Both eyes open shooting

[Sky]

I grew up like many here shooting without much formal training on proper currently accepted techniques of placing a round on target. We were good at hitting stuff so we did not particularly care how it was done as long as it was done. We were hunters and plinkers that prided ourselves on hitting stuff.

Growing up with dominate eye ( for me right eye/right handed ) open and my left eye closed always seemed natural. Many years later I got my first red dot and started shooting a red dot equipped rifle with both eyes open. This came about due to using a friends Red Dot equipped AR for a couple of days on a pig hunt in a heavily wooded area. Not knowing much about the red dot he just said either way but both eyes open works really well with this sight. I liked his cheap red dot but unfortunately by the time I purchased my very own Red Dot I had developed an astigmatism so my dot looks more like a daisy...

It never occurred to me to do the same with iron sights and a pistol. DUH!!

One day at the range I started trying both eyes open with a pistol just to see what would happen. Takes a bit of practice to acquire the sights as fast as my old method but...I think this is the way to go for me now at my less than spring chicken advanced age and it gives me something to work on with both pistols and rifles during range times.

Funny even the military never talked about the both eyes open thing during training that I can remember. Rounds on target good to go...Then I saw this video and confirmed what just made sense to me.

http://youtu.be/DCsktp0pO10

http://youtu.be/0j74nWjzHgI This is the way I shot almost all my life

in Video 2 he goes with both eyes open...not as accurate for him.
http://youtu.be/5S8pDi1f5VQ

http://youtu.be/NpGSKKgWWks different presentation but same subject even though they are trying to sell something.

Some of you guys have probably been doing this forever but we have new members all the time who have not shot at all so I thought this might be something for them to try if they are not already doing so. Breath control and being relaxed has always been a big factor in my shooting experience if going for super accurate shots.....just thoughts and maybe these vids will help someone.

 

[M-Cameron]

what ive actually been doing has been taking the sights completely off my rifle and "point-shooting"......

pretty much, simply focus on your target.....and let your body point naturally.....

once i got "calibrated".....i was routinely hitting spent 12 gage shells at 75 feet with my 22lr.......with no sights what so ever.


something ide recommend at least giving a try.

 

[xjsnake]

The transition to both eyes open has been difficult for me as I am right handed but left eye dominant. It causes me to have to cock my head to the side to get my left eye lined up with the sights. I haven't tried a long gun yet but with a lot of drawing and dry firing I'm getting fairly quick acquiring a sight picture with my handgun.

 

[Sky]

Yes cross eye dominance has been a problem especially for new shooters; but so is old and half blind!! I did buy some low magnification 125? glasses (not bi-folds) on my last trip overseas and have been using them when shooting non scoped pistols and rifles. Works for me in that I can see the sights now and even the target is clearer. Main thing is what works for us may not be the same for someone else; but hard to know until different methods are tried.

 

[Daveboone]

I remember learning to shoot with one eye closed. I have no idea when I started to shoot with both eyes open, but it was many years ago, and I was not conscious of the event happening. The same with a number of my long time friends/ shooters. It certainly does not affect our shooting, as we have all continued to improve over many years. I think you instinctively just zero in on the dominant eye. I am not sure if it is something you can force yourself to do (shoot with both eyes open).

 

[RaceM]

I shoot both ways. Two eyes open over iron sights for most things, but the one eye squint with a scope. Either way puts lead on target.

 

[Loosedhorse]

I still shoot with one eye closed. Both eyes open slows me down.

Eye dominance: some have a strongly dominant eye, and that eye "takes over" with both eyes open. Others have a weakly dominant eye, or even co-dominance. For those people, there'sften no dependable way around the "two rear sights and two targets" problem when focused on the front sight, or the "two front sights" problem if focused at the target.

Tactically, open your eye immediately after the shot, as you scan and search for other threats. For those who can and do keep both eyes open, great.

 

[303tom]

Unless I am using peep or scope.

 

[arjppj]

I prefer to shoot with both eyes open, i've been trying to get my friends to do it too when we go shootin...you never know when the threat will come from the side!

 

[hnk45acp]

When I first started shooting there was an FBI trainer at my range and he had a very persuasive argument on shooting with both eyes open.
In a stress situation your eyes instinctively open wider to see threats better. Shooting with one eye goes counter-intuitive to your body's natural instincts.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

I shoot both eyes open for most applications.

 

[Heretic]

Cover your dominate eye with a patch, and your other eye will become dominate in short order.

 

[Loosedhorse]

Cover your dominate eye with a patch, and your other eye will become dominate in short order

If you are below the age of 3 or so, that is correct. The cost will be permanent loss of vision in the other eye. Above that age, no: dominance is set.

Shooting with one eye goes counter-intuitive to your body's natural instincts.

Natural insticts triggerd by being attacked might include running, freezing, screaming, clawing, biting...and losing sphincter control. Natural insticts are not the best guide in a gunfight (well, except the running and screaming, maybe.)

you never know when the threat will come from the side!

True. But many people in a gunfight will experience "tunnel vision", so that they will be effectively "blindered" unless they scan and search with head and eye movements.

Keeping one eye (or both eyes!) closed during an entire gunfight cannot be recommended. Keeping one eye briefly closed to avoid confusion for a precision shot if needed might be a good idea for some folks.

Note: I suspect there are a lot of shooters out there who benefit by keeping one eye closed, for a couple of reasons. First, the number of codominant individuals is likely underestimated because of the forced "left or right only" choice of most dominance tests. Second, the ability to see only one set of sights with both eyes open is likley more related to "ocular prevalence" than ocular dominance--and ocular prevalence is much harder to test. Again, all that doesn't change the fact that shooting with both eyes open is probably a good thing, and those that can, should.

It's likely that some people who clearly notice two sets of sights with both eyes open can train themselves into shooting quickly and accurately with both eyes open...but not all, maybe not most. Adults who want to try training themselves: try it by all means! But I would not try to make a kid shoot two-eyed if he or she prefers one closed.

 

[Cop Bob]

One of the things that I loved about teaching those who have NEVER shot before, was not having to overcome inbred bad habits... Those who grew up shooting one eye closed, are hard to transition to shooting with both eyes open, but once they get it.. they get it and will not go back...

The primary reason that we taught both eyes open, was #1 Situational awareness.. and a tendency to limit "Tunnel Vision" the other, once you learn it, it is easier, and target acquisition is more rapid, instinctive shooting, easier... more natural...

Try it, you'll like it....

 

[Dmitri Popov]

Used to shoot some with my JROTC units rifle team, always kept both eyes open for it, more comfy to me. For how long the matches last my eyes bother me if I close one.