Aiming with both eye's open....

[pottymouth310]

Any of you guys care to share with me how your shooting with both eye's open?
Here's my problem, when I'm run n gunning I don't know which way is the "right" way to shoot....

A: When I focus on the "target" my sight post is blurry & doubled.
B: When I focus on my "sights" my target is doubled.

any instructors our there care to share?
which way is the right way?

[762cavalier]

I have the same problem. I usually shoot with just one eye open or stick a small piece of tape over my left eye shooting lens.The small piece of tape is the translucent scotch style tape and just covers the pupil area on the lens.

[Voo]

You cant focus on everything, it's impossible.. If you're focusing on the frontsight, I really don't understand how you can also see 2 circles in the back- maybe your example is just a gross exaggeration? The frontsight will be in focus and everything else will be a blur.

It's about understanding acceptable sight pictures. Sometimes you need to do a hard focus, sometimes you dont. Since you sound like you're just starting out in the action shooting sports, I would suggest doing a hard focus on your frontsight when shooting (for the time being).. Accuracy is PARAMOUNT when starting out. Almost anyone can shoot with speed, but not everyone has accuracy. At certain times, you'll find yourself at a severe disadvantage if you cannot shoot accurately on demand.

Things like swingers, poppers, plates, noshoots, depending on their distance, often require accurate/aimed fire. You may or may not realize how much time you're losing firing additional rounds and then having to perform additional reloads, but those misses start adding time when you cant pause and aim at a 8 inch plate at 20 yards and get it on the first shot.

[Sheepdog1968]

Are you right hand shooter who is left eye dominate? I am. Pistols not too much an issues as fire arm is centered. Rifles foreget it. No way unless I switch to being a left had shooter and I have no interest in doing that. FWIW. I close one eye almost all of the time. In a real gun fight you are statistically likely (per book referenced in signature line) to have tunnel vision and auditory exclusion. This whole two eye open thing is way overhyped IMO.

[Millions-Knives]

That looks like a cross-eye dominance issue. I have it. Use the tape issue. It's the only way I can handle sporting clays.

[pottymouth310]

You cant focus on everything, it's impossible.. If you're focusing on the frontsight, I really don't understand how you can also see 2 circles in the back- maybe your example is just a gross exaggeration? The frontsight will be in focus and everything else will be a blur.

Hey Voo, perhaps you misunderstood what I was trying to explain or sorry for the half-fast diagram.
Illustration B: isn't aiming at 2 targets. it's suppose to be focusing on the frontsight and the target in the backround is blurry and showing double.so yes, "The frontsight will be in focus and everything else will be a blur."

Are you right hand shooter who is left eye dominate?

No, I'm right handed right right dominate....

[buffybuster]

As stated, sounds like a cross-eye dominance issue. Either switch shooting hands or retrain your brain. Get some shooting glasses and block off the left-eye. Then start taking flash sight pictures, concentrating on see the frontsight clearly. It will give you a headache in the beginning, but eventually your brain will learn. Afterward, when you bring you pistol up into your line of sight, you will automatically focus on your frontsight with the correct eye.

[locosway]

I'm right handed and left eye dominant. So when I shoot handguns I do so right handed, but I turn my head to the right slightly so my left eye focuses and my right eye doesn't. I usually keep both open for the most part.

With rifles I just shoot left handed, it's so much easier and more comfortable.

[1911su16b870]

RH shooter with RE dominant. When at the range pointed in aiming as usual, LE closed, fire a round. Then allow LE to peak ever so slightly, so RE is still focused on the front sight, let a round go. Keep practicing untill you can open the LE a little more. My left eye never opens completely, but does have that peripheral vision, while my RE is engaging the front sight and target. IMO, with anything, just takes time and practice.

[Jonathan Doe]

When I shoot competitions, whether it is for handgun, rifle or shotgun, I open both eyes. Your dominant eye should let you get ont he sights and be accurate.

[FieldsofFire]

I always shoot with both eyes open, but the right eye is mostly doing all the work, left eye is just relaxing and picking up peripheral things. I try to focus on the front sight as often as I can but under simulated stress, like in some scenarios at defensive shooting clinics, that sometimes goes out the door when you are engaging and identifying multiple targets. I just try to do my best and focus on the front sight when I remember. As others have said, you can't focus on everything. At typical personal protection distances, I can shoot fairly well focusing on either front sight or target, fortunately.

[hybridatsun350]

I'm cross-dominant (right-handed, left eye dominant) and I shoot with both eyes open. I just always make sure to focus on the front sight.

Do you shoot Weaver or Isosceles? I will say that my handgun shooting improved immensely when I started shooting isosceles.

[locosway]

I'm cross-dominant (right-handed, left eye dominant) and I shoot with both eyes open. I just always make sure to focus on the front sight.

Do you shoot Weaver or Isosceles? I will say that my handgun shooting improved immensely when I started shooting isosceles.

What's the difference?

[HondaMasterTech]

A Weaver makes baskets. An isosceles is a triangle.

[hybridatsun350]

What's the difference?

It's hard to explain, but here is a decent video that talks about it from about 1:45 to about 9:00. Different people shoot different ways, but I know that the modern (combat) isosceles is what works best for me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1Cf0WEeXZk