Advice for sight picture

[Smedkcuf]

I've been shooting for a few years and have always been focusing my eyes on the target, while "looking" at the front sight, if that makes sense. But when I actually focus on the front sight, I see double of the target and double of the rear sights. To explain it better,

Other shooters keep their eyes converged and focused on the front sight. They see 2 rear sights, 1 front sight, and 2 targets.

from https://dryfiretrainingcards.com/blo...oth-eyes-open/

Until now I thought it was normal to have this double vision in the planes in which my eyes aren't being focused but apparently this isn't the case and most people just see a blurred foreground and background but not a doubled image?

I always hear that you're supposed to focus on the front sight, but this is what I see when I do that (also notice how the 2 sets of rear sights cross over each other, it's actually more pronounced in real life):



Whereas when I focus on the target, this is what I see:



And the doubled images have the same amount of transparency to me, it's not a situation where it's obvious which image is more "clear". So it seems to me that it's a much less complicated sight picture if I focus on the target as the above renditions should indicate. If I focus on the front sight, that means I have consciously select the target on the right, and the rear sights on the left. Or, I can the target on the left and the rear sights on the right. But if I focus on the target, I just have to select the "left" gun and there are no crossover issues with the rear sights doubling, which is very disorienting to me. So I would like feedback on this situation and if I have the correct line of thinking here.

[tanks]

I suggest seeing an optometrist. Your near vision might be shot, how old are you?

[anonymouscuban]

I had this problem when I first started shooting with both eyes open. Corrected itself after about 2 weeks of concentrated dry fire. Just trained my eyes to focus correctly.

One thing that helped me early on was to put a peace of clear scotch tape right over the front of my left lens of my shooting glasses. I'm right eye dominate. Placed so it obscured my vision when I was looking at the sight picture. I made the tape smaller and smaller over time till I didn't need it.

One thing to mention. Its OK to be target focused on closer targets. I can shoot A zone hits, target focused the way you describe, up to about 10 yards. Beyond that, or for smaller target zones, front sight focus is required. Front sight for precision shots.

Oh... and within 5 yards, I often don't even see my front sight. Just bring the gun up to my index point and fire.

Sent from my SM-G930U using Tapatalk

[Fjold]

It looks like you're shooting with your non-dominant eye.

[Barang]

It looks like you're shooting with your non-dominant eye.

I wasn't aware of this until I attended basic pistol class.

[stevebla]

https://www.allaboutvision.com/resources/dominant-eye-test.htm

[usr1987]

I've been shooting for a few years and have always been focusing my eyes on the target, while "looking" at the front sight, if that makes sense. But when I actually focus on the front sight, I see double of the target and double of the rear sights. To explain it better,

from https://dryfiretrainingcards.com/blo...oth-eyes-open/

Until now I thought it was normal to have this double vision in the planes in which my eyes aren't being focused but apparently this isn't the case and most people just see a blurred foreground and background but not a doubled image?

I always hear that you're supposed to focus on the front sight, but this is what I see when I do that (also notice how the 2 sets of rear sights cross over each other, it's actually more pronounced in real life):



Whereas when I focus on the target, this is what I see:



And the doubled images have the same amount of transparency to me, it's not a situation where it's obvious which image is more "clear". So it seems to me that it's a much less complicated sight picture if I focus on the target as the above renditions should indicate. If I focus on the front sight, that means I have consciously select the target on the right, and the rear sights on the left. Or, I can the target on the left and the rear sights on the right. But if I focus on the target, I just have to select the "left" gun and there are no crossover issues with the rear sights doubling, which is very disorienting to me. So I would like feedback on this situation and if I have the correct line of thinking here.

I gave up on using sights on guns, I prefer to point and shoot and develop muscle memory! after 50 or so bullets with mostly metal guns I am in a 5 inch circle!

[XDJYo]

OP-I'm in a strange subset of people. I'm right eye dominant, but I can't focus very well on the front sight. My left eye however, can get a quick laser focus on it. So, I wind up using my left eye since it takes too long to focus using my right. I have to tilt my head a certain way to keep the double-vision of the gun and target from interfering too much in my sight picture.

I take it that you're a fairly new shooter. I started in my mid 40's and have been shooting since 2012. At first, I struggled. As Anonymous Cuban says, you can point shoot and get decent hits at 5 yards. BUT, you have to work up to it. In my humble opinion, as someone who struggled with accuracy (and still do), focus on your front sight. Do A LOT of dry practice. Practice getting that hard laser focus on the FS, then your trigger press. Then, hit the range. The range is where your practice comes together. You'll flinch and have trouble, but take it slow. Pretty soon, you'll be able to speed up. Then, you'll be able to do some point shooting. But, always keep in mind that the FS is there for a reason.

As a side note, if you're shooting below the X, then, that could be an indication of 'looking over' your sights and looking at the target, essentially pushing the gun down a tad.

Another suggestion, is to take a class. Spend some time with it and get a case (or two) of ammo-Especially before July 1. Once you start seeing results, shooting becomes really fun! I have taken a few and like Front Sight for an all around immersion in the safety, shooting and self-defense aspect of owning a firearms. And it is a HOOT!!!

Happy shooting and be safe.

[tbc]

Close your non-dominant eye when you are seeing double. Then open your non-dominant eye slowly.

If you see double again, repeat the above step. That was the way I trained my eyes.

[hermosabeach]

It is a learned skill

Example- you don’t see your nose. Your brain has deleted it from your vision.

Look straight ahead and close one eye- they you will see your nose.


Shooting with both eyes open can be a food skill but really is not a requirement

[SmokieBear]

as everyone has said its a another discipline for those of us that have to train and adapt to. I'm so use to keeping both eyes open for rifle so resorted to just using a patch over my left. every 4 shots I open both then do 1 shot then cover again for another rep til my eyes learned to fire in. Just like you I did a basic pistol course and instructor noticed my shot placements were left and right side of target. Now I can help others with that problem as I can relate to it during my 1 on 1 teaching.

[still919]

Forgive me if it was stated, but do you experience this just at the range? How about in natural light? Or, no target at all? What happens when you simply use a bare wall in good light, say like in your house?

Eye muscle memory really needs to be kept up, for most. I spend time on sight picture / target acquisition while at home. I've noticed it can go quick, and the eyes see what they want to see without regular training / practice. Again, this is above and beyond range time...unless you're in a situation where you can shoot really often. Because you are so aware of images that are doubled, perhaps your eyes are not trained to do what you want them to.

BTW...I appreciate the diagrams you created. It looks like a sweet Atari 2600 game.

[Smedkcuf]

Forgive me if it was stated, but do you experience this just at the range? How about in natural light? Or, no target at all? What happens when you simply use a bare wall in good light, say like in your house?

Eye muscle memory really needs to be kept up, for most. I spend time on sight picture / target acquisition while at home. I've noticed it can go quick, and the eyes see what they want to see without regular training / practice. Again, this is above and beyond range time...unless you're in a situation where you can shoot really often. Because you are so aware of images that are doubled, perhaps your eyes are not trained to do what you want them to.

BTW...I appreciate the diagrams you created. It looks like a sweet Atari 2600 game.

Yes I experience this at the range and in all other conditions, and I've been aware of it for my entire life. Like if I hold my finger up and focus on it, everything in the distance is doubled, and if I focus on the distance, my finger is doubled. I thought this was the case for everyone until I recently read otherwise. I've been to an optometrist recently and they said my vision is fine, especially up close. And as to the eye dominance test, it's not really giving me a clear answer because it seems like both eyes have the same amount of dominance, I think what the test is doing is to see which "image" is more transparent, but in my case both images have the same amount of transparency.

[bruce381]

I just close my left eye. but both open I think is best if you can adjust to that.

[Bill Bored]

get a small red dot or a crimson trace