SWitching shoulders to shot from different sides of cover?

**Glock Goblin** · 07-10-2008, 22:33

Is the valid tactic to learn to shoot a rifle out of the dumb shoulder for Self Defense applications?
Is this skill worth learning and building into you training program in order to be able to do it better/ faster & more accurately - tried it recently and really sucked at it lots of work ahead if a valid technique.

2 trains of thought:
1. Why bother you loss time in changing to the weak/ dumb shoulder and hand - just lean out more.
2. Yes valid - as this reduces exposed body and optimises use of cover (bullet defeating). You may find yourself in positions that only allow you to engage targets while shooting out of the weak/ dumb shoulder.

Should the trigger be squeezed with the dumb hand or the strong hand which should be more educated in correct trigger pull? In other words switch to weak side shoulder but still activate trigger with strong hand?

Thought and opinions please. . . . (only if they coincide with mine). . . . are welcome.

**abhm** · 08-10-2008, 06:34

I am cross eye dominant and have found this skill hugely usefull especially in the psd environment and found it was an extremely easy skill to master, yes there is a valid tactical application but if you are teaching a person you cannot enforce this as individualization of training is extremely important

**SWATG** · 08-10-2008, 07:50

Valid question, basically whether you use rifle, pistol assualt rifle etc. the principles are all the same, you should be able to handle all your firearms with total dexterity, and here is a big one you should be able to handle it with one hand as well, yes even the assualt rifle, good training should teach you this. Now on the issue of cover, you will definately have less exposure when shifting shoulders even with pistol, so yes this makes a lot of sense, the only real problem that you have is how many times do you train shooting from the other side, do you really think it is possible to shoot as much from the other shoulder than what you do with the dominant one, if you have the time and money like some specialised units then you should not have a problem in performing this, but generally we don't, and yes what if you experience a stoppage, mag change etc. are you trained well enough to perform it the other way around.

A loaded question with a loaded answer, yes it can work and some people really advocate it, but the amount of training you require to be very good at this is immense, and will have to be continous, you can't go and train it a couple of times, and then the next day get into a fight, because what will happen to your mind, as it will want to fight the way youy train, and now you get very confused, and the old fumble could become a show stopper!

DS · 08-10-2008, 07:54

abhm, I suppose that an electronic red dot sight would help a lot when shooting a rifle from the "weak" side with dominant or non-dominant eye due to the fact that is no alignment necessary as with iron sights?

**Corné** · 08-10-2008, 07:59

I once saw a farmer that, as part of his farming activities, culled a lot of springbuck. He used a 243 for this purpose and it was a matter going only for headshots. He has done this for years and he got himself in the position where he could easily swith over from right to left without problem. His reasoning was that you would be in a certain position and could/would not be able to move but had to go over to the left side. He did it pretty well but it must have taken him years to get to that point.

I do think that this skill/ability would be to your benefit but it is not going to come overnight and would require a lot of practice.

**SSP** · 08-10-2008, 08:54

Like any skill worth aquiring, this takes work and practice. Most shoot slightly better with their off hand initially because their darren side doesnt have any bad habits.

**abhm** · 08-10-2008, 10:24

Originally Posted by Khumba

abhm, I suppose that an electronic red dot sight would help a lot when shooting a rifle from the "weak" side with dominant or non-dominant eye due to the fact that is no alignment necessary as with iron sights?

I agree it would but as I am never sure of the availability of such aids during any given assignment due to a myriad of factors I do not wish to become over reliant on such a corrective measure by sticking the basics I still retain the ability and hence have the best of both worlds, use it if available or capable if not! ;D