Using both eyes more accurate?
- Thread starter AndrewTB
- Start date
Both eyes open...
..increases depth perception which is a good thing! For the distances involved using a handgun, it's not necessary to get a "perfect" alignment of your sights (eg. shooting a rifle at a target 200 yards away with open sights). Determine which eye is your dominant eye, get your sight alignment in front of that sight, acquire the "flash sight picture" and the bluriness should become nonexistent.
..increases depth perception which is a good thing! For the distances involved using a handgun, it's not necessary to get a "perfect" alignment of your sights (eg. shooting a rifle at a target 200 yards away with open sights). Determine which eye is your dominant eye, get your sight alignment in front of that sight, acquire the "flash sight picture" and the bluriness should become nonexistent.
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GLP Standard
New member
As I found out today, sadly, Its a lot harder for me to get a perfect sight quickly using both eyes. Also, when I try, I see doubles of the target. Not sure how to fix that. Everyone read my second post in my thread "Qualifying Tomorrow" I posted something in it that I would like some help with, and I dont think anyone is going to read it, because it already got tons of views earlier today and last night
Hollywood D
New member
My accuracy probably goes up about 50% using both eyes. I don't really know how to explain this, but I don't use the sights either unless i'm pretty far away. I look at where I want the bullet to go, aim the gun with my hands and it's usually pretty damn close.
Andrew,
What is important is that does it work for you. My father always wanted me to fire with both eyes open, but I always closed one eye (the left).
I started to read on the subject and trained myself on it. My accuracy has improved greatly. Yet, even with it open, the left eye "sees" motion and is blurry but the right eye is stronger to me than I remember.
But, everything should be a blur anyway exept for your sights. The target is blurry, everything around me is blurry, all I see is the front and rear sights with such clarity that I actually put down the gun one time because I noticed that I had gotten a scratch on the top of the slide somehow. I had to take a closer look.
But, everyone shoots, sights different. Like golf, or bowling, you have to find what is right for you and gives you the best shots. It's hard to explain.
On slow fire, I aim and then I shift focus to the target and "burn" into my brain where I wish to hit the target, then I shift to focus on the sights and then put the front sight where my mind says that the area I wish to hit exists and then fire until out or told to stop.
In my years of shooting, I have learned how to keep both eyes open, focus, re-focus, focus, re-focus, as I'm firing, the short pause bringing back to target, fire, etc..
It's really hard to explain, there is no "fix" for everyone and everything. There is no standard that one size fits all. The same goes with guns, carry rigs, everything that deals with any type of 'sport' or personal action.
Try out everything and then develope what works for you. That's all I can say.
Wayne
What is important is that does it work for you. My father always wanted me to fire with both eyes open, but I always closed one eye (the left).
I started to read on the subject and trained myself on it. My accuracy has improved greatly. Yet, even with it open, the left eye "sees" motion and is blurry but the right eye is stronger to me than I remember.
But, everything should be a blur anyway exept for your sights. The target is blurry, everything around me is blurry, all I see is the front and rear sights with such clarity that I actually put down the gun one time because I noticed that I had gotten a scratch on the top of the slide somehow. I had to take a closer look.
But, everyone shoots, sights different. Like golf, or bowling, you have to find what is right for you and gives you the best shots. It's hard to explain.
On slow fire, I aim and then I shift focus to the target and "burn" into my brain where I wish to hit the target, then I shift to focus on the sights and then put the front sight where my mind says that the area I wish to hit exists and then fire until out or told to stop.
In my years of shooting, I have learned how to keep both eyes open, focus, re-focus, focus, re-focus, as I'm firing, the short pause bringing back to target, fire, etc..
It's really hard to explain, there is no "fix" for everyone and everything. There is no standard that one size fits all. The same goes with guns, carry rigs, everything that deals with any type of 'sport' or personal action.
Try out everything and then develope what works for you. That's all I can say.
Wayne
calshooter
Inactive
I can corroborate what the others have related - shooting with both eyes definitely helps and (obviously) increases both depth perception and field of view. When I started shooting around 17 years ago, I was told to use my 'strong eye' (my left). It was uncomfortable to have one eye squeezed shut, and quickly realized having both eyes open, while still using my 'strong eye' for aiming, was ideal. Interestingly enough, I'm right handed, and was told I should use my right eye. Never worked that way.
My current career happens to be in optical alignment and I've always used both eyes in this as well, a carry over from shooting.
My current career happens to be in optical alignment and I've always used both eyes in this as well, a carry over from shooting.
Night Watch
New member
Ya know, everybody's eyesight is a little bit different. What works for one person isn't necessarily going to work for somebody else. You've got 'a do what works for you. If you're shooting a shotgun, sure, keep both eyes open; but I really don't think it matters all that much for rifle or pistol - especially on the first shot.
Lycanthrope
New member
Using both eyes is usually better to shoot quickly although you may have to squint or tape your glasses to get your front sight in focus.
Good for you
I have been doing it for years and find that I can shoot much longer without getting eye strain.
But I find it very hard to teach others how. I found the best way is if they wear glasses to cover one lens and let them shoot.
One other thing that I found, once you get good shooting that way its much easer to shoot with eather eye.
I have been doing it for years and find that I can shoot much longer without getting eye strain.
But I find it very hard to teach others how. I found the best way is if they wear glasses to cover one lens and let them shoot.
One other thing that I found, once you get good shooting that way its much easer to shoot with eather eye.
ClarkEMyers
New member
Both eyes open is best by test but that is not the same as viewing with both eyes
Both eyes open is best by test but that is not the same as viewing with both eyes. Experience shows that closing one eye leads to squinting with the other and that both eyes open is better vision.
However in many cases the off eye is blocked - the fancy international shooting glasses will often have a blinder. Similarly in traditional American bullseye a Merit attachment on the master eye with the off-eye obscured as by spreading a little Vaseline on the safety glass so as to obscure the off eye works.
Hunting with a scope or with a red dot sight or with other sights may give different results as well.
Personally I shoot action pistol with both eyes open, hunt with a Scout Scope and obscure the off eye for serious bullseye, squint for plinking at a gallery range.
Both eyes open is best by test but that is not the same as viewing with both eyes. Experience shows that closing one eye leads to squinting with the other and that both eyes open is better vision.
However in many cases the off eye is blocked - the fancy international shooting glasses will often have a blinder. Similarly in traditional American bullseye a Merit attachment on the master eye with the off-eye obscured as by spreading a little Vaseline on the safety glass so as to obscure the off eye works.
Hunting with a scope or with a red dot sight or with other sights may give different results as well.
Personally I shoot action pistol with both eyes open, hunt with a Scout Scope and obscure the off eye for serious bullseye, squint for plinking at a gallery range.
The best way I found if you are having trouble is to take a piece of frosted scotch tape and put it on your shooting glasses over your weak eye...this will help with the double vision and will let that other eye get use to reamining open.....
filed of view and depth perception are better with two eyes open.
filed of view and depth perception are better with two eyes open.
Well I just got back from the range! DIDNT CLOSE MY EYES ONCE! Well to blink of course.
My shots were a bit more scattered this time around but I was able to get more headshots etc..
What I really found an imporvement in was with range. At 25 yards I was hitting bullseyes. 25 yards may not sound like much but when I tried with 1 eye last time I went to the range I couldnt hit crap.
My shots were a bit more scattered this time around but I was able to get more headshots etc..
What I really found an imporvement in was with range. At 25 yards I was hitting bullseyes. 25 yards may not sound like much but when I tried with 1 eye last time I went to the range I couldnt hit crap.
Stick with whatever works best. I will say that if you want to shoot with both eyes you need to practice, practice, practice. Whichever eye is dominant with do just that-dominate. You have much better peripheral vision with both eyes open and therefore you will recognize much more of the situation.
I started to shoot with one eye, then quickly forced myself to keep both eyes open years ago. I haven't gone back since. For most practical handgun applications, using two eyes is best. If you have a longer than normal shot and you have the time/cover-it's sometimes necessary to really aim and get the best possible sight picture/sight alingment. If that's the situation, you might be better off with using one eye.
I started to shoot with one eye, then quickly forced myself to keep both eyes open years ago. I haven't gone back since. For most practical handgun applications, using two eyes is best. If you have a longer than normal shot and you have the time/cover-it's sometimes necessary to really aim and get the best possible sight picture/sight alingment. If that's the situation, you might be better off with using one eye.