Do you close one eye to aim your pistol?

[CAPTAIN MIKE]

Accuracy is everything

Accuracy is everything when the chips are down. I am right-eye dominant and so I close the left eye when lining up my shots. Keeping both eyes open when aiming would make my shot inaccurate. What's the point of doing that?

 

[Reid73]

Keeping both eyes open when aiming would make my shot inaccurate. What's the point of doing that?

Closing one eye results in loss of binocular and peripheral vision ... certainly no point to that! When 'the chips are down' you'll almost certainly be significantly impeded by tunnel vision; you won't want to make the situation worse by closing one eye.

It also tends to increase nervous tension, which hampers accuracy. If you try competitive bullseye shooting you will note that most top scorers shoot with both eyes open, even though some need to block the non-dominant eye with a translucent patch.

 

[benderx4]

For pistols: Both eyes wide open here! Works like a champ. For a rifle, I close one eye.

 

[Reid73]

FWIW, here are a few thoughts from people much more knowledgeable than I.

Binocular aiming has a number of major advantages. The shooter does not have to expend the additional effort involved in squinting the eye, and this is very important when he is engaged in prolonged firings. The binocular acuity of vision is usually better than the monocular. The visual perception of one eye intensifies the total stimulus sent to the central nervous system from the visual perception of the other eye. In such aiming, the stimuli sent by two eyes are more natural than those sent by a single one.

United States Army Markmanship Unit, Pistol Markmanship Guide, p.128

Most shooters use only one eye for sighting, closing or covering the other. However, the pupils contract and dilate together. If the non-aiming eye is closed, or totally covered, the pupil of the aiming eye will open wider – a reflex action – and admit more light. This creates glare in the retina and lessens visual depth – so keep both eyes open and make sure the non-aiming eye is only partially covered.

Dr. Laslo Antal, Competitive Pistol Shooting, p. 130 (emphasis in original)

Whether you should aim with both eyes or with only one eye open and the other closed is for each pistol shooter to decide for himself. The former has greater advantages because our eyes, being two in number, are by nature used to focusing together. Another significant factor is that when you shut one eye, the entire side of your face inevitably screws up and has an adverse affect on the relaxed stance required. On the whole, a period of a few weeks’ acclimatization or reacclimatization is usually long enough for transferring the dominant role to the aiming eye of the shooter who wants to shoot with both eyes open.

Hans Standl, Pistol Shooting, p.24

 

[searcher451]

In the same way that I practice firing with two hands (in alternating grips), right-hand only, and left-hand only, I often alternate between right-eye closed, left-eye closed, and both eyes open while on the range. You just never know what you might run into a real-world situation and what you'll have to get past to survive.

 

[btefft]

I was taught in the Army to keep both eyes open - so I do. I shoot better with both open.

Ranger school told me that another reason to keep both eyes open is that if an enemy is approaching you from the side, with both eyes open, you'll have a much better chance of noticing him before he takes you out.

Hack

 

[Farnorthdan]

Unfortunately I have to close my left eye. Being that I am right handed and left eye dominant, It makes it very difficult to shoot with both eyes open. I can do it, but I don't shoot as well.

Ditto.....

DS

 

[CoRoMo]

I wish I could keep them both open and shoot well. I've been trying for a long time now, but just haven't mastered it. Been shooting with one eye for far too long to grasp the skill quickly.

 

[mavracer]

one eye open (eye dominance issues) if I have both open and focus on front sight I see two targets.
I shot skeet as a youngster and my shoulder got sore dad smarted off and said "well use the other one then ya sissy" I did. so now not only do I shoot with one eye closed pistol rifle or shotgun it's right handed right eye left handed left eye.

 

[Irate Iguana]

one eye open (eye dominance issues) if I have both open and focus on front sight I see two targets.

I've got the same issue. Since I'm a new shooter I haven't been set in my ways yet. I tried shooting with one eye closed so I see only one target, but it feels really odd. Pretty uncomfortable. I figure I might as well learn to shoot with both eyes open. As long as I put the sights on the left most target I'm good to go. I hope that with training I can ignore the right most image automatically.

 

[Blacksmoke]

Here is how I shoot.

First, I look down the barrel to make sure the gun is loaded and there is nothing in the way.

Second, When a target presents itself I point, cock, close both eyes and turn my head, squeeze.

AFter dischrage I open my eyes to see what damage I have done and who is still standing.

-Curly Howard

I generally keep both eyes open, unless a scope is in use. Sorry for the dumb joke. The question struck me as funny.

 

[1911 guy]

Human beings have binocular vision for a reason. Unless there's something wrong with one eye, use both. I got a slap to the back of the head when I was learning and tried to squint. Infantry Dads are like that, I guess.

 

[6_gunner]

I've been working on this. The suggestion to put tape over the lens of my glasses over the weak eye has been very helpful. Without the tape, though, I still have trouble. It works if I squint my weak eye, but when I try to sight with both eyes wide open, I see two front sights. If I try to focus on the correct one, it tends to disappear. If I REALLY focus, I can get a proper sight picture, but the target is out of focus.

Hopefully, with enough training, I will be able to teach myself to see the proper sight picture. I have poor eyesight and wear glasses. Perhaps that's part of the problem

 

[1911 guy]

I hate to tell you this, but...

You're completely normal. Focusing on the front sight will make the target out of focus. That's just how the eyeball works.

I know it seems counter-intuitive to focus on the sight, when you want to hit the target. That's the one sure-fire way to tighten your groups, though. Keeping both eyes open and focusing on the reticle works with scopes, too.

 

[the foot]

Keep your eyes open.

 

[Reid73]

If I REALLY focus, I can get a proper sight picture, but the target is out of focus.

Like 1911 guy says, this is absolutely normal.

I have poor eyesight and wear glasses. Perhaps that's part of the problem.

Perfect uncorrected vision is always going to be a tiny bit better than corrected vision. That said, if your prescription is correct and your glasses fit well, the practical difference should be insignificant.

Hopefully, with enough training, I will be able to teach myself to see the proper sight picture.

Based (only) upon your complaint that the target is out of focus when you have a proper sight picture, I wonder what sort of training you're currently getting. Any decent instructor should have covered the sighting issue in the first lesson. And this (very basic) topic is also very well explained in all pistol shooting books that I have ever read.

Don't waste time trying to teaching yourself; that's unnecessarily reinventing the wheel, plus you'll develop bad habits. Pay some money and hire an experienced coach. And read as much as possible. The three books I referenced above are all very good, and are worth seeking out (the U.S. Army Markmanship Unit's text is in the public domain and can be accessed free on-line). There are also other books, many of which are equally good, so check your local library. In the interim, here are a few quick references:

(1) Technical Basics for Pistol Shooting;

(2) "The Wheel of Misfortune"; and

(3) Handgun Shooting Tips.

Good luck!

 

[twoclones]

Close one for iron sights, both open for laser.

 

[6_gunner]

Based (only) upon your complaint that the target is out of focus when you have a proper sight picture, I wonder what sort of training you're currently getting. Any decent instructor should have covered the sighting issue in the first lesson. And this (very basic) topic is also very well explained in all pistol shooting books that I have ever read.

Maybe "training" was a poor choice of words, on my part. I know what to do, I just need to practice until it feels natural. I'm a decent shot when I close or squint my weak eye; but I need to work on aiming with both eyes open until I can do it without thinking about it.

Thanks for the links. I'll be sure to check them out.

 

[atrain08]

I'm having trouble with double image, both eyes open obviously. Sometimes I get a perfect sight picture but most of the time I get a double image. I'm trying different techniques but so far no luck, I think I just need to train my eyes to do what I want.

 

[Irate Iguana]

Being a few weeks further now, I can say that it definitely gets easier. Just as long as you keep at it. It almost feels natural to me now. I seldom even see the second image.

 

[KBintheSLC]

Inside of 25 yards I leave both eyes open and focus on the target. Beyond 25 yards I close one eye and focus on the front sight.

I'm having trouble with double image, both eyes open obviously. Sometimes I get a perfect sight picture but most of the time I get a double image. I'm trying different techniques but so far no luck, I think I just need to train my eyes to do what I want.

Try covering your weak eye with some masking tape over your glasses. That way you can keep both eyes open, but learn to isolate the image of the dominant eye.

 

[Claude Clay]

i am one with the gun. i have the pebble in one hand and the gun in the other; both eyes closed and i see the hole in my target before i fire.
i also believe that if i keep jumping with a smaller parachute that eventually i will not need any.

right handed, left eye dominate. by aligning my shoulders to 10:30/4:30 the target is at 12 o'clock and my left eye is with it and the sights and i shoot both eyes open.

 

[atrain08]

Try covering your weak eye with some masking tape over your glasses. That way you can keep both eyes open, but learn to isolate the image of the dominant eye.

I'll try that this weekend. I think I tend to cross eye a little bit when focusing on the sights, isn't that part of what causes the two front sights picture? I might be totally wrong but I feel like I cross eye a bit when looking down the sights. Both my eyes are 20/20 and I’m not sure which is my dominant eye; I'm assuming it’s my right.

 

[punkndisorderly]

I'm left eye dominant, but realized it after years of using my right eye. I tend to half close the left eye until my brain shifts over to the right eye, then I open it back up.

 

[Knives]

Both eyes open.