One eye closed or both eyes open ??

I'm left eye dominate and shoot right handed. I always shut one eye and after shooting for over 20 years I find it second nature and do it without even thinking.

I know most instructors teach and prefer you keep both eyes open but for me it's hard to get a good sight picture with both eyes open and be able to hit where I'm aiming. Most pistols don't allow *that* much windage adjustment anyways. :eek:

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Rick
 
4V50 Gary, I agree you should always have both eyes open when engaged in a defensive situation and I train to have both eyes open and scanning before and after the shot and pointing the weapon initially. But to focus on the front sight during firing, it's easier for me personally to shut one eye.

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Rick



[This message has been edited by Bandit (edited October 07, 2000).]
 
I had corrective eye surgery a few years ago that didn't work out so well. I now have no choice but to keep both eyes open when I shoot. When I close my left eye and sight with the right, the sights are crystal clear but the target completely disappears. My right eye won't adequately adjust between the two distances. The left eye has the opposite problem. When I use both, I'm fine. Go figure.

From a handgun shooting standpoint I do like it better this way. It just pi$$es me off that I don't have the option.
 
I shoot with both eyes closed that way when I shoot poorly or miss the target I have a valid excuse!!

I shoot both ways actually
It really depends on the light I have (indoor ranges can be really bad) or what really gives me the best front sight focus....


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ACCOUNT FOR EVERY SHOT
AND MAKE EVERY SHOT COUNT
 
Both open. Left eye sights for left handed, right eye sights for right handed. Defensive drills I spend some time wrong eyed, insurance.

Sam...early on, mother was afraid I was neither handed. I proved her right.
 
I grew up shooting with only my dominant eye open, but when I started to shoot IDPA recently I changed to shooting with both eyes open. I also now shoot rifles with both eyes open - it takes a little getting used to, but I can see the sight picture and target better.

-z
 
I close both my eyes and always seem to hit everything I aim at...you know, kinda like Kevin Costner in Bodyguard :D
 
I'm left eye dominant but right handed. I shoot pistols with both eyes open but aiming with the left and do fine. Shooting long arms is another story because I'm forced to use the right. If there's time to concentrate, I can shoot them with both eyes open and aim with the right, but quick shots, espicially when firing shotguns is extremely difficult with both open. I considered shooting left handed to correct this, but many firearms don't allow this to be done easily.
 
I shoot with one eye. I know that it blocks half my vision and is not ideal but it is the way I learned to shoot. For some time I tried to train myself to shoot with both eyes open. After a while of seeing poor scores and no improvement I went back to one eye. I'd rather loss peripheral vision and be able to hit what I'm aiming at then to see great out the side and miss everything.

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Gunslinger

I was promised a Shortycicle and I want a Shortycicle!
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ether:
I close both my eyes and always seem to hit everything I aim at...you know, kinda like Kevin Costner in Bodyguard :D[/quote]

I like the "bucket over the head" method like Luke Skywalker :D



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Wayne D
NRA Life Member
 
Keep all of your eyes open, its the only way. You will revert to your training when things go bad, keep both eyes open all the time, never limit yourself to only half your vision.

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No man is above the law and no man is below it,nor do we ask any mans permission when we require him to obey it.
 
What you should do is first have someone help you determine what your dominant eye is. Then you should change your shooting hand to the one that corresponds to your dominant eye. It will be much easier to shoot with both eyes open if you're using the corect eye and hand. Only one eye is actually ever trained on what you're looking at. The other eye handles depth of field. It's best to use both. If this has confused everyone and you want a more thorough explanation, letme know...I'm off to the range.
 
For some reason, I'm left eye dominant when shooting, though that's my worse eye. I line up with my left eye while shooting righthanded. That's with handguns. Long guns, I also line up with the left eye. Kinda weird, since that's by far the weaker eye. But it seems to work out okay...
 
Just a thought: Would it be a possible advantage to shoot with one eye closed in the event of defensive shooting in an HD event in which temporary night blinding results from gun blast?....only one eye night blinded...Or maybe close both eyes just as hammer is released.... ;)
 
A thought... Ideally, both eyes open is the best firing situation. It keeps your field of vision at its widest. But seriously, if you are firing your gun at a BG, your focus is on the COM of that BG. If they intend to hurt you, you should focus on them, "neutralize" the target, and then assess the situation from there. If you are more comfortable/accurate with one eye, what is wrong with using one eye? Does closing one eye, firing twice, and then re-opening the eye take that long?
 
I am also right handed and left eye dominant. What I have done is to cover my left eye (shooting glasses)and shoot with both open. Since only my right eye can see the sights I have gradually become more right eye dominant. If I do not shoot for more than a few weeks my left eye becomes more dominant again and I must retrain all over.
 
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