Eyes Open Shooting

[Phaetos]

I didn't want to hijack the other thread about shooting with eyes open. I have tried shooting with both eyes open, using the basic shooters stance. Feet shoulder-width apart, knees bent, etc. I can't focus on either the target nor the sights. Do I focus on the front sight and try to ignore the rear or what? What is the best way to fix this? BTW: I'm right-eye and handed.

[JohnKSa]

For precision shooting, you may do better with one eye closed.

For rapid shooting, two eyes open is almost always much better. But you can get into difficulties if you stand there with your gun out in front of you staring at the target and the front sight and waiting until everything is just perfect while various things drift in and out of focus and/or double vision.

Pull the gun up, get your sight picture, concentrate on the front sight and pull the trigger. You'll do fine unless you have some strange vision difficulties. It's when you take too long and ponder the setup that it's going to be a problem.

[P95Carry]

Agree with John for precision - one eye.

For speed/combat - worth checking tho for which eye is dominant - and if you are lucky that strong side eye is dominant then practice draw and dry fire with many repetitions - both eyes open.,

Look always (IMO) at foresight - but if time allows see if rear sight alignment is OK.

Practice repetitions help re the ''muscle memory'' aspect of grip and so hopefully after many attempts you'll find that once foresight seen then rear sights will be closely aligned.

Practice is usually the answer.

[FireBreather01]

Concentrate hard on the front sight with both eyes open, until it looks very clear and well defined. The back sight and target will remain fuzzy. Start at very short distances and work your way to longer ones. Do a lot of dry-firing. When at the range you can do a couple of things to help out - put scotch tape over the non-dominant lens of your shooting glasses or, and this works quite well - tilt your cap until the bill of the cap just covers your ND eye as you look at the target. As you raise your gun you will naturally use your dominant eye to focus on your sights and target, and with the cap on you will be able to use both of your eyes just by tilting your head a little bit to allow use of your ND eye as you get more comfortable with using both eyes. The cap lets you use one or eye or both as you progress.

[Standing Wolf]

Years ago, the old timers told me to start shooting with both eyes open. It felt weird, but my scores improved.

In recent years, keeping both eyes open means I can't see either the sights or the target, so I've gone back to shooting one-eyed.

[RyanM]

I usually shoot one-eyed. I tend to blink while firing when trying to keep both eyes open, but not with just one open, for some strange reason.

[MachIVshooter]

Closing one eye is only necessary when using scopes. But for open sights (especially handguns) you are better off using both eyes. If you are having a hard time focusing, try aligning the sights with your other eye. Many people end up with double vision if they try to aim with the weak eye. Besides, I don't know about you all, but if I shoot all day with one eye closed, my two-eyed vision is all screwey for a couple hours afterward. I have taken to shooting scoped rifles with my left eye partially closed for this reason; Just enough to prevent distorted perception and focusing problems caused by the magnification.

[rockstar.esq]

I understand the intent of your thread. However, did you try to target one of the two images? If no success try the other. For me it's the one on the right! A second thought is that I frequently squint ever so as that seems to allow the rapid aim and the precision. The net result is that I not only hit what I aim at, but I also look pretty mean doing so. A plus as looks don't often kill!

[Phaetos]

I'll give it a shot(no pun) and see what happens.

[eerw]

I shoot with both eyes open..using either a scope or iron sights...if you shoot with one eye closed it causes one eye to strain..which will effect your shooting..

if you have difficulty seeing a double image..try using a blinder over your weak eye...some people use a small piece of scotch tape on their shooting glasses..

after awhile..you will see one image as your eyes get used to what they need to see....

[Spackler]

I normally close both eyes and hope for the best...

Actually I've been shooting with both eyes open recently. Focus on the front sight. I find it's much easier to do with a pistol that has a longer sight radius. I have a problem doing it with short barrelled pistols.

[Nail Shooter]

I've found that when handgun shooting at 7 yds or closer, it makes little difference if I keep both eyes open--still can shoot one ragged hole on a good day. Farther out than that, I do better with left eye closed. YMMV.

[Moon]

I'm cross dominant, and shoot very poorly with both eyes open. I squint - but do not fully close - my left eye and aim with my right. I do let light come into my left eye, which I have been told is a good thing by those that know more about eyeballs and the nature of acuity than I do.

I'm not knocking the advice to keep both eyes open, but there is more than one way to do things. My rather unconventional approach works for me, feels natural, and keeps me on target. If you hit better with one or the other eye open, or both eyes open, then that is how you should shoot. Accuracy is paramount.

[RA40]

I'm fortunate my right eye is dominant so shooting with booth eyes open isn't difficult. As a photographer, the practise is common routine except with lenses aproaching 200mm in 35mm format. Wife is cross but her right eye is just a tad weaker...she's leared to shoot using her right eye.

That changes if I use a higher magnification which forces me to close one eye as others have stated. It takes practise and you'll find what is comfortable.