Need some shooting tips!!!!!!

[Mudbug]

With all of this wealth of knowledge on here I just know this is the place to find my answer. I have a MAJOR disability when it comes to shotgunning. I am a right handed shooter but left eye dominant. I've been told to shoot with both eyes open but just can't get the hang of it. I've been told to put a patch over my left eye instead of closing it but haven't had a chance to try that one yet. The latest tip I received was to remove the bead off my barrel. Pro said I was aiming and I needed to be pointing. Anyone got some tips???? Also, how do I go about taking the bead off the barrel of my 870 and can I put it back ifn this don't work? Also, before this tip is offered, I already tried shhoting lefty but its like trying to throw a baseball lefty. I'm way too uncoordinated for that. Thanks in advance for the tips.

Mudbug [img]images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]

[judge jb]

believe it or not but my mom of 72 years has the same problem... i have never been able to help her, but she is one heck of a shot in her days...... i imagine GC or some one can help you....

judge jb

[RedEyed Duck]

Let me just start by saying that I am all messed up when it comes to being ambidextrous. I throw, kick and shoot right handed. I eat and write with my left hand. Now, I am right eye (which is my weaker eye) domninant but I have to shoot with both eyes open.

You should be able to unscrew the bead but make sure upon reinstallation you make sure it does not extend down into the barrell. Also, by removing the bead and pointing instead of aiming it eliminates the tendency to over compensate. I have a friend that tried a patch and it worked. Good luck.....

[ August 30, 2001: Message edited by: RedEyed Duck ]

[CaptnT]

Mudbug, I had the same problem, and the advise you have been given helps. I would remove the bead, and just get it in your head to shoot with both eyes. I know it is akward, but shooting and missing is pretty akward too, isn't it? [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[featherduster]

Both eyes open, take off the bead (needlenose pliers will work), don't look at the barrel look at the bird. Also, don't shoulder the gun too early, instinctively swing only after the birds are in range.

[Black_Dawg]

find your target,pull up and shoot as fast as possible-don't think about it just do it! if you pull the gun up to fast and lead, yes you will miss-don't think about it at all!
get out and shoot some clay's!

[GulfCoast]

I would try shooting with some glasses on, and putting a little smear of chapstick over your dominant eye so that you have peripheral vision, but your dominant eye does not take over. It takes some experimenting to get the "smear" in just the right place, you only want a smear the size of a nickle. I have seen Dan Carlisle do this to someone in a lesson. I would never have thought of it on my own.

[Delta Duck]

About 3500-4000 rounds of practice targets should help.

Chapstick or a tape on you left lense should help. Then you might be alright after shooting about 3000 rounds of practice targets.

The bead on your shotgun should never be a factor. If you would go out and shoot some targets you would realize that you really don't see the bead anyway. If you do then you are not concentrating on the target.

You might try shooting an auto left handed. That way you would not have to pump with your right hand.

Good Luck!!

[landscaper]

Everybody has given some great advice and I don't have any that is better. I have the same problem as you, though, and still manage to be an 85-95% shooter. The only time I have ever shot sporting clays I shot 91/100. Just wanted to brag for a minute, sorry. Here's how I do it. (Shooting instructors will swat my wrist for telling you this) First, practice the both eyes open thing at home. Get in your normal shooting stance, pick a target, and stare at for a few seconds with both eyes open. Now, shoulder your gun and point it at your target NEVER taking your eyeS off the target. Shoulder it fast, point, drop it fast. This doesn't give you time to close one eye and think about aiming. Do this 1 million times. Now, when your on the range or in the field or blind, it is only slightly different. When you see the target, dove, duck, what have you, get in you shooting position. Forget about pointing your gun at the bird and following it until it is in range and then trying to get the right amount of lead on it. Simply lock your stare on it, like you did at home, and follow it, with your eyes, head and shoulders moving together, until it is in range. When it is time to shoot, shoulder fast, point at where the bird is ABOUT to be, (this is your lead) and pull the trigger. Takes some time to forget everything you've ever been taught about shooting technique, but with practice it works and works well. You'll be fast and deadly!

[ August 30, 2001: Message edited by: landscraper ]

[Po Monkey Lounger]

Forget about all that dominant eye crap ---find a gun that you are comfortable with, relax, and beeeeee the target, beeeee the target, beeeee the target. Aim small, miss small.

[crow]

My brother was right hand shooter and left eye dominant, too. The chapstick thing works, but you don't always have chapstick. He bought a pair of shooting glasses and, once he found the right spot with chapstick, he started putting one of those round bandaids on the glasses. He liked the flesh color better than the smear or black tape.

[featherduster]

A few years back my dad got cataracts in his right eye. Being right eye dominant and prior to eye lens replacement surgery, his predicament was similar to yours but he re-learned to shoot left handed. While learning he bought a pair of glasses made by OUTERS which have the lens of your choice with a black strip across it and the other lens has a bullseye looking apparatus with a hole in the center. Supposed to be helpful in training the weaker eye to target better.