Do you close one eye to aim your pistol?
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gandog56
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If I'm using the iron sights, I close one eye. It just seems more natural to me. If I'm using my Crimson Trace laser Grips I have on three of my pistols, I leave both eyes open.
Shoot with both eyes open for the above reasons.
Plus, when you are in a stress situation, your body's natural reaction is to open both eyes to increase peripheral vision. This happens so you can see threats. Shooting w/ both eyes open allows you to go with you body's natural reaction instead of fighting it
Plus, when you are in a stress situation, your body's natural reaction is to open both eyes to increase peripheral vision. This happens so you can see threats. Shooting w/ both eyes open allows you to go with you body's natural reaction instead of fighting it
Learn to shoot with both eyes open.
Then, later you'll learn you are shooting better when you start noticing that you are seeing the muzzle flash with every round . . . meaning you didn't flinch and close your eyes when the gun is going off.
Until both eyes are always open, and until you are also "seeing" each muzzle flash without blinking, you'll not be the fine shooter that you are capable of becoming!
REMEMBER . . . NO FLINCH . . . AND NO BLINKING!
Then, later you'll learn you are shooting better when you start noticing that you are seeing the muzzle flash with every round . . . meaning you didn't flinch and close your eyes when the gun is going off.
Until both eyes are always open, and until you are also "seeing" each muzzle flash without blinking, you'll not be the fine shooter that you are capable of becoming!
REMEMBER . . . NO FLINCH . . . AND NO BLINKING!
greener
Member
This is a long read on vision and shooting, but it is pretty good. Basically, it's whatever works with the eyes, but closing one eye will cause the pupil of the open eye to dialate, reducing focus. You are probably better off shooting with both eyes open, even if you need an occluder to keep focused. Worth wading through.
http://www.starreloaders.com/edhall/nwongarts.html#focused
http://www.starreloaders.com/edhall/nwongarts.html#focused
EddieCoyle
Member
I keep both eyes open. I'm right eye dominant, but I shoot lefty. I shoot lefty not by choice (I used to shoot righty) but because of an injury that left me unable to shoot a handgun with my right hand.
When I shoot a handgun, I have to turn my head slightly to the left to put my right eye in line with the sights. I found that I shoot best with a modified Weaver stance, with my elbows unlocked, and the gun and my head held high. It looks funny but it works for me.
When I shoot a handgun, I have to turn my head slightly to the left to put my right eye in line with the sights. I found that I shoot best with a modified Weaver stance, with my elbows unlocked, and the gun and my head held high. It looks funny but it works for me.
but after years of shooting with both eyes open my right eyeball is always in the sights psychophipps
Member
Just a little side note...
Please tell me you had the camera on a stand of some sort, S&Wfan. I realise that I'm totally being a complete dink here and probably insulting your intelligence but I have some friends who aren't the sharpest tools in the shed after they have a few beers in them.
Your picture just gave me a mental picture of you pointing your loaded pistol at someone's head with your finger in the trigger as they took that picture.
If not, I apologize.
If so, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?!? 
Mark(psycho)Phipps( HAHAHA! )
Please tell me you had the camera on a stand of some sort, S&Wfan. I realise that I'm totally being a complete dink here and probably insulting your intelligence but I have some friends who aren't the sharpest tools in the shed after they have a few beers in them.
Your picture just gave me a mental picture of you pointing your loaded pistol at someone's head with your finger in the trigger as they took that picture.
If not, I apologize.
If so, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?!? Mark(psycho)Phipps( HAHAHA! )
RustyFN
Member
The only problem is those third eye shots can be a little messy.
I was surprised to see how many right hand, left eye dominant people there are here, I didn't think it was that common. I am also and my problem is that I can't focus the sight with my right eye do to vision problems. I am shooting in a 22 pistol league with a red dot scope. If I shoot with either eye open and the other one closed I shoot in the high 50's low 60's out of 100. With both eyes open I can shoot in the high 80's. Even with both eyes open I am using my left eye more.I have always closed one eye to aim, the way my father originally taught me when I was 12, I see a lot of people keep both eyes open, It's more of a force of habit for me to close one which always pisses off my ex marine friend who I think was taught to keep both open.
cracked junior
Member
i have a question. i am right hand, left eye dominant. i know that by the doing the triangle finger/hand trick while moving hands closer to my face. i have done it hundreds of times, and always goes to my left eye.
i have tried shooting one eye closed like i was taught when little and tried the both eyes open. i am usualy pretty good shot with left eye closed, tried the right eye closed and i am horrible. i cant get used to both eyes open because of the double target sight picture or else i get the 2 barrel sight picture. now on to my question. what is the best/easist way to tell which picture to use, the left or the right. if i could find out which one is the proper one to use. i dont think i would have a problem doing both eyes open. thanks
i have tried shooting one eye closed like i was taught when little and tried the both eyes open. i am usualy pretty good shot with left eye closed, tried the right eye closed and i am horrible. i cant get used to both eyes open because of the double target sight picture or else i get the 2 barrel sight picture. now on to my question. what is the best/easist way to tell which picture to use, the left or the right. if i could find out which one is the proper one to use. i dont think i would have a problem doing both eyes open. thanks
cracked junior
Member
i have searched on it before. never really found anything to help. i read that people have trained their eyes. but never found how to train the eyes. i have tried the scotch tape on my glasses and even a eye patch. but both just screw my eyes up. if i do the eye patch long enough, my head hurts, like i read other people have that problem
1guitarman
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Thanks everyone, I'm just glad to hear that I'm not the only one dealing with the double vision thing. I've tried all ways. Both open, left hand & right eye, right hand and left eye. Left & left, right & right. With both, I get double sights etc. I guess practice is the key.
rainbowbob
Member
Guitarman:
This an old thread and I believe there have been many others on the subject - but it is always of interest.
In one of the threads (perhaps this one - I'll admit I haven't reviewed all the posts) someone suggested the following:
Shooting right-handed and left-eyed (leaving your right eye open) - cock your head to the right until your left eye is looking down the sights. I would add that you can wink your right eye to confirm that your left eye is on the front sight.
...Or you can shoot right-handed and right-eyed with both eyes open by cocking your head to the left.
The trick is to cock your head left or right so that the eye you are aiming with is loking down the sights - and the other isn't.
I used to shoot right-handed with left eye closed - right eye open. Now I can shoot either hand, both eyes open, either eye on the sights.
It sounds more complicated than it is...try it.
M203Sniper
member
One side effect of using only 1 eye;
You find yourself bringing your head to the sights instead of bringing the sights in line with your eyes.
If you find your shoulders are fatigued at the end of a range day; you should get someone to watch you shoot and point out your the flaws in your stance.
Worked for me
You find yourself bringing your head to the sights instead of bringing the sights in line with your eyes.
If you find your shoulders are fatigued at the end of a range day; you should get someone to watch you shoot and point out your the flaws in your stance.
Worked for me
I keep them both open unless I am shooting weak handed around a weak hand barricade. On weak side barricade shooting you expose your head a bit too much if you use your dominant eye, so for me I have to close my dominant eye in order to switch to my weak eye.
Deanimator
Member
I've tried shooting with both eyes open. It just doesn't work for me.
Do what works for YOU.
Do what works for YOU.
For precision target work, long distance shooting, and rifle shooting I will block out my left eye or close it. For, shotgun, rapid fire or shooting pistol at targets like steel plate and poppers where range is close I keep both eyes open.
Probably the most common error is focusing on the target and not the sights.
Probably the most common error is focusing on the target and not the sights.
J Bird
Member
One eye
Yes I have my problems aiming , and if not thinking, I close one eye. My biggest problem is the glasses. I have no-line bi-focal glasses. Is there something better to wear at the range?
Yes I have my problems aiming , and if not thinking, I close one eye. My biggest problem is the glasses. I have no-line bi-focal glasses. Is there something better to wear at the range?
putteral
Member
I have a hard time focusing with both eyes open. So one eye for me!
WNC Seabee
Member
Target/Bullseye vs. Action/SD?
For all you "keep both eyes open" crowd, is your thinking more tactical/SD awareness related, or truly accuracy?
It seems to me that when I shoot Bullseye, I do best with one eye closed or covered. When I shoot IDPA or practice point shooting, I'm more likely to keep both open.
For all you "keep both eyes open" crowd, is your thinking more tactical/SD awareness related, or truly accuracy?
It seems to me that when I shoot Bullseye, I do best with one eye closed or covered. When I shoot IDPA or practice point shooting, I'm more likely to keep both open.
Harve Curry
Member
Scope or iron I shoot with the right eye. With a handgun from a rest I can shoot left eye, and give the other eye a rest. For close up I've tried shooting with both eyes open but I need to pratice alot more.
From reading this topic I take it that most of you shooting both eyes open is for close range shooting? Say between 7 and 20 yards. Am I correct?
From reading this topic I take it that most of you shooting both eyes open is for close range shooting? Say between 7 and 20 yards. Am I correct?
rainbowbob
Member
That is correct in my case. I'm shooting both eyes open for SD drills at close range. It seems faster, at least as accurate, and provides a wider field of vision. The widest field of vision is obtained by using the right eye shooting right-handed, and the left eye shooting left-handed (with both eyes open).
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