Left or right?

[monty]

Sorry Paul, its not that I am forcing him into shooting right handed, as he has never really handled a gun before, so doesn't know which way around to shoot. I have a nice short .22 rimfire with an ambidextrous stock so maybe I will let him use that and see which way around he prefers, at least all my fly rods will fit him!

As a lefty agree you need to let him shot what's most natural, my son of 6 quickly told me what was natural and felt most comfortable.
His eyes are still developing and in majority of cases your master eye will be your dominant side. I assume the .22 rimfire will be when he's 17

 

[leej]

I have to agree with MS on this. I'm left handed and left eye dominant, learned to shoot at an early age with air rifles and was advised to learn to shoot right handed due to gun availability etc. I'm perfectly able to shot a rifle to a pretty high standard off either shoulder.
I naturally progressed with right handed shotguns too, and shoot game and clays to pretty high standards but obviously have to keep my left eye closed.
In recent years I've started to wonder how much better I could be with both eyes open?
I guess it's something I'll never get to find out now as muscle memory with the shotgun is too far down the right handed route to change now.

ATB Lee

 

[Monkey Spanker]

I have to agree with MS on this. I'm left handed and left eye dominant, learned to shoot at an early age with air rifles and was advised to learn to shoot right handed due to gun availability etc. I'm perfectly able to shot a rifle to a pretty high standard off either shoulder.
I naturally progressed with right handed shotguns too, and shoot game and clays to pretty high standards but obviously have to keep my left eye closed.
In recent years I've started to wonder how much better I could be with both eyes open?
I guess it's something I'll never get to find out now as muscle memory with the shotgun is too far down the right handed route to change now.

ATB Lee

You should try it! I was on a shotgun safety and coaching course and was asked to shoot some clays left handed so that the others could pick fault with my technique. I don't think I missed a single clay! I also have to squint one eye to shoot right handed, but one thing it has done is enabled me to shoot a rifle comfortably from either shoulder which is invaluable when in a high seat. In fact I posted a thread about it a while back.
http://www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk/showthread.php/104548-Teach-yourself!
MS

 

[countrryboy]

Sorry Paul, its not that I am forcing him into shooting right handed, as he has never really handled a gun before, so doesn't know which way around to shoot. I have a nice short .22 rimfire with an ambidextrous stock so maybe I will let him use that and see which way around he prefers, at least all my fly rods will fit him!

Just be careful of the above, prettty sure youths (esp under 14) and firearms is pretty strict so make sure u don't fall foul to it. Sure it changed a few years ago

I'm left handed but shoot of righ shoulder but my right eye is dominat, wether thats because i've shot of right shoulder since a young age??
But i do a lot of things right handed or both, must admit easier learning a lot of tools right handed. (U can ony legally use a chainsaw right handed as all trousers designed for right handed use (althou strictly speaking now u could wear climbing trousers as all round protecion))

My grandpa was old school and would hit my hand anytime i tried to pick something up with my left hand trying to correct me into becoming right handed

 

[Monkey Spanker]

Just be careful of the above, prettty sure youths (esp under 14) and firearms is pretty strict so make sure u don't fall foul to it. Sure it changed a few years ago

Indeed, Countryboy is correct. Under 14's can only use a firearm as a cadet or part of a Home Office approved club.
MS

 

[Cyres]

Well as a dad with five kids I have had a bit of experience in this. No 1 son is right handed, left eye dominant, qualified soldier in army shoots off R shoulder but has left handed Annie. Youngest is r handed left eye dominant. The young ones all use a Gammo Delta fox which has an ambidextrous skelton stock and they use it off whichever shoulder they want too. It will become pretty clear when they picj up the rifle what their dominanyt eye is.

I am R handed, R eye dominant and shoot shotgun both eyes open. Last year at the Shooting show my son tried a RH shot gun fitted with thoose rib sights and no issue in correct gun mounting. So saves having L H cast shot gun.Incidentally if you need a LH shot gun, Avalon and Ladds have a good selection.

In your case suggest you get an air rifle with ambidextrious stock and seee how things develope.

D

 

[Monkey Spanker]

No 1 son is right handed, left eye dominant, qualified soldier in army shoots off R shoulder but has left handed Annie.

It's much a case of having to shoot Right handed with the SA 80 or the bolt will remove all of your teeth!
The old LMG was the same.
MS

 

[Redleicester]

That was my trouble. Always shot shotguns LH, but SA80 et Al was all right handed so shot those RH. Then air rifle was RH but shot LH. Now I have RH shot gun which I shoot LH, and RH bolt but ambi stock CZ rifles which I shoot LH.

I play tennis and badminton and bowl left handed but bat right handed.

Basically I confuse myself.

Oh and both kids are RH but one shoots LH. Ho hum.

 

[Redleicester]

Indeed, Countryboy is correct. Under 14's can only use a firearm as a cadet or part of a Home Office approved club.
MS

Even supervised on private land?!

 

[bewsher500]

The coarse fishing reels I had to use were all right handed

Alan

never understood why multiplier reels are predominantly right hand reel yet fly reels and most non adjustable fixed sppol reels are predominantly left hand wind
sorry off topic

 

[palmer_mike]

Even supervised on private land?!

Afraid so

 

[Monkey Spanker]

Even supervised on private land?!

Yes, even then.
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&r...-5OoAQ&usg=AFQjCNEMEw_kElDQ628_210VvmaXkQcW8Q

It's a bit odd really as I could leave my lad alone with his 25.06 (on his FAC) at the age of 14, but I couldn't leave him alone with his shotgun until he was 15, and an air rifle until 16(or is it 18? Can't quite remember?) How does that work?
MS