both eyes open

[Roger Fisher]

I try to use both eyes; but often forget.  Maybe that's why I miss

The growing cataracts are no help.

[BrentD]

I try to use both eyes; but often forget.  Maybe that's why I miss

Probably not.  Having shot a good bit with both eyes or just one, I don't see any difference whatsoever on the target, and that's all that matters.

[P.W.Berkuta]

I'm with Roundball on this one . My dad taught me to shoot trap & birds with both eyes open since the age of 9 but I shoot a rifle & pistol with one eye except when the target is moving same with a bow and arrow.

[BrownBear]

When I'm shooting offhand- rifle, smoothbore, shotgun or handgun- it's both eyes.  When I'm shooting from a rest of any kind at all, it's one eye.  Can't explain it, but can't change it either!

[Standing Bear]

Like Daryl, my eyes change dominance.  Even when jumping quail or other shotgunning activities, if I don't close the left eye (to make the mind concentrate on the right eye) during the mount move, I am liable to shoot 3-4 feet left as the left eye is looking over the front of the barrel.

Sooo, when shooting sights, I close the left eye, get the sight picture and then shoot with both eyes open.

TC

[jrice]

Really good comments. I often shoot a Sig 9mm. Had noticed that with left eye closed, my shots were left of the target on the bull. Then I closed my right eye looking over my finger, and noticed my point changed to the right. I will try to shoot with both eyes open. Thanks, Jerry

[marcusb]

I always used one eye, it was the way I was taught. Started using both eyes with peep sites. I suffered from flinch with flintlocks and after trying to shoot them with both eyes open I found the tendencey to flinch was greatly reduced!

[Jerry V Lape]

I find both eyes open is important for hand to eye coordination more than anything else and that is key with a shotgun and moving targets.  My early shotgun coaches included a couple guys now in the hall of fame.  They really knew what they were doing and both eyes open was high on their list.  Some of my kids and grand kids have cross dominance situations so when they started shooting I just moved the gun to the dominate eye side.  With the usual beginners practice they are as natural that way as righthanders are with a right dominate eye. 

[westerner]

I always used one eye, it was the way I was taught. Started using both eyes with peep sites. I suffered from flinch with flintlocks and after trying to shoot them with both eyes open I found the tendencey to flinch was greatly reduced!

I've shot a flintlock two rounds. Flinched both times. The ball hit the ground about twenty feet away. They laughed at me. Both times. They laughed hard. I wanted to shoot them but couldnt because I flinch so bad I could never get the ball near them. And plus I dont know how to load one. I didnt have the priming flask or I could have figured it out myself. Of the bunch that was laughing at me, the biggest one had the priming flask.  Sometimes it's best to join in and laugh with them so I did. I'll get even though.

                Wes Turner

[Dan]

I go both ways.  Shotguns = both open, irons = left eye closed, low powered glass and red dots are both open and high powered glass has me closing the left again.  Coarse peep sights, both open.