Shooting handguns with both eyes open?

[Mr. Patis]

Do you shoot with both eyes open or the traditional one eye open? Which do you prefer? I have a buddy that shoots with both eyes open and says he shoots better that way. I tried it and cannot do it for the life of me.

[ACfixer]

I don't think shooting with one eye shut is traditional at all... at least not in my family where my dad taught me to keep both eyes open some 45 years ago. I can't say for sure if there's any right or wrong answer on this one, I say shoot the way you shoot best. Are you cross eye dominant?

[Chapped Hide]

I'm cross eye dominant and shoot both eyes open by rotating my head slightly to the right so that my right eye looks through the left. Works well for me being as having one eye closed is unnatural to me. Adapting to old age

[mpyle101]

There just was a pretty good thread related to this. Check out: http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s....php?t=1043928

[Captiontom]

I started shooting USPSA and both eyes open is slightly advantageous for the sport. I shoot both eyes open with pistol. For rifles I'll occasionally keep both open but normally close one. Most of my riffle shooting is with a .22 shooting ground squirrels. Shotguns is always both eyes open

[JDay]

Both open.

[Jet Setter]

Always 2 eyes open.

[saugustine]

I also initially couldn't shoot with both eyes opened. I shoot left handed and am right eye dominant, but when I hold a pistol in my left hand my left eye takes over. When I switch to my right hand my right eye takes over, so I would always close one eye.

I started dry firing at home with both eyes open. Sometimes I'd have to blink my right eye so the left eye would take over. It took a while but I can pretty comfortably and accurately shoot at the range with both open. However, if I am trying for extreme accuracy or distance, I will still close my right eye.

From a tactical perspective, you need both eyes open so you can be aware of your surroundings while you shoot.


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[Mr. Patis]

I tried shooting both eyes open and when I focus on that front sight....I start to get googly eyed and see 2 targets...maybe I just need practice. It would be cool to be able to shoot with both eyes open

[xfile]

I used to shoot both eyes open but glaucoma has changed my shooting. I'm pretty sure in a self defense situation I would still shoot both eyes open, almost entirely on muscle memory

[Inkman]

Right handed, right eye dominant, both eyes open.

Al

[bug_eyedmonster]

I started shooting USPSA and both eyes open is slightly advantageous for the sport. I shoot both eyes open with pistol. For rifles I'll occasionally keep both open but normally close one. Most of my riffle shooting is with a .22 shooting ground squirrels. Shotguns is always both eyes open

I'm in the same boat. The only time I close an eye is if the rifle I'm shooting has an optic that will not work with both eyes open (higher magnification). I love ACOGs for this reason.


Jerry

[Lead Waster]

I tried shooting both eyes open and when I focus on that front sight....I start to get googly eyed and see 2 targets...maybe I just need practice. It would be cool to be able to shoot with both eyes open

Practice will work. I bought an airsoft so I could keep it on the bedroom drawer without my wife freaking out (it's clear plastic, not black) and every once in a while, I just press it out to shooting position and force my eyes to both be open. Then I move it around and practice tracking the sights. Eventually (like only a week later) I was able to at least see the sights with both eyes open, ignoring the second image. Just commit to practicing, even 5 minutes per night. It's a brain thing and cool when it comes together.

Caveat: I've not had a chance to hit the range yet to try with live rounds, but I can't see how it's different except for follow up shots.

[himurax13]

Do you shoot with both eyes open or the traditional one eye open? Which do you prefer? I have a buddy that shoots with both eyes open and says he shoots better that way. I tried it and cannot do it for the life of me.

Just like anything else worth doing, it will take a little practice.

[SonofWWIIDI]

Both open for pistols. Usually one open for rifles, especially with scopes. Gonna try and work on gettng both open for rifles too, next range trip.