OK, how do I keep both eyes open when shooting and...
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Justin
Moderator Emeritus
Have you already established that you're right-eye dominant?
rbernie
Contributing Member
Many folk have dominant eyes that are sufficiently dominant that they can get their brain to relegate the off eye input into the realm of peripheral vision. I've recently learned that I'm one of these folks.
That means that I can use my right eye (dominant) to focus on the front sight and the left eye to integrate its view of the target with the fuzz of the target as seen thru my right eye. It's just something that I started trying, and the more I worked it the more disciplined it got.
It's actually quite cool to have binocular vision of the target, have peripheral vision on the off side, and still have a relatively clear front sight picture. But it's something that really takes practice to develop - you're essentially rewiring your brain to deal with the ocular inputs differently than it's done in the past.
That means that I can use my right eye (dominant) to focus on the front sight and the left eye to integrate its view of the target with the fuzz of the target as seen thru my right eye. It's just something that I started trying, and the more I worked it the more disciplined it got.
It's actually quite cool to have binocular vision of the target, have peripheral vision on the off side, and still have a relatively clear front sight picture. But it's something that really takes practice to develop - you're essentially rewiring your brain to deal with the ocular inputs differently than it's done in the past.
CypherNinja
Member
What he said. I'm still trying to get there, but I'm slowly making progress.
One trick is to put Scotch tape or vaseline on the off-eye lens of your safety glasses. This obscures that eye's vision enough that it doesn't try to automatically focus on something. It's helped me alot.
One trick is to put Scotch tape or vaseline on the off-eye lens of your safety glasses. This obscures that eye's vision enough that it doesn't try to automatically focus on something. It's helped me alot.
I don't think it is wrong to close one eye,(I wonder if Sgt.York was a squinter?) however you will aquire your target in most cases much easyer by learning to shoot with both open.
1. conferming eye dominance.(this may change due to eye injury/health).
2. squint just enough to alow shooting eye to take charge, then slowly open other eye. You may soon find yourself squinting less as you get accustomed to this new methode.
I find it interesting how many people are unaware of the focuse point when shooting open sights. Its usual for shooters to just clam to not like open sights. Some of our top shooters at 100yd events are iron sight shooters. They know how to do it right.
I practice at home, you don't need recoil to perfect a new discipline.(take the bolt out)
Good Luck;
Gbro
1. conferming eye dominance.(this may change due to eye injury/health).
2. squint just enough to alow shooting eye to take charge, then slowly open other eye. You may soon find yourself squinting less as you get accustomed to this new methode.
I find it interesting how many people are unaware of the focuse point when shooting open sights. Its usual for shooters to just clam to not like open sights. Some of our top shooters at 100yd events are iron sight shooters. They know how to do it right.
I practice at home, you don't need recoil to perfect a new discipline.(take the bolt out)
Good Luck;
Gbro
bubbygator
Member
Welcome to one need for laser sights - just focus on one plane.... the spot that's right on the bad guy.
Dominante eye instructions.
http://www.capioeye.co.uk/eyeinfo/dominance/index.html
This link has an easy instruction for IDing your dominant eye. I also found it interesting that reading is sometimes more comfortable using the non-D eye.
My eye clinic had a hard time getting it right(my way) on my 1st Bi-focally's.
I only use one with the Non-D eye. (on my work glasses i use a trifocal on my non-D eye and nothing on my D-eye.
I also have found it is easyer to focus on the front sight with an older(weaker) perscription, as bi-focals are for up-close, and our standard lens is set to give us the best long range sight.
Gbro
http://www.capioeye.co.uk/eyeinfo/dominance/index.html
This link has an easy instruction for IDing your dominant eye. I also found it interesting that reading is sometimes more comfortable using the non-D eye.
My eye clinic had a hard time getting it right(my way) on my 1st Bi-focally's.
I only use one with the Non-D eye. (on my work glasses i use a trifocal on my non-D eye and nothing on my D-eye.
I also have found it is easyer to focus on the front sight with an older(weaker) perscription, as bi-focals are for up-close, and our standard lens is set to give us the best long range sight.
Gbro
LiquidTension
Member
Depending on your facial structure, you may be able to tilt your head in such a way that you can keep both eyes open but only be looking at the front site with your dominant eye. You know where your brow meets the bridge of your nose? Tilt your head so that part of your face is obscuring the site from your left eye. It may not work well for someone of Asian descent that has a flatter nose profile, but for us crackers with big noses it works well 
I'm cross eye dominant so I have to use this method, but it seems to work with my other eye.
I'm cross eye dominant so I have to use this method, but it seems to work with my other eye.Laser sights work great until the battery goes dead.
I found that I started with one eye and eventually if I was in a situation where I didn't have time to think about it (tactical training for example) I kept both eyes open. Now I just naturally shoot with both eyes open. It's good to have both eyes open as you can pick up movement etc which can be very important in a tactical situation.
I found that I started with one eye and eventually if I was in a situation where I didn't have time to think about it (tactical training for example) I kept both eyes open. Now I just naturally shoot with both eyes open. It's good to have both eyes open as you can pick up movement etc which can be very important in a tactical situation.
rangerruck
Member
rbernie is right here, think of your off eye as peripheral vision, you can see the field, but you cannot concentrate on anything in it. think of it is a redfield or burris fullfield scope, where you can see lots of background to that side, but your good eye is on the front post. So that way, if a deer or such ran into your off eye sight picture, you would see it and 'recognize' what it is, but you are not concentrating on it. unless you wanna second shot , on this new target , after you hit the first.
blackhawk2000
member
Switch over to left hand and see if that helps. How do you see a laser in bright sunlight?
Stiletto Null
Member
I just squint my left eye momentarily so my brain can lock its attention on my right eye. *shrug* And then I repeat as necessary.
EddieCoyle
Member
I'm right eye dominant but I shoot (handguns) lefty. I shoot rifle and shotgun righty. When I shoot handguns, I simply turn my head to the left and the bridge of my nose blocks my left eye from seeing the sights. I'm 1/2 Italian, so I do not have to turn my head very far.
why worry about it?
I shoot everything with my left eye closed. Never think about it, just happens naturally. I have tried some handgun shooting with both eyes open, it changes my point of impact. Consistancy is the thing, not the actual mechanism of technique. I hit what I aim at, so it works for me.
I shoot everything with my left eye closed. Never think about it, just happens naturally. I have tried some handgun shooting with both eyes open, it changes my point of impact. Consistancy is the thing, not the actual mechanism of technique. I hit what I aim at, so it works for me.
Confirmedkill
Member
I have tried to shoot with both eyes open but I can't seem to focus on the sights if I do this. I will try the tips that you have posted here the next time I am out at the range. Thank you.
Dr. Dickie
Member
I can shoot pistols with both eyes open (just turning my head slighly), but I cannot shoot rifles this way (peep sights). I have tried and tried, but no way.
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sparky2726
Member
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Handguns I shoot both eyes open, but with a rifle, I have to close one eye. Once I got to where I could shoot with both eyes open with the handgun, My scores went WAY up.
Sparky
Sparky
Deanimator
Member
The bottom line is that some people CAN'T do it. I know I can't. I'm right eye dominant (tested for it only a couple of weeks ago) and it simply doesn't work for me.
If you can shoot with both eyes open, great. If you can't, don't worry about it.
brownie0486
Member
Well,
If you are going to use both eyes open, you'll need to learn to make use of your peripheral vision skills.
If you are attempting to shoot bullseye style, lining up the sights, going for extreme accuracy, you'll use your dominant/and or master eye, closing the non dominant/and or master eye to do so. To attempt to align the front and rear sight, and then superimpose that "sight picture" onto the target with both eyes open is making the mission more difficult than it has to be.
I can use both eyes open and align the sights in my peripheral, while looking directly at the threat, but it takes practice, and is just something I've developed over the almost 30 years of using peripheral vision of the gun and focusing on the threat/target.
Jim Gregg's chapter on eyes is the best written I've ever seen where shooters are concerned. http://www.jimgregg.net/
Many people answering here and others who shoot handguns/longguns do not fully understand that you aren't necessarily or automatically born with a dominant side, that the eyes dominance can be very slight [ almost nuetral ] to extreme [ master ] in nature.
One needs to really understand their particular situation and relevant eye situation to be able to make use of their particular set of circumstances where shooting is concerned.
I'd suggest getting Jim's book to fully understand this situation. It will help you immensely in the future.
Brownie
If you are going to use both eyes open, you'll need to learn to make use of your peripheral vision skills.
If you are attempting to shoot bullseye style, lining up the sights, going for extreme accuracy, you'll use your dominant/and or master eye, closing the non dominant/and or master eye to do so. To attempt to align the front and rear sight, and then superimpose that "sight picture" onto the target with both eyes open is making the mission more difficult than it has to be.
I can use both eyes open and align the sights in my peripheral, while looking directly at the threat, but it takes practice, and is just something I've developed over the almost 30 years of using peripheral vision of the gun and focusing on the threat/target.
Jim Gregg's chapter on eyes is the best written I've ever seen where shooters are concerned. http://www.jimgregg.net/
Many people answering here and others who shoot handguns/longguns do not fully understand that you aren't necessarily or automatically born with a dominant side, that the eyes dominance can be very slight [ almost nuetral ] to extreme [ master ] in nature.
One needs to really understand their particular situation and relevant eye situation to be able to make use of their particular set of circumstances where shooting is concerned.
I'd suggest getting Jim's book to fully understand this situation. It will help you immensely in the future.
Brownie
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