Do you aim with both eyes open?

[cnyankee]

Both eyes open for most pistol shooting, except the really tough/tight shots then one eye gets a little squinty.

It took a long time to get there, I used to be a one eye closed shooter 100% of the time, but that fatigues the open eye more than having them both open.

i use 1 eye and am wondering after shooting for a while the sights/target gets fuzzy because my eye gets fatigued?

[Satex]

Shooting with both eyes open is always better. It does take some practice and knowing which is your dominant eye. If you try and do it with your non-dominant eye, you will have a very hard time.

[xrMike]

i use 1 eye and am wondering after shooting for a while the sights/target gets fuzzy because my eye gets fatigued?

That's exactly what happens to me when I use 1 eye, and why I don't do it anymore. The open eye gets tired faster. This effect seems more noticable as I get older.

[guns_and_labs]

I tend to shoot with both eyes open, open sights or scopes, but close the non-dominant eye if I'm really trying a precise shot with lots of time.

[C.G.]

I tend to shoot with both eyes open, open sights or scopes, but close the non-dominant eye if I'm really trying a precise shot with lots of time.

Same here, both eyes open, unless scoped and there is sun shining into the non-dominant eye.

[NSR500]

Both eyes open for me except when using a scope.

[rkt88edmo]

I've tried both eyes open and can't seem to get the hang of it. I use whatever eye is on the side I am firing from. Haven't been convinced it is enough of a need to try and train myself to shoot with both eyes open. I'm not quite cross dominant, but don't believe my right eye is dominant enough for it to work without practice.

[lazyman]

I can't seem to get the hang of shooting with both eyes open either. When I try, my eyeballs get all messed up. When I get it right, I feel like I'm looking at the sight cross-eyed. hmm... thanks for the replies guys

[Hunter]

I shoot with both eyes open at all times. Applies to shotgun, pistol or rifle....scope or open sights. For me I find that my ability and speed for tracking a moving target, or just following up with a 2nd shot on target, is greatly increased when both eyes are open. This is quite evident in shooting a shotgun but it also applies to pistols and rifles.

[Uberdummy]

I never really payed attention until this came up. When I think about it.. I switch between one eye and both open depending on distance with rifles. My first pistol experience two weeks ago I remember shooting with both eyes open. I must be used to both eyes open from all those years of shooting cans with pellet guns in the backyard and never using the sights.

[762cavalier]

I can't seem to get the hang of shooting with both eyes open either. When I try, my eyeballs get all messed up. When I get it right, I feel like I'm looking at the sight cross-eyed. hmm... thanks for the replies guys

I have the same problem I can either focus on the target or focus on the front site.If I try to line them up in a plane (front site-target) I get two images.So I shoot with one eye closed. doesn't matter which eye either as I am good with both

[JPglee1]

I have the same problem I can either focus on the target or focus on the front site.If I try to line them up in a plane (front site-target) I get two images.So I shoot with one eye closed. doesn't matter which eye either as I am good with both

Thats whats supposed to happen...you can't focus on TWO objects at different distances, at the same time *LOL*

When I shoot with both eyes open, the target is sharp, the front sight is fuzzy and the ghost ring/peep sight almost disappears completely. Your eye will naturally center the front sight post inside the rear sight reticle, and if you're using the "big" aperature on an AR, the rear sight will appear to almost vanish.

If you try to force your eyes to focus on the sight, your target will be fuzzy...

Its just natural, thats how it works....


Line up your rifle on your target with your dominant eye and your lazy eye "closed". Now, simply open your lazy eye... the picture shouldn't change much except the sights will get fuzzier.

Open-eye sighting isn't meant for utmost precision, its meant for speed of acquisition and adequate accuracy in FAST paced shooting situations.

Also, if you're shooting both eyes open with a notch rear sight it is MUCH harder... I can shoot an AR with both eyes open 100% easier than I can an AK...

Shooting a pistol with both eyes open, you don't even really look at the rear sight at all. Simply sight down the slide, pick-up the front sight in your vision and place it on top of your target. For targets 0-7yd away this is extremely fast AND accurate. As the distances increase you will want to add the rear sight to the equation.

The same can be said with a rifle in CQB... you can focus on the front sight only and be really accurate, within about 25 feet or so.


Anyway, open-eye shooting is a skill that is ACQUIRED, just keep practicing and don't convince yourself that you "can't" do it...Anyone can do it, once you understand what it is you're trying to do!!!

I think many people assume (wrongly) that the target and both sights should be in focus all at the same time. Once you get how the focusing works, it will become much easier. I shoot both eyes open even with optics. Up to about 4x zoom isn't too bad, anything over 4 power and parralax and stuff makes it weird (one BIG image and one normal, your brain can't handle it lol)


JP

[762cavalier]

When I shoot with both eyes open, the target is sharp, the front sight is fuzzy

Not what happens with me when I shoot with both eyes open the target is sharp and I see two front sights. If I concentrate on seeing one front sight then I see two targets. Both eyes appear to be equal with neither being dominant so they fight with each other when I try to shoot with both eyes open
I have gotten better results with both eyes open if I put one of those little pupil sized sticky dots on my shooting glasses.

[hw323]

I shoot with both eyes open.

What sucks for me is that my dominant eye is my left eye, but my vision is much better on my right eye. Also, I feel more natural shooting with my right hand. I understand that a lot of people are cross-dominant, but I wonder how would that work on rifles if I were to shoot with my right.

Am I SOL and start predominantly shooting with my left hand, as I have been doing for the last few sessions? I'm a new shooter and have yet to complete the build of my OLL, but this question always seem to bug me.

-HW

[FatKatMatt]

I usually shoot with 1 eye but was told it is better to shoot with 2. I can't focus on the sights with both eyes open unless I focus with one eye first. I haven't shot using the both eye open method but I will next time I hit up the range.