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I'm not sure if its the latest trend, or if its been around a while, but I keep reading / watching more about the technique of rifle shooting with both eyes open. I've been adopting some of the newer grip / stance techniques that are out there, but I'm curious to hear from some shooters using this technique... Is this just the latest "tacticool" thing to do, or is it offering some real advantages to your shooting?
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Last edited by ThE_LoNgShOt; 04-16-2013, 8:11 PM."A computer lets you make more mistakes faster than any other invention, with the possible exceptions of handguns and Tequila..." -
Only since at least 1968 from Col. Jeff Cooper and Rex Applegate.
Both eyes open
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Check out this thread from last month: Poll : One eye or two???
Their drills are bloodless battles, and their battles bloody drills.
- Historian Josephus (AD 37-101) on the Roman militaryComment
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I always shoot with both eyes open, but I squint my left eye open / closed sometimes to check my sight picture before squeezing off the shot with both open. I'm sure it's not recommended but my eyesight at my age isn't what it used to be."I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery."
- Thomas JeffersonComment
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"When you get the (men) to the range, you just get the men. But when you bring the (women) to the range, you get the (whole family). And that's what's going to save our 2nd Amendment."--Dianna Liedorff
"Since self-preservation is the 1st law of nature, we assert the...right to self-defense. The Constitution...clearly affirms the right of every American...to bear arms. And as Americans, we will not give up a single right guaranteed under the Constitution." --Malcolm XComment
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It probably doesn't make a big difference if you are stationary and in a non-hostile/non-CQB environment. Such as range practice session or benchrest match. Once you start moving and try to engage targets on the move while avoiding obstacles in your way, two eyes open is just more prudent.
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Ahhh, the original RDS- the Armonson(sp?) Ocluded Eye rifle sight. I used one for a short time (on loan) and found it every bit as good as today's generation of RDS. Very simple....Caveman simple.
One or two eyes open has been the debate since the beginning of modern pistolcraft. Fact is under extreme stress your body will not allow the closing of one eye. The brain will require as much visual information as possible. That's one reason for auditory exclusion, the brain is focused on the visual input so hearing is not as important.
One technique I use to wean shooters off closing one eye is: Start with one eye closed. Get your sights aligned and the appropriate sight picture.....then open the non-dominate eye while maintaining focus on the front sight. What you are doing is training your brain to see what needs to be seen with both eyes open. It is an acquired skill for most. The tape trick works to eliminate or reduce eye strain, but it doesn't help wean off the one eye closed habit when the tape is not present.
Good luck and keep up the training.Larry Renner
Plus (+) P Proficiency LLC
NRA and CA. P.O.S.T certified Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, Tactical Instructor.
You never rise to the occassion, you only sink to your lowest level of training" Unknown.Comment
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Closing one eye makes it easier for a beginner to focus on the sight picture and there is probably enough of an advantage to only using one eye that it makes a difference in things like small-bore target shooting with iron sight or with shooting an iron-sighted rifle at long range targets. From there it carried-over to most shooting.
Once you move from the target range to shoot-and-move you need both eyes, and situational awareness is what keeps you alive in a gunfight.
I find most of the "new" carbine positions amusing. What is being done is reinventing the classic British "long-arm" stance used for shotguns. As we move away from "aiming" and towards "pointing" it shouldn't be surprising that shotgun techniques are coming to the fore. And, it is worth noting, that no one advises closing the off eye when using a shotgun.RSM
The Truth will set you free, but first it will make you damn mad!
Old Scottish proverb:
If ya' cinna' drive the fooging trook, dinna buy the fooging trook!Comment
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I have both eyes open but my mind mainly focuses on the shooting eye, I hope, the other eyes periferal vision clues me in if someone is working their way to me. I also try to break any tunnel vision as well.sigpic Waterborne!
Former: Knight of Front Sight &
Gold Star MemberComment
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I shoot pistol with both eyes open, works great with my strong (right) hand BUT when I practice weak (left) hand, I have to use my dominant eye (right) to aim.
What do others do when shooting weak hand?Comment
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"When you get the (men) to the range, you just get the men. But when you bring the (women) to the range, you get the (whole family). And that's what's going to save our 2nd Amendment."--Dianna Liedorff
"Since self-preservation is the 1st law of nature, we assert the...right to self-defense. The Constitution...clearly affirms the right of every American...to bear arms. And as Americans, we will not give up a single right guaranteed under the Constitution." --Malcolm XComment
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I keep both eyes open whenever possible.
Only firearms I can't do it is iron sight AK, my cross-dominance makes me only see the side of the rifle.Comment
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