shooting with both eyes open?

First, while I think shooting with both eyes open is better than shooting with one eye scrunched closed, it's not the be-all end-all factor in shooting. Plenty of successful shooters close one eye.



Second, slow static shooting at 15m and 25m is a lot different than reactive shooting at closer ranges. There are people who normally shoot with both eyes open but would then squint or close one eye when shooting at those distances.



But the technique for acquiring your sights is pretty much the same regardless. Look at the target, specifically focusing on the smallest part or point on the target that you can see. Then you raise the gun and as the gun interrupts your line of sight, you pick up the front sight and focus on it. You drive the front sight into the point on the target you want to shoot.



While other techniques (focus on the target, "soft" focus on the front sight, etc) can be used under some circumstances, they're not really well suited to 15m and 25m distances. The front sight is going to be the key to accuracy at that range, along with proper trigger manipulation.



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pistol-training.com

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Thanks

I went from one-eye to both eyes a while back. SWMBO asked my why I was squinting and I told her that this was the way I always shot. She told me I was wrong. As usual, I knew better and did some research. Appears to be a shooter's choice. However, if you close one eye the pupil in the open eye dilates a bit, making it harder to focus, according to a Bullseye shooter, Dr. Norman Wong. I started some dry exercises with both eyes open and got double vision on the sights. Tried sighting with the right eye open and the left closed, then opening the left eye. The focus was almost instantaneous. After a week or two, it was totally natural to focus with both eyes, just like you do everywhere but shooting. Wong had a lot of theory about the non-dominant eye not really focusing.



I think I shoot better with both eyes focusing on the front sight. It's hard to tell with my shooting. There are days I can hit the broad side of a barn only if I'm in the barn, it smells bad and there is one-hole on the horizontal board. Anything larger and, pardon the pun, it's a crap shoot.

greener said:

if you close one eye the pupil in the open eye dilates a bit, making it harder to focus, according to a Bullseye shooter, Dr. Norman Wong.

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Interesting...I didn't think of that. I guess it really depends on what your intentions are in pistol shooting. If its plinking, target shooting, bullseye shooting at a stationary target, I don't see how closing one eye would hurt accuracy (other than above). Squinting or closing an eye does add tension to the face though. If your sport is pistol action shooting where you engage multiple targets and you are closing an eye you will be constantly be opening and closing looking for targets and the front sight. I think both eyes pickup on a target focal length and while the dominant eye gets on the front sight the non-dominant tends to stay there while the shooting eye focus on the sight which is why it appears to be blurred (your brain is picking up inputs from your dominant eye more than your non-dominant eye).



By having both eyes open you have a better sense of awareness of whats around you which is better for multiple targets or in a defensive situation.

rjs said:

I've been trying to learn to shoot with both eyes open for shooting plates. At age 60 with tri focals, I had a hard time switching over to both eyes open after years of shooting with one eye open. I had some prescription glasses made that had the right eye (dominant) focused on the front sight and the left eye focused on distance. This works much better for me and I think I'm gaining but I find, when shooting in competition, I revert to closing the left eye. I just need to practice more, I think.



rjs

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I'm not sure there is a right way to do it. Whatever works best. I'm better with both eyes open but it took some work to adjust from non-dominant eye closed. One of the things that helped was shooting with red dot scopes and reflex scopes. Still, when I went open sights, it felt as though my eyes were crossing for a short time.



I know how much fun you are having since I'm closing in quickly on 61. The "ideal" sight picture is the rear sight slightly blurred and the target slightly blurred. Got that down pat. The problem is with bifocals the front sight is also blurred. I tried a couple-three optometrists who gave me a blank look when I described what I wanted to do and where the bifocals should focus. Finally found an ex-Marine at Walmart who understood how to look at weapon sights.



I've been thinking about switching the M&P front sights to a Hi-Viz type because I can see them better. Either that or wait until someone comes along with a strobe light front sight.

Both Eyes

In a fight for your life, I can assure you will not be closing either eye. They will be as wide open as they can be!



Your brain will have just one more thing to deal with (that it doesn't need) at the moment of truth, if you don't train to shoot both eyes open. Things just won't "look" right.



Like anything else, it a learned skill and isn't hard to acquire if you PRACTICE.

Plenty of successful shooters close one eye.



Yup, bullseye shooters



If you want extreme accuracy for some reason at considerable distance, close the non dominant eye [ if you have one as some people are neutral and don't have a dominant side ].



For SD, at distances under 15 meters, both eyes open, threat focused. Groups using threat focused skills at that range only need to be within combat accuracy, thats 8 inches COM. Those who've been shown how to threat focus shoot can hold 4 inches or less all day at 15 meters [ 1/2 of whats required to make COm hits.



Both eyes open unless you are bullseye shooting or need a precise shot for some reason [ unlikely in a SD situation on the streets. Train for the fight.



Brownie

Re: Both Eyes

rcampbell3 said:

In a fight for your life, I can assure you will not be closing either eye. They will be as wide open as they can be!



Your brain will have just one more thing to deal with (that it doesn't need) at the moment of truth, if you don't train to shoot both eyes open. Things just won't "look" right.



Like anything else, it a learned skill and isn't hard to acquire if you PRACTICE.

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DITTO. It's also a matter of what kind of shooting you plan on doing too.



I like to do both. But realistically, I always put time in for shooting with both eyes open. In a life or death situation, squinting an eye could turn out hazardous. Especially with multiple targets.



I am fortuante enough to have brothers that are in federal law enforcement, so I always get info on what's new or what is being taught.

There is one method that works really well, for me that is, and if you're right eye dominant and right handed. Three dot sights will help immensely or some kind of hi vis sights.



Take your pistol, extended out as if you are about to shoot. One hand or two, it doesn't matter. Point it at some kind of object's center mass. Like a can or a plate. Even better, a silhouette target. Don't line your eye(s) up with the sights. Place the dots in a triangle formation. Next, place this formation under your desired point of impact on the target. Most of the time what looks like half an inch under POI. This measurement can vary due to where you line up your pistol relative to you eyes. Just find the extension where you're comfortable at. Or even better, train in as many as you can.

If you can, hold that sight picture and lower your eye into the sights and BANG, you will most likely be in the 90% or more hit percentage



Hope this helps