r/canadaguns • u/YDpr99 • Apr 08 '26
Shooting Shotgun cross eye dominant!
Right hand dominant but legally blind in my right eye…
I’m in the process of getting my license and have started doing the deep dive into first firearms and all that.
As a kid I’d always go target shooting with my uncle and cousin but would really struggle with the rifles as my right eye is almost completely blind but I’m right handed.
Now I’m looking at purchasing a shotgun as my first firearm but working if I’ll need to shoot it my non dominant side so I can actually see down the barrel/sight.
I know for rifles I will probably be buying with the action/bolt on the left side and learn how to shoot from my non dominant hand. But with a shotgun would I do the same?
Also would I need to find a shotgun that’s made for left handed people so I don’t have shells ejecting towards my face?
If anyone has experience with this I’d love some advice.
6
u/No_Chipmunk_2656 Apr 08 '26
Completely unrelated but this reminds me when I first started doing Muay Thai. I am extremely right leg dominant, when I use to play basketball 99.9% of the time I use to jump off 2 or my right. Problem was I’m a southpaw and I can only roundhouse kick with my left (if u fight you understand why). Shitty situation but overtime ur body can adapt, I’d say give shooting left handed a shot. With enough practice your body will adapt !
2
4
u/K57-41 Apr 08 '26
I’m RH and left eye dominant. I use RH rifles and shotguns with no issue, although sight picture will be lost with a bolt action. I’d find a LH for the rifle, but for shotgun you should be fine.
1
u/Sweetchildofmine88 Apr 09 '26
I second this. Some stocks are ambidextrous for rifles, although I put tape to reduce the strain on my eyes to get a good sight picture. I’ve managed to get used to left hand rifles and this feels like the best way. I’ve never had an issue with the ejection port on my Mossberg Shotguns though. I don’t even notice that it’s not a left handed shotgun.
2
u/soapyfuntime Apr 08 '26 edited Apr 08 '26
You can get left hand ejecting shotguns, both semi and pump. A double barrel is also an option.
I've shot left handed with a standard shotgun just for fun and didn't really notice the shells ejecting. Might depend on the gun tho
2
u/MBGLK Apr 08 '26
I’m actually the same. Blind in my right eye. Right hand dominant. Just shoot as a lefty. You get used to it quickly. For manual action guns I prefer to shoot left handed and keep the action on the right side. It feels natural to me to rack a bolt with my right hand. I guess I just got used to it. It’s honestly not a big deal. Just shoot as a lefty.
1
u/YDpr99 Apr 08 '26
Have you ever shot a righty semi shotgun from the left side? Do I need to be concerned where shells eject from? Most of my friends say I should be fine shooting from the left with a right handed firearm
3
u/CompetitionOld1322 Apr 08 '26
I just kept my right arm down a bit and the shells ejected over my arm. Worst case, just make sure your wearing full sleeves and let them bounce off your arm.
2
u/MBGLK Apr 08 '26
Exactly what the other guy said, they're not going to hit you in the face, MAYBE the arm, it's not a big deal.
2
u/CenturionV Apr 08 '26
As a right handed, left eye dominant shotgun shooter that always shoots left, only have a single left eject shotgun, and multiple right. I can say it usually doesn't matter for ejecting except with bullpups which are mostly banned now anyways (kel-tec's eject down). The only issue I've had with right handed shotguns shooting left is the occasional minor burn on certain shotguns from a hot shell ejecting onto my forearm, only happened once or twice. Doesn't really hurt much or you could wear a longsleeve.
Some things to consider. Left hand guns are harder to find and certain parts (shotgun barrels especially) are not compatible left to right either so if yours breaks you are gonna struggle to find certain left specific parts. Resale value takes a hit too, right handed shooters are probably not gonna want to buy a left handed gun when right handed guns are widely available unless they get a nice discount. It also is a good idea to learn to shoot both sides for any type of tactical larping. Play some paintball/airsoft for instance and you will quickly realize that you are gonna want to change sides when fighting on corners a lot so learning to use both sides is a good idea.
When you buy a bolt action consider a straight pull, a lot of them allow you to switch the bolt to the other side (BRX1 and Savage Impulse both do I believe, probably some others) you can shoot it left and then switch it back if you ever decide to sell or lend it to a right handed buddy. Best of both worlds!
1
1
u/greekdude1821 on Apr 08 '26
They do exist, but not as common. The other option is a cripple stock. I'm left eye dominant and have learned to deal with shooting with right handers. I don't do 3 gun so never had the need to speed load.
1
u/theservman on Apr 08 '26
No specific advice (I'm left-left), but I've always heard it's far easier to train a hand that an eye.
1
u/LongRoadNorth Apr 08 '26
Could do a cripple stock as well. I know one guy at the range that does that
1
1
u/saneboy Apr 08 '26 edited Apr 08 '26
I'm the opposite: lh with right eye dominant. I shoot pistols left handed, but I'm slowly adapting to shooting rifles right handed, which has ergonomic benefits such as not getting hot brass in the face (bullpups when they were legal). Eventually, I'll probably start shooting pistols right handed (assuming they aren't confiscated at some point).
1
u/Agent_1812 https://youtu.be/mrAwb9ptu9U Apr 09 '26
My sinister-shooting SO is perfectly fine with her Beretta a400 right-handed gun
6
u/fuckbitingflies Apr 08 '26
Left- or bottom-eject shotgun? Could get a BPS.
Or use as an excuse to get a really nice OU.