Both eyes open pistol shooting?

If you do block the lens, do it with something translucent instead of something that completely blocks the light to your eye.

Your pupils work together, so if you completely block the light to one eye, it causes both pupils to dilate somewhat.

Thinking of your eye as a camera, we know that when you increase the aperture size (pupil size), it reduces the depth of focus. That is, it means that it requires more careful focus to get objects at differing distances into proper focus.

Since shooting with iron sights requires getting multiple objects at different distances into reasonable focus, increasing the aperture size is undesirable. Ideally you want your pupil to be at the minimum size possible that still allows you to get enough light into your eye to allow you to see the sights and target.

When I choose to block one eye, I use a properly positioned strip of scotch tape on the lens of my shooting glasses.
 
I am a two eyed shotgun shooter but can only do it CQB for rifle or HG. Defiantly gives you more field of vision with two eyes. Need to be able to both see and hit the threat. For me that means closing one eye to lock on my sights one I am out past the 15 yard line. If you can shoot two eyes open no question in my mind that is best.
 
I was born nearly blind in one eye.....

I do believe I keep both open though when I shoot a handgun.

I know I close my blind eye when I shoot a rifle or shotgun.
I have no idea why?:confused:
 
I physically cant shoot with both eyes open besides point shooting. A friend of mine who was new to shooting naturally shoots with two eyes open, he actually had no idea that most people shoot with their dominant eye.
 
Both eyes open will only work if you shoot with your dominant eye. I shoot both eyes open until I switch and shoot left handed. Then I must close my dominant right eye.
 
Eyes

Both eyes open will only work if you shoot with your dominant eye. I shoot both eyes open until I switch and shoot left handed. Then I must close my dominant right eye.
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I am guessing that the weak hand practice is for defensive shooting scenarios.
Closing one eye means that you loose your peripheral vision on that side.
Desirable? No.
Pete
 
I shoot everything -- pistols, shotguns, and rifles (even with a scope) -- with both eyes open. When shooting left handed (non-dominant hand, right eye dominant) I just turn my head slightly to the right to line up my dominant right eye with the sights.
 
I shoot everything with both eyes open except sniper rifles wich is my favorite shooting now . When I was trained on a hand gun I was shown to focuse on the target and just have the sights in periferal vision kinda blurry is this correct ?
 
psalm7 said:
...When I was trained on a hand gun I was shown to focuse on the target and just have the sights in periferal vision kinda blurry is this correct ?...
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Not the way I was trained (check my profile for my background).

With handguns or rifles, I focus on the front sight. If shooting a rifle with a scope, I focus on the reticle. When shooting moving targets with a shotgun (wingshooting), I focus on the target.
 
I am guessing that the weak hand practice is for defensive shooting scenarios.
Closing one eye means that you loose your peripheral vision on that side.
Desirable? No.
Pete
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Both for defensive, in case of right arm disabled, and for deer hunting (pistol) when the deer appears on the wrong side and turning around is not an option. Desirable? No, but not ever shot I ever take will be under ideal conditions, and with me in an ideal position, so shooting left handed with one is an option.
 
My father shoots with both eyes open and swears by it, but he learned it as a way to get around being right-hand, left-eye dominant.

I, however, have never been able to do it effectively. Oddly I THINK it has something to do with my contact lenses...I've been wondering if they correct my vision to the point where both eyes are identical in terms of vision, so they "fight" for dominance. So as a result my vision either blurs or the sight post actually "jumps" as I align it to my right eye, then suddenly it seems like my vision has gone left-eye dominant, then back to right. It's a pain, so I just shoot with one eye open.
 
Eye dominance comes in a variety of "flavors." Some people have a very strongly dominant eye. Others have a weaker dominance. In some, dominance shifts from one eye to the other, especially when fatigued.

Sometime weal dominance or shifting dominance can make it impossible for one to effectively shoot with both eyes open. In that case he'll have to fall back on "Plan B", closing one eye.
 
With handguns or rifles, I focus on the front sight. If shooting a rifle with a scope, I focus on the reticle. When shooting moving targets with a shotgun (wingshooting), I focus on the target.
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Stereoscopic vision is best used for distance valuation, one of the reasons we drive cars with both eyes open. And need depth perception for flying an airplane. But for shooting I have always use my right eye unless using a red dot sight. Concentrating on the front sight is most important without distraction from objects on the right or left. Many competition shooters will wear blinders or a patch on their glasses so they can concentrate on the target and sights.

Shooting with both eyes open may be needed for wing shooting with a shotgun to range distance to the clay bird or real bird. One of the reasons I don't shoot skeet or trap. But since 90% of my shooting is with a scope, it's one eye for me. (they don't have dual lenses on scopes)

Jim
 
I shoot lower power scopes like 4x or 3-9x with both eyes open . I train like that with tatical gear and have adapted it to my hunting skills . When shooting bench rest or sniper rifles then I use traditional one eye closed .
 
I shoot shotguns and handguns with both eyes open.
I've even shot scoped rifles with both eyes open, however most of the time I do close my non dominate eye.

I always tell people to shoot what works best for them, but don't be afraid to experiment with different techniques.

Best Regards
Bob Hunter
www.huntercustoms.com
 
I'm new to pistol shooting (about 4 years now) and have in the last year or so decided to get serious about it and join some competitions. I have shot everything with one eye closed my whole life...did not know any better :).

With my eyes getting older (I just turned 50) I have been looking for anything that would help. As soon as I get some fiber optic front sights I'm going to work on retraining myself to shoot with both eyes open.

Thanks for all the great information here!

Take care, SC
 
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When I was trained on a hand gun I was shown to focuse on the target and just have the sights in periferal vision kinda blurry is this correct ?
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In my military days I had this type of training on handguns, shotguns and rifles for CQB.

With the rifle and shotgun we were taught to just flip the butt of the long gun between your arm and body with the stock coming to rest just under your arm pit and the stock being squeezed between your upper arm and the side of your chest.

The Army called it "Quick Kill" it's actually a type of point or instinct shooting and yes it's done with both eyes open, I still practice and train this way today.

It's very effective for close encounters once you learn the technique, and as the name implies, it's quick.

Best Regards
Bob Hunter
www.huntercustoms.com
 
Both eyes open

I developed a sight that makes it much easier for novas shooter to shoot with both eyes open. It eliminates double vision of the target and the sight.
For panic point and shoot situations my sight increases your reaction time.
I know that many people just point and shoot and don't use the sight but with my sight you can only see the sights with one eye at a time. Less confusion with the sight picture.
You can see it on Utub "shooting with both eyes open" under Milpro.

Doug Orlob
 
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