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One eye or two

Posted By: TGC

One eye or two - 10/30/2015 8:35 PM

When shooting a pistol, w/open sights, w/2 hands, holding the pistol straight out from the middle of your face, do you guys aim with one eye or do you keep both eyes open when aiming the pistol?

I have always aimed w/one eye like a rifle, but it has recently struck me that, w/the gun in the middle of my face, and aiming w/one eye (I'm a lefty) I have a lot of trouble shooting to the right.
A rifle you put it to your shoulder and you aim from one side of your head, so it works, but with the pistol being moved to the center of your face and only aiming w/one eye you are looking at the sights from an angle. Are you with me?:)
Posted By: Chance Weldon

Re: One eye or two - 10/30/2015 8:55 PM

I shoot right handed, but look down the sights with my left eye (using only my left eye, I should say) because I'm left eye dominant. Seems to work for me.
Posted By: KRal

Re: One eye or two - 10/30/2015 10:03 PM

Regardless of weapon or sighting devises, you should use both eyes. That is the correct way to shoot. Can it be done with one eye? Yes.

Think of this: if you want to hear something better; do you plug one ear?
Posted By: Sam86

Re: One eye or two - 10/30/2015 11:08 PM

It's a scientific fact that you will be more accurate with the non dominate eye closed.

Everyone is different though, and what works for some doesn't for others so do which ever is natural or best for you.

Rifle/pistol I shoot with non-dom eye closed

Recurve I shoot with non-dom closed

Compound I shoot both open and sometimes non-dom closed

Now if you have astigmatism you most likely will not be able to shoot both open with out correction. My grandma and sister are optometrist and this is their statement, I have asked them this before. They both also shoot lol
Posted By: eastex

Re: One eye or two - 10/30/2015 11:47 PM

I shoot everything with both eyes open except a variable power handgun scope then I close my non dominate eye
Posted By: Raptortrapper

Re: One eye or two - 10/31/2015 7:05 PM

I shoot everything (bow, rifle, pistol) with both open except when using a scope.
Posted By: wheeler45

Re: One eye or two - 10/31/2015 10:27 PM

With both eyes open I see one front sight and two targets;if looking at the target I see two front sights. Ergo, I must close the non-dominant eye. In order to leave both eyes open I must wear an occluder over the non-dominant eye. This was all learned in the 1970s during NRA Bullseye pistol competition. Even with scopes I must close one eye.
Posted By: s4s4u

Re: One eye or two - 11/01/2015 12:42 AM

My eyesight has gone downhill rapidly over the last few years and the only guns I regularly shoot irons on are my little carry guns. I tend to squint the off-eye when I shoot the little things, even though I try to keep both open. Most of my hunting guns sport an UltraDot or reflex sight and those I prefer both eyes open, as I do low powered LER pistol scopes. The tube, or frame, of the sight practically disappears into the perifery with both eyes open making occular size nearly imaterial, and you can actually hit your target even if you cover up the objective lens of a sight with both eyes open as the off eye still allows you to see the dot on the target even if your shooting eye can't see it. I have surprized many an unfamiliar shooter with this tactic. It makes target acquisition much faster, especially when it comes to moving targets.

My shooting hand and my dominant eye are on the same side. Cross dominance can really mess things up. It all comes down to whatever works for you.
Posted By: bluecow

Re: One eye or two - 11/01/2015 10:17 AM

both eyes open.
Posted By: ratgunner

Re: One eye or two - 11/01/2015 1:15 PM

One eye open and squint the non dominant eye.
Posted By: TGC

Re: One eye or two - 11/01/2015 2:01 PM

 Originally Posted By: wheeler45
With both eyes open I see one front sight and two targets;if looking at the target I see two front sights.


This is my deal too.

Think what I will try is keep using the dom. eye and move the gun to that side of my head instead of inline with my nose.

Good answers to the question. Thanks.
Posted By: FA834ME

Re: One eye or two - 11/01/2015 2:53 PM

I have a friend that is a well known Master IPSC shooter from days gone by and is cross dominant. He would hold his pistol in the natural position and turn his head to line up his dominant eye with sights. Both eyes open. Unorthodox technique but just shows what a determined man can do.
Posted By: Bearbait in NM

Re: One eye or two - 11/01/2015 3:23 PM

I too am right handed, left eye dominant, shoot both eyes open. Now that I look at my sight picture, I see that I do have two images of the gun out front, but have trained myself to ignore the one on the left. And every adjustable sighted handgun I own has the rear sight blade biased a smidge to the right.

It wasn't until I started shooting red dots on handguns that I actually really tried to develop and understand both eyes open, even with iron sights.

Craig
Posted By: nytracker

Re: One eye or two - 11/01/2015 7:22 PM

Left handed left eye dominant. Shoot rifle and handgun , right eye squinted to compinsate for stigmatsm in left eye. Glasses on doesnt matter anymore. Both eyes open for shotgun. Wear glasses all the time . I shoot rifle or shotgun either hand equally well. I am much more comfortable shooting handguns left handed... that said my kill shot on my buck at 30 yds reaching around tree with my weak hand (right) squinted left eye shot through throat patch for the finish shot. I guess I learned to compinsate over the years ... never really closed an eye so i never lost much depth or field of view.
Posted By: 500WE

Re: One eye or two - 11/03/2015 12:54 PM

Two eyes open, squint non-dominant one when I have to.
Posted By: 460man

Re: One eye or two - 11/09/2015 2:24 AM

I usually have both eyes open to acquire my target. I seem to have trouble finding my animal in the pistol scope with left eye shut, I am right dominant and shoot right handed. Once I acquire target I close non dominant eye. Try both and use what works best for you.
The goal is a well placed shot and quick clean kill.
Posted By: sureshot43

Re: One eye or two - 11/20/2015 8:35 AM

I just recently started shooting shotgun with both eyes open, and my hit ratio is way up. I'm starting to shoot hangun with both eyes open, and am finding it easier also. Scoped rifle, one eye. DISCLAIMER*** I am no expert by any stetch of My imagination.
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