How to aim down the sights?

[Stormshotty]

Sorry to bother everyone, but I've been looking for an answer to this question. I was taught to aim with one eye close and focus on the front sight with the left eye. However, on my own, I found it was easier to keep both eyes open and line up my left eye with the sights. They seem to be doing the same thing (I close my right eye again to check) and I haven't noticed too much difference in accuracy, not that I was accurate in the first place. It's also hard for me to keep one eye close for extended periods of time....usually I shoot early in the morning and am still tired. Can you tell me if I'm doing something wrong and if I should stop?

 

[tipoc]

First a couple of questions;

Are you right or left handed? Which hand is the dominant one?

Which eye is your dominant eye, right or left?

Do you know why you were taught to shoot using the left eye and closing the right? What was the rationale?

In general it's most useful to shoot with both eyes open. It allows you to see more and strains the eyes less. It's more useful, provided that it works for you of course. If for some reason (medical perhaps) you can't focus on the sights with both eyes open then you have to do something else. But if you can see the sights clearly with both eyes open then use both.

tipoc

 

[wally]

Shooting with both eyes open is prefered. But if you miss with both eyes open and hit with on eye closed, by all means close one eye! Until you've been able to learn to shoot with both eyes open. Certain vision problems may make it impossible to be effective with both eyes open, but tactically its a bad idea to throw away half your vision unless absolutely necessary.

I tend to cheat and squint the left eye when maximum accuracy is required.

--wally.

 

[mljdeckard]

^^ Exactly. There are instructors who will say both, but the truth is, whatever works for you is best. I THINK, that you shouldn't close either eye in a gunfight. If you have been trained this way, see if you can untrain it, but again, whatever works best for you.

If you are dominant in the eye opposite of your strong hand, you are one of Gods' special creatures, and that's just how you are wired. But at the same time, EVERYONE should train with their weak hand as well as their strong hand. You should know how to shoot, load, clear a stoppage, and reload with EITHER hand by itself.

 

[Stormshotty]

Sorry for confusing everyone with my earlier post, I made some errors. I am LEFT handed and RIGHT eye dominant. Handling rifles and pistols with a left hand is no problem, in fact I find it easier to reach the magazine catch and use a bolt action. When using a pistol I aim down the sight with my right eye with both eyes open. I was wondering whether this was appropriate or is it considered better to close one eye. When using a rifle, well to this day I haven't really practiced on rifles, so I haven't done anything yet. I plan to use my rifle right-handed as it seems to be recommended that you retrain your arms, not your eye.

 

[Fumbler]

If you're left handed/right eye dominant and you shoot right eyed with both eyes open then you're doing it correctly...well, you're doing it correctly as long as you hit your target

It's perfectly acceptable (and generally taught) to shoot with your dominant eye even if you're handed the other way. Doing it with both eyes open is all the better.

 

[tipoc]

I am LEFT handed and RIGHT eye dominant. Handling rifles and pistols with a left hand is no problem, in fact I find it easier to reach the magazine catch and use a bolt action.

Good, well as much as possible shoot with both eyes open. The dominant eye will lead the way. You may need to cock your head just a bit to bring it more strongly into play. Shooting with the dominant eye closed and relying on the weak eye, as you were doing, could have been effecting your shooting and at the least was likely tiring your eyes some.

There are a good many folks who are cross dominant, me for instance. Other than a slight tilt of the head, to allow the strong eye to lead, it poses no problem.

Clearing this up may allow you to concentrate on the rest of your shooting.

tipoc

 

[Stormshotty]

Sorry for bringing this off-topic, but who is thehighroad.us? I almost tried logging in as myself at that site. Are they our long-lost brother? Evil twin?

 

[Oro]

When using a pistol I aim down the sight with my right eye with both eyes open.

That is correct.

I plan to use my rifle right-handed as it seems to be recommended that you retrain your arms, not your eye.

Again, correct. You are 2/2!

As your eyes age, it may change about the one eye/both eyes. Now I wear glasses/contacts. With glasses, I need to squint my weak eye to keep both the front sight and target in focus. With contacts, I can keep both eyes open. If you find things changing a bit as you age, don't worry, just adapt (and see an eye doctor periodically).

I almost tried logging in as myself at that site. Are they our long-lost brother? Evil twin?

Er, ownership dispute (thus it's in the eye of the beholder who is the "evil twin." ). This is the original site, and I believe there is a lawsuit out there. There is a sticky or something someplace outlining it; perhaps in the admin section.

 

[ByAnyMeans]

I have your same issue. I'm left handed and right eye dominant. I grew up shooting shotguns and learned to shoot with both eyes open and since learning pistol shooting I was taught from the beginning to shoot with both eyes open as well. I have been fine since I can use my dominant eye while also remaining with my strong hand.
Rifle shooting is another story. I have been improving and my technique is good but when I start going to shooting drills and fast magazine changes I can really see the difference in my movements and time. Only thing working for me is continuing to practice slowly to continue to build the necessary coordination. Step up the speed as you progress but always remember to slow practice concentrating on your form.

 

[Frank Ettin]

I shoot everything with both eyes open. If you can, I think you're better off.