Both-eyes open, scout rifle

[eldon519]

I've been thinking about getting the Savage 10FCM Scout, but I'm curious how the both-eyes-open shooting with one works?

I've heard many times you should concentrate on the front sight while target shooting. If you are using a scope, how can you focus both eyes on the reticle?

Also when you "concentrate" on the front sight, does that necessarily mean you physically focus both of your eyes on the front post or do you focus both of your eyes on the target and mentally concentrate on the front sight?

And finally, is your actual focal point different when speed shooting versus target shooting?

I'm sure I phrased alot of this in a very confusing way, sorry about that.

 

[Bearhands]

you focus your dominant eye on the sights. (doesn't matter if it's a Savage 10FCM or an old single shot J.C. Higgins).. the other eye open keeps a balance for me and also gives a bit more depth perception to the shot. You can't focus both eyes on the front sight ... well maybe some can but I doubt it. Keep the dominant eye on the front sight and the target and the other eye will "follow suit" (but it won't be focused on the sight). Not sure what you mean by "speed shooting vs target shooting?

 

[RancidSumo]

Always shoot with both eyes open. It won't affect you sight picture as long as you dominant eye is looking down the scope.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Why is this such an Alien concept? I've been shooting conventionally scoped rifles both eyes open for years.

 

[eldon519]

Krochus, it's a little more challenging for me because I am right-handed and left-eye dominant. I know that in itself is fairly easily overcome, but factor in that my left eye is much, much weaker than my right eye, and it makes it more confusing sometimes. With a little time at the range though, my right eye adjusts a bit and becomes pseudo-dominant which is kind of a weird feeling. I get to where the image from my right eye becomes the main one, but the image from the left eye doesn't fade out quite like it should and is still somewhat active. I just didn't know exactly what I was supposed to do with it.

I appreciate the help though, you guys answered what I needed to know. BTW, does anyone know where to find the Scout on Savage's webpage? I thought they revamped it and made it a standard item again, but it doesn't appear on there.

 

[rangerruck]

also ,when you use a scout scope or optic type setup, you head is much farther away from the device, than a typical scope. it actually becomes easier to have both eyes open; this allows you to quickly get the site up, horizontal, and centered to your face, with your arms allready extended, then into shooting position , before you even start to concentrate on the light, crosshair, reddot, greendot, whatever it is, that you are going to be looking for , in your sight device.

 

[rbernie]

it's a little more challenging for me because I am right-handed and left-eye dominant. I know that in itself is fairly easily overcome, but factor in that my left eye is much, much weaker than my right eye, and it makes it more confusing sometimes. With a little time at the range though, my right eye adjusts a bit and becomes pseudo-dominant which is kind of a weird feeling. I get to where the image from my right eye becomes the main one, but the image from the left eye doesn't fade out quite like it should and is still somewhat active. I just didn't know exactly what I was supposed to do with it.

I am exactly the same way. Shooting both-eyes-open is actually easier than you think, especially thought a scout optic.

when you use a scout scope or optic type setup, you head is much farther away from the device, than a typical scope. it actually becomes easier to have both eyes open; this allows you to quickly get the site up, horizontal, and centered to your face, with your arms allready extended, then into shooting position , before you even start to concentrate on the light, crosshair, reddot, greendot, whatever it is, that you are going to be looking for , in your sight device.

Yup - it works.

 

[H2O MAN]

Scout style forward mounted LER optics are all I use - shooting with both eyes open is natural for me.

 

[rangerruck]

h20 man, very nicely done...

 

[jpwilly]

Scout mounted scopes are generally low power plus with your full peripheral view and you feel like your not missing any of the action. It's like shooting with irons but cheating a little! Very fun, I'm hooked on this M44 I did a full scouterization to. It's nasty loud though with the muzzle brake. There's no way I would fire it without hearing protection! Not as wicked as H2O's M14 but still plenty of yee ha!

 

[dagger dog]

The best way to get around a dominate eye, is not to have one, shoot with both eyes open regardless of the eye relief of the scope or iron sights.

If the shooter is broken into this fact when starting out, it becomes instinct.

Not so much used in the feild as on the range, the both eye open theory is in great practise there, most of the hand gun shooters will be seen with a blinder over the "weak" eye.

It may be a different story with the rifle paper puncher, but I would not be hesitant to say that the majority use the both eyes open style.

 

[Wes Janson]

Both eyes open doesn't change the fact that you still have a dominant eye, however. Physical law demands that you line up one eyeball or another directly behind the sights.

 

[Buzzbox]

You need one of these: