Nondominate Side Shooting

[Cap't Ernie]

I'll be the first to admit it, I am a terrible shot. After a great turkey hunt in which my buddy who is left handed had a perfect shot on a turkey and I had to swing my gun into the next blind window to shoot mine...I have got to thinking, how hard can it be to shoot with the left side of my body?

Also, I have a terrible jump when shooting my shotgun. I started with this bad habit out of fear of recoil and now the gun jumps everytime.

A side note: I found in interesting when I read in one of Dave Petzel's articles that those of us larger fellas (personally, 6'3, 205) absorb way more recoil and thus "pain or fear" than the light little guys that just bounce with the shot.

Anyways, I got out the ole pellet gun and started shooting left handed at 30 feet. Does anyone else shoot with their nondominate hand/side? Is this possible?

Cap't

[whitetailfreak]

i have practiced this since i was in the Marine Corps .it started with my handguns because you never know in a gun fight .i started practicing with my long guns after missing an offhand shot at a deer .when i shoot right handed i close my left eye always have but when i shoot right because of right eye dominance i keep both eyes open.now to the gun jumping i was givin this problem by uncles and a grand dad who loved to see if they could get a gun to knock me on my ass ,they would load a 12 ga 3 in mag after shooting skeet loads and give it to me to shoot .i never fell down but did develope a bad jump because of it .i shoot a mossberg 500 which is affectionatly known as THE HAMMER .i found myself working for a trap and skeet club as a teen and we shot for free except our shells so i started shoot alot .my jump went away but i dont make a habit of going out and shooting 3in mags or heavy 2 3/4 loads i sight my guns in with the help of sand bags (old blue jean legs filled with play sand)and pattern that way as well .i shoot the big shells then .but i also find myself wanting to flinch sometimes sighting in ,when i know whats comming ,however have never flinched or jumped in the woods .i think its because thats the last thing i think about is the recoil .try going out and shooting off some low brass trap and skeet shells and get aquainted with your old friend again and see if you cant shake that jump ,leave those big shells for patterning and the hunt .good luck

[ohiosam]

Yes I practice shooting weak side. I'm left handed and left eye dominate. I shoot left handed with both eyes open. When I shoot right handed I have to close my left eye. With a rifle or pistol I'm probably 80-90% as good, shotgun maybe 70-80%. I dry fire a lot, your idea of using a pellet gun is good too. It just a matter of doing it over and over again till it feels normal.

About your flinch. Stay away from anything that kicks or is loud for awhile. Do a lot of dry firing and shoot that pellet gun or a .22. Start by only shooting prone or off a bench. Be sure to wear ear protection, even with the pellet gun. Concentrate on your site picture and try to call your shots, that keeps your mind off the recoil. You have to retain your brain that shooting doesn't hurt. This might take several months.

I was extremely careful with my kids to avoid them developing flinches when they were little. By the time they were in high school they could shoot just about anything with out a problem.

[bb0bbby]

I used to use my dad's mossberg (the hammer) & couldn't take it anymore so i bought a browning gold deer hunter & haven't worried about the kick ever since. It doesn't kick very much and has a great butt pad. Smooth as a whistle.

I do practice a bunch with a RMS pellet gun 1100 fps. Stops all squirrels & rabbits in their tracks !