The Cross Eye Dominant Shotgun Shooting Problem. A common challenge faced by those delving into cross-eye dominant shooting is acquiring proper sights and sight picture. Furthermore, ensuring that the correct eye is used for sighting can prove to be an intricate task. In an ideal world, right-handed shooters would naturally present their pistol and rifle with their right hand as the strong side and the left as the support side. Yet, a significant portion of shooters discover that they are cross-eye dominant—a situation where their dominant eye opposes their dominant hand. This occurrence is automatic and often beyond the shooter’s control.
How Do You Know if You’re a Cross-Eye Dominant Shooter?
Determining cross-eye dominance is relatively simple. Here’s a test you can try:
- Extend your arms forward with both eyes open.
- Overlap your palms, creating a triangle with your thumbs and forefingers.
- Choose an object around 25 yards away and adjust your hand-triangle to roughly match its size.
- Close one eye—let’s say the left. If the object appears to move out of the triangle and you’re looking at the back of your hand, that closed eye is your dominant one.
The Eye Dominance Rail: A Solution to Cross-Eye Dominance
Thankfully, the shooting community has recognized the challenges of cross-eye dominance and developed solutions like the Eye Dominance Rail. This innovative product offers a strategic way to tackle the alignment issue that cross-eye dominant shooters face.
How Does the Eye Dominance Rail Work?
The Eye Dominance Rail consists of a specialized rail system that attaches to your shotgun. By blocking out the non-dominant eye, the rail allows you to focus solely on the target with enhanced clarity, resulting in improved accuracy and performance.
Cross-Eye Dominant Shooting Options
When dealing with cross-eye dominance, you have several options:
- If the dominance is mild, you can train your strong-side eye to become dominant.
- Opt to shoot on the side of your dominant eye, regardless of your handedness.
- Learn to shoot with your cross-dominant eye on your strong side. This necessitates extra training, particularly for long guns.
Eye Training – The Tape Trick
For those struggling with eye dominance, particularly in milder cases, strengthening the desired dominant eye can help. A simple “tape trick” involves placing masking tape over the eye you want to weaken. This encourages the other eye to take over and align with the sights. The goal is to shoot with both eyes open, especially when using pistols, carbines, or shotguns. Peripheries are essential.
Shooting with Your Non-Dominant Eye
Crossing over to pistol/long gun operation on your dominant-eye side requires training and adaptation. Pistol shooting, for instance, involves turning your head slightly to align your dominant eye with the sights.
Shooting Rifles & Shotguns with Cross-Eye Dominance
Long guns are more straightforward when it comes to sight acquisition. You can shoulder the weapon and close your non-dominant eye. However, shooting with both eyes open is preferable. If you’re right-handed and left-eye dominant, consider shooting right-handed long guns and training your dominant eye.
Bolt Action Challenges
The debate over right-handed or left-handed bolt actions for left-handed or left-eye dominant shooters is inconclusive. A left-handed bolt action often proves faster due to better sight alignment and stability.
Conclusions on Cross Eye Dominant Shotgun Problem.
Understanding your dominant eye is key. Unattended cross-eye dominance can lead to frustration and hindered progress. If you’re cross-eye dominant, try different techniques, seek professional guidance, or try the Eye Dominance Rail. Ambidextrous options are becoming more available for gear and guns, helping cross-eye dominant shooters optimize their shooting experience. Remember, practice and dedication will eventually lead to successful cross-eye dominant shooting.