 2013, 03:21:19 AM »

I was taught to be right handed as a child by my parents, they would slap my hand when I tried to eat with a fork in my left hand. As a kid I learned to swing a bat , and golf club right handed but that's the only things I still do right handed. About the time I started hunting I found shooting a rifle, shotgun and bow to be more natural for me shooting left handed. I am left eye dominate and write left handed . For some reason I still throw horseshoes right handed plus any type of ball so as you may have thought I'm not right in the head.

jedman

Hodr · « **Reply #12 on:** June 18, 2013, 08:22:23 AM »

Google Karoly Tacaks (?)
World class pistol shooter right handed, then crippled in right hand, came back in 2 different Olympics shooting right handed after WWII. Determination and practice personified.
Hodr

gcrank1 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 07, 2014, 07:32:00 AM »

I am left handed and was left eye dominant until my mid 20's when a head injury made me right eye dom. I continued on trying to shoot left handed for some time but had to close my right eye. I decided to try switching, and it took me about 6mo. before it really felt natural, but it did, and I can shoot both eyes open. Now I can shoot left also, but find it easier if I close the right eye. With a scope it isnt that big a deal.

flintlock · « **Reply #14 on:** February 07, 2014, 10:48:48 AM »

Right handed and right eye dominate...

I have practiced shooting deer left handed for the reasons mentioned...
The best practice is with a .22 and squirrels...

Ranger99 · « **Reply #15 on:** February 07, 2014, 12:09:11 PM »

i'm left handed and shoot mostly right.
when i was little and my pop was trying
to teach me, there wasn't any such thing
as driving over to the store and picking
up a lefty rifle off the shelf. you could
have one custom made, but the old man
wasn't about to do that. it was more like,
well. . . .here it is - either learn or do without.
i still shoot left as the situation demands.
it's always a good idea to practice both
sides if possible.
good luck

nomosendero · « **Reply #16 on:** February 08, 2014, 06:05:03 AM »

Quote from: PowPow on June 07, 2013, 01:27:37 AM

I hunt out of a climber that is a pretty tight fit.
Not much room to move around and no control over where the game shows up, so a lot of my shots are opposite handed.
Probably because I am intentionally more deliberate with opposite hand shots, they are more well-placed shots.

I have done that a time or 2

Flynmoose · « **Reply #17 on:** February 10, 2014, 04:02:08 PM »

I used to shoot right and left handed when squirrel hunting in a filbert orchard with an old Remington Model 33. I can't see well enough to use iron sights anymore.
FM

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #18 on:** February 10, 2014, 07:16:42 PM »

I often practice shooting my 22s left handed. I have been sitting on a rock pile hunting with a buddy and looking at him there was a ground squirrel to my left he could not see it due to a rock. I easily picked up my rifle left handed and shot the squirrel. My buddy looked at me and said "did you just shoot that left handed?" I said yes. It was safer for me to shoot left handed then to try to make the shot right handed. He then started to practice left handed. as you never know what angle is going to present you a shot.
When I was in ROTC and we would move I often had to walk with my rifle pointed out to the right for the military mistakes and I figured if I had to have my rifle pointed that way I had better learn to shoot it with that hand.

charles p · « **Reply #19 on:** February 11, 2014, 02:59:20 PM »

My neighbor says he grew up shooting left handed then entered the Marine Corp. First day at the firing range a Sargent told him to shoot right handed. He was laying in the prone position and the Sargent placed a foot on the back of his head and pushed his face into the ground, saying "now shoot right handed like I told you". After 40 years he is still shooting from his right side with no problems.

petemi · « **Reply #20 on:** February 13, 2014, 02:36:23 AM »

I lost part of my vision in my right eye, so sometimes I shoot left handed. I have no problem with it except the reflexes are not there. You instinctively want to bring the rifle to your right shoulder. It takes work to change that.

Pete

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #21 on:** February 16, 2014, 12:08:19 PM »

Quote from: petemi on February 13, 2014, 02:36:23 AM

I lost part of my vision in my right eye, so sometimes I shoot left handed. I have no problem with it except the reflexes are not there. You instinctively want to bring the rifle to your right shoulder. It takes work to change that.

Pete

+1
I shoot at a steel shoot and in the past we used to have diferent stages to be shot Off hand. It was really funny watching guys that can shoot really well, have problems hitting anything even with a supported opposite hand stage.
Shooting needs practice, practice, practice. Even if it is dry firing in the garage with snap caps.

RevJim · « **Reply #22 on:** February 17, 2014, 08:32:52 AM »

I used to switch all the time when training for Urban Defense...then I had a "gigantic tear of the retina" ( their words) in my left eye in 2002...took all year and four procedures to leave me at 20/400 ( basically Legally Blind) when I trie dto use my left eye/left side later...no dice. so, I just have to make sure I either kill the perp outright, or just lean a tad further out on a " slice the pie" shot. Bummer.