When Could Oswald Have "Zeroed" (Sighted-In) the Alleged Murder Weapon?

[Tim Nickerson]

How is it a red herring when the three Master-rated riflemen in the WC's rifle test were unable to duplicate the shooting feat that you, incredibly, continue to pretend was not all that difficult? Huh? If it was not all that difficult, then why were those three Master-rated riflemen unable to duplicate it, even though they fired under conditions that were much easier than those Oswald would have faced? If it was not all that difficult, why were 11 of the 12 riflemen in the CBS rifle test unable to duplicate it, even though they got to fire nine practice rounds right before the test, did not have to fire through a half-open window, and had any of their shots that landed anywhere on the target silhouettes counted as a hit even if it landed far from the small area that Oswald allegedly hit twice in three shots on his first attempt? Huh?

The shooting feat that Oswald accomplished was not that difficult. The three Master-rated riflemen in the WC's rifle test did not attempt to duplicate that shooting feat. Nor did the 12 riflemen in the CBS rifle test. The shoot feat that they all strived for was considerably more difficult than the one performed by Oswald.

[Charles Collins]

In my boredom, I’ve been perusing gun sites. They say that the iron sights on Oswald’s Carcano were zeroed at 200 meters and nonadjustable. It seems pretty clear that if Oswald wanted to use the iron sights, the scope would be considerably less of a nuisance if Oswald shot LH rather than RH.

Yes, there is a Marine photo of Oswald shooting RH. However, numerous ex-Marines of that era said they were required to shoot RH – LH simply wasn’t allowed.

Aunt Lillian told the WC she thought Oswald did things LH as a child. Robert, however, testified that he and Marguerite were LH but Lee was definitely RH. Lt. Day said he found faint prints from a right middle and ring finger on the Carcano trigger housing, but his WC testimony was extremely iffy.

I am completely, 100% RH. However, I am extremely left eye dominant. I discovered many years ago that I am FAR more comfortable shooting a rifle and putting golf balls LH than RH. The shift to LH putting was a challenge due to issues of feel for distance, but the shift to LH rifle shooting was immediate.

The gun sites, based on actual experience, say that with the rifle on a rest (such as the window frame or boxes), a LH shooter does not have to remove his finger from the trigger and can operate the bolt more quickly (with his RH). If one were a natural rightie, like me and Oswald, this would be even more true.

I note that the HSCA firearms panel suggested the iron sights would have been a better choice than the scope for Dealey Plaza. Since Oswald had achieved good results at 200, 300 and 500 yards in the USMC using only iron sites, why would we think he would shift to the funky scope for the JFKA?

Regardless of whether Oswald was shooting LH or RH, the “zeroing in” thing still seems to me like much ado about nothing.

"It is the opinion of this panel that an individual could attain better accuracy using the iron sights than the scope under the circumstances involved in Dealey Plaza."

"Mr. McDONALD. Would it be possible to attain the same accuracy with the iron sight on that rifle as it would with the scope, for an average marksman, at a distance of well, say less than 100 yards?
Mr. LUTZ. Yes, it would be very likely to be able to do that."

Lance, like you I am cross-eye dominant. In other words left eye dominant (can’t see well at all with my right eye) but right handed. I also shoot a rifle left handed. More interesting is that if what I read is true, only about 20% of people are cross-eye dominant, but eighty something percent of the professional golfers are cross-eye dominant. I can only remember one or two of them putting the opposite way than the way they swing the other clubs. However, it is supposed to be an advantage to do as you have and putt according to the dominant eye. I have experimented with putting left handed. I think with enough practice that left handed might work best for me. But the jury is still out on this one.

In my experiments with a model of the sniper’s nest boxes and window it became apparent to me that LHO would have shot right handed. This is due to the very limited leg room available. The knees point west parallel with the south wall. This makes the direction of the shots across the body as is usual for shooting. If he were to have wanted to shoot left handed, he would have wanted the knees pointing south. But there simply isn’t any way to achieve this given the positions of the boxes.