Handgun firing strategy... eyes open (one or both?)
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nwilliams
Member
This topic has been covered many times on here and always seems to lead to a heated debate.
My personal opinion is that I do what works best for me and go by the way I was taught, others can do as they please. I happen to be left eye dominant and right handed so I tend to be more accurate if I close or squint my right eye. Remember what works best for others may not be best for you, I don't think there is any right or wrong answer to your question it really just comes down to what gives you the best result in the end.
My personal opinion is that I do what works best for me and go by the way I was taught, others can do as they please. I happen to be left eye dominant and right handed so I tend to be more accurate if I close or squint my right eye. Remember what works best for others may not be best for you, I don't think there is any right or wrong answer to your question it really just comes down to what gives you the best result in the end.
I shoot everything, pistol, rifle and shotgun, with both eyes open.
Wildfire
Member
What ever works.
Hey there:
I guess it depends on what you are doing. Any type of combat styled practice would somewhat dictate both eyes open. Bullseye may require one eye . It's gonna be up to you. And how you shoot best. I use both eyes for all shooting even on the bench.
Hey there:
I guess it depends on what you are doing. Any type of combat styled practice would somewhat dictate both eyes open. Bullseye may require one eye . It's gonna be up to you. And how you shoot best. I use both eyes for all shooting even on the bench.
rainbowbob
Member
I recently started shooting with both eyes open after reading about it in another thread. I had never understood how to do it without seeing double, until someone pointed out that the trick is to turn your head so that the "aiming" eye is closer to the target than the other eye.
Viola! No more seeing double. What an eye-opener! (Sorry...I couldn't help it.)
I have been practicing exclusively this way ever since and really prefer it as a self-defense method of shooting. You keep a much wider field of vision this way - which is important in a SD situation.
I've discovered it works well for me with either hand and either eye.
Viola! No more seeing double. What an eye-opener! (Sorry...I couldn't help it.)
I have been practicing exclusively this way ever since and really prefer it as a self-defense method of shooting. You keep a much wider field of vision this way - which is important in a SD situation.
I've discovered it works well for me with either hand and either eye.
moga
Member
I've been practicing it thus far without the benefit of the head turn trick. I'd never heard of it until stumbling over this thread. I can't wait to try it out on my next range trip.
nwilliams
Member
No harm done, many topics get discussed frequently on here, this just happens to be one of them
I've tried the head turn trick and didn't care for it myself. I find it easier to just keep both eyes open until I'm ready to pull the trigger and then once I acquire my target I squint my right eye and focus on my front sight with my dominant left. Although I will say that over the years I've gotten better and better with both eyes, I used to be very inaccurate unless I completely closed my right eye, now if I just quint it or even leave it open and still be pretty accurate.
rainbowbob
Member
Try this and let me know (PM) what you think:
1) Shoot with right hand and right eye by turning your chin to the left and slightly cocking your head to the right. [this sounds more complicated than it is - you'll see what I mean.]
2) Shoot with left hand and left eye by turning your chin to the right and cocking your head slightly the left.
3) Shoot two-handed with either eye using above method.
RX-178
Member
I personally like how the sights appear with the illusion of translucency when I shoot with both eyes open. It's probably a terrible way to shoot bullseye, but it works for engaging targets rapidly, then moving on to the next target. At least it works that way for me.
chupacabrah
Member
same here
I had a strange occurrence happen with me recently. I can't explain it logically, but it is real.
I have been shooting 45 Colt bullseye using a Holosight on my single-action revolver. I started telling myself to keep both eyes open with the sight since I started using it. I do have 20/20 vision in both eyes.
Well, on one target set out of many, I started to notice my shots were walking high. I kept shooting, and all my shots started going a little high. I knew the gun was sighted and I couldn't figure out why my hold had suddenly changed.
I started examining any possible difference in my hold, when suddenly I noticed something. I had slipped back into right-eye shooting only and was closing my left.
The next target, I remembered to keep both eyes open. I started shooting, and all my shots were back in the bullseye, with none going high.
Theoretically, the sight picture doesn't change one bit, as my right eye is still the one gathering the red light from the sight. So I do not know how this outcome is possible with me, but as I said, it's real and happening. So, something about having both eyes open must change my reaction or hold on the gun, versus having only one eye open.
I will stick with both eyes open because of my experience.
I have been shooting 45 Colt bullseye using a Holosight on my single-action revolver. I started telling myself to keep both eyes open with the sight since I started using it. I do have 20/20 vision in both eyes.
Well, on one target set out of many, I started to notice my shots were walking high. I kept shooting, and all my shots started going a little high. I knew the gun was sighted and I couldn't figure out why my hold had suddenly changed.
I started examining any possible difference in my hold, when suddenly I noticed something. I had slipped back into right-eye shooting only and was closing my left.
The next target, I remembered to keep both eyes open. I started shooting, and all my shots were back in the bullseye, with none going high.
Theoretically, the sight picture doesn't change one bit, as my right eye is still the one gathering the red light from the sight. So I do not know how this outcome is possible with me, but as I said, it's real and happening. So, something about having both eyes open must change my reaction or hold on the gun, versus having only one eye open.
I will stick with both eyes open because of my experience.
Bullseye: One eye open.
Combat: Both eyes open.
When you have plenty of time to aim and are going for score, closing both eyes will allow for very careful, parallax-free alignment of the sights and the target. That's why serious bullseye pistol shooters wear blinders.
But in combat, it is asinine to voluntarily lose half your visual field and all of your depth perception just to gain a few percent more accuracy. Your eyes should be open, visually focused on the front sight of the weapon, and the target should be slightly fuzzy.
Combat: Both eyes open.
When you have plenty of time to aim and are going for score, closing both eyes will allow for very careful, parallax-free alignment of the sights and the target. That's why serious bullseye pistol shooters wear blinders.
But in combat, it is asinine to voluntarily lose half your visual field and all of your depth perception just to gain a few percent more accuracy. Your eyes should be open, visually focused on the front sight of the weapon, and the target should be slightly fuzzy.
easyg
Member
I have went back and forth over the years and it really doesn't make much difference in my shooting.
But it can be easier to get distracted with both eyes open.
When I was at the range last month I kept getting distracted by the flying brass from the shooter to my left....I would catch the glint of the brass in my peripheral vision.
So I closed my left eye....problem solved.
But it can be easier to get distracted with both eyes open.
When I was at the range last month I kept getting distracted by the flying brass from the shooter to my left....I would catch the glint of the brass in my peripheral vision.
So I closed my left eye....problem solved.
rainbowbob
Member
Conqueror:
I bet you really mean closing ONE eye. If your are hitting the bullseye with BOTH eyes closed - I want lessons!
possum
Member
both eyes open, allows you to keep situational awarness and aids in getting out of tunnel vison, plus it gives you alot larger field of view. 2 eyes open always for me.
I have always been told to shoot with both eyes open when "combat" shooting. If you're shooting your revolver, and cocking the hammer trying to hit a bullseye at 25 yards out that's a different story.
But 90% of the time at the range with handguns I shoot both eyes open. I don't slightly squint, or cock my head to the side or any other compensatory action. You do get some "double vision" effect, but as long as you're right-handed, and right eye dominant it should be no problem with practice.
You run into problems if you're right handed, but have a dominant left eye, or "cross eye dominant". But shooting with both eyes open gives you a much better field of vision to assess your surroundings. If you close one eye, then you just lost about 50% of your field of vision. Even with both eyes open you tend to get tunnel vision in a stressful situation, and thats why you should train to swivel your head after you finish a string of fire to assess any possible threats.
But 90% of the time at the range with handguns I shoot both eyes open. I don't slightly squint, or cock my head to the side or any other compensatory action. You do get some "double vision" effect, but as long as you're right-handed, and right eye dominant it should be no problem with practice.
You run into problems if you're right handed, but have a dominant left eye, or "cross eye dominant". But shooting with both eyes open gives you a much better field of vision to assess your surroundings. If you close one eye, then you just lost about 50% of your field of vision. Even with both eyes open you tend to get tunnel vision in a stressful situation, and thats why you should train to swivel your head after you finish a string of fire to assess any possible threats.
how do you guys compare this discussion to "point shooting", or whatever you would call the method of aiming where you basically don't use the sights, but you focus on the target?
recently on a trip to the range my friend and I tried all three methods:
dominant eye open, the other closed ... our accuracy was ok
both eyes open, focus on front sight: once we got used to the double vision of the target and figured out which one to hit, we were both more accurate this way vs. one eye open
point shooting, both eyes open, focus only on target, ignore sights: our groups were not nearly as tight as either other method but we were way faster shooting this way and hit 8" targets with every shot at 7 and 15 yards. definitely this felt (to me) like the best way to try and shoot in a defensive situation, since it takes real discipline and is very unnatural to focus on the front sight instead of the target.
thoughts?
recently on a trip to the range my friend and I tried all three methods:
dominant eye open, the other closed ... our accuracy was ok
both eyes open, focus on front sight: once we got used to the double vision of the target and figured out which one to hit, we were both more accurate this way vs. one eye open
point shooting, both eyes open, focus only on target, ignore sights: our groups were not nearly as tight as either other method but we were way faster shooting this way and hit 8" targets with every shot at 7 and 15 yards. definitely this felt (to me) like the best way to try and shoot in a defensive situation, since it takes real discipline and is very unnatural to focus on the front sight instead of the target.
thoughts?
Wildfire
Member
Rx-178
Hey There.
Man you have a way with words. I like that. Why didn't I think of that ?
Anyway, Yes , That is it. I guess if I were to shoot off a rest for sighting in or something I might try the one eye thing. But 90 Plus % of my shooting has been fast paced. IPSC.... Close one eye there and you will pass a target.
That really looks bad on the score sheet.
Hey There.
Man you have a way with words. I like that. Why didn't I think of that ?
Anyway, Yes , That is it. I guess if I were to shoot off a rest for sighting in or something I might try the one eye thing. But 90 Plus % of my shooting has been fast paced. IPSC.... Close one eye there and you will pass a target.
That really looks bad on the score sheet.
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