Left handed M249 questions.

[PriestFoxley]

During a range, I got the opportunity to use my SAW in something other than a prone position, and I was a bit shocked.

Mine has a forward pistol grip, and I am left handed, as stated. When I fire standing or crouched, the empties hit my right forearm hard enough to stain my uniform and leave bruises and burns on my forearm.

When firing from the manual approved underarm position, the empties turn my right bicep all black and blue.

of course, during the range, I just thought, "embrace the suck", and kept shooting, but sometimes equipment or technique changes help. (I ditched my army earplugs for electronic muffs, for example.)


Any guys here have any advice? My NCOs aren't really experienced about this stuff.

[swpa19]

Are you naturally left handed or is your left eye dominant? You can train your right eye to be equa dominant. I would consult an optometrist to help you with the exercises. I helped myself by spending a great deal of time on the .22 cal range (its the cheapest) and practiced shooting right handed, with both eyes open. I alternated between shooting .22s then going to the trap ranges to apply the open eyes technique on moving targets. Once youve gotten comfortable with shooting right handed, which isnt an easy task, the practice of shooting with both eyes open is much easier.

[lksteve]

Any guys here have any advice? My NCOs aren't really experienced about this stuff.I'm left handed...I have a dominant left eye...the exercises mentioned above didn't help me...that said, I was very accurate with an M60 shooting right handed...by the time the SAW came into existence, I was a major and was not allowed to play without adult supervision...no matter which hand or eye is dominant, one should be able to use the unit's primary weapons with either hand...IMNSHO...

[PriestFoxley]

sounds like I just need to practice more.

[Pete S]

Any guys here have any advice? My NCOs aren't really experienced about this stuff.

Had a few lefty SAW gunners.
Some went right handed.
Others canted the weapon just slightly enough that brass isn't hitting the arm.
Saw a few homemade padding systems for the right arm, but they were impractical or uncomfortable for long periods of time.
Most just dealt with the bruising.

Or, if you're feeling industrious, design a brass deflector.

Honestly, I didn't care what technique my guys used as long as they had effects on target and the weapon operated reliably.