problems with shooting a shotgun?

Question

HI. I'm 50 years old, left handed, but my right eye is dominate. so, when i try to shoot a shotgun, i shoot left handed, but since my right eye is dominate, i have trouble looking down the barrel straight. I've tried all these little gadgets that fits on the end of the shotgun, which seems to help a little, but i'm still not satisfied, it's like i'm seeing two visions. I've disslocated my right shoulder, which eliminates me to convert to right hand shooting, which would be my optimum performance. Could anyone give me help or details that would help? Thank you.

Answer 1

I recommend taking courses. The best one I recommend is Front Sight in Nevada. I recommend a 4 day shotgun course for $2000 if you really want to shoot a shotgun right from the left shoulder. They'll teach you how to be tactically competent for home defense with a shotgun.

Answer 2

My suggestions as a two year registered, A class ATA shooter.

Simple and quick would be go to one eye. Close your right eye - I have a cross dominance problem. I'm right eye dominant, but when I mount the gun with two eyes open I see the rib, and the side of the barrel, and I can't hit anything. I'm a one eyed trapshooter, except in doubles I open my left eye going for the second target.

Just as simple, put a small piece of tape over the center of your glasses over your right eye. When you focus forward, this will eliminate the dominance, but still give you peripheral vision.

If you have prescription shooting glasses, you could ask whoever you buy from, to make the prescription weaker in the right eye so it isn't dominant.

Answer 3

The cheap way would be to "black-out" one lens of your shooting glasses. That way both eyes are open, over time (which may take a long time if you do not shoot much) you should become Left eye dominate. The other way (more expensive) would be to have a Gunsmith make you a "Cross-over" stock. Part of the of the stock is removed so that when you rest your left cheek on the stock your head will be laying so you will see the sights with your right eye.

Answer 4

Why don't you let your shoulder heal and switch, maybe consider changing to a different gauge shotgun if you think the one you are using will dislocate your shoulder! I am not sure what you are using it for, but if different sites are not against a regulation or rule, try ghost rings or even a holographic laser site, or red dot. You can check out EOTECH, BUSHNELL, HAKKO, and if you want to try a really inexpensive one which is still useable, try an NC STAR panorama sight (a Chinese copy of the HAKKO panorama). I have one and it works great.

I am curious as to what you are using the shotgun for though... it seems like you could hit whatever you wanted if you practiced more. You do have to aim a shotgun, contrary to many people's opinions about scatterguns. But depending what your purpose is, if you are aiming you should be hitting 'close enough for government work'. Have you tried just compensating for the KNOWN variation in sight picture and point of impact for the pattern by leading the target or following it depending on the direction the target/pigeon is coming from ?? Maybe you should pattern your shotgun on paper and get a feel for the variation to see if you can learn to compensate?

Answer 5

since you're having trouble with your stance, i mean dislocation of your right shoulder and double vision i suggest you try shooting both sides, why not? I've seen a lot of left handed shooters all shooting the right side because of the dominant right eye.
Before i forget, bring the gun up to your eye, not your head down to the gun. Bringing your head down creates a paralux vision when looking at the sights.
On double vision, try squinting (closing it a little bit) your left eye when shooting. You will notice that if you keep practicing, later on you'd be shooting with both eyes open.
Use your dominant right eye.

Answer 6

According to my Dad, who is a ATA registered Class AA trapshooter, you should have both eyes open when shooting a shotgun. I have never been able to shoot decent that way so I'm a one eyed shooter too. There is only thing I can think of, and it might be spendy. Many years ago there was a shooter who frequented the same shooting club as me and my Dad. He was blind in his right eye but could not shoot left handed so he had a gunsmith make him a custom rib that was extended to the left so he could see down the rib and still shoot right handed. It worked well for him.

Answer 7

I'd say that since you've dislocated the shoulder, that pretty much determines which way you'll be shooting from now on, so you'd probably better try to get the left eye more exercise, or a different pair of glasses for shooting. Sounds like that's the eye you should be using.

Answer 8

i think of "Autoloading double barrel" is basically lacking punctuation....Autoloading, double barrel (SxS or O/U) ... specific, you need to use a pump. taking photos catch you often shoot singles in basic terms, so Pump, vehicle, Double, single quite would not count number. you will on no account shoot greater advantageous than Doubles, and that i've got on no account been at a catch variety/gun club that could help you load greater rounds than the kind of targets you're approximately to be provided. Skeet, you will see one objective or 2, so ditto any style of gun would be wonderful, as quickly as you have had some prepare along with your pump you would be great. donning Clays or comparable i've got likewise on no account been provided greater advantageous than 2 targets at as quickly as. A pump would be wonderful as quickly as you're used to it and can get the 2d shot off easily. i decide for to recommend for a newbie a Mossberg 500 with the 28" Ported, multi-choke barrel, might desire to be available at your nearest gunselling Wal-mart or comparable for below $two hundred.

Answer 9

Wear an eye patch over the one eye*.... Have a custom stock made by a competent Gunsmith*....

Answer 10

It probably won't work, but you could talk to a good stock guy about putting on some wood with a ton of cast on.