both eyes open

[smylee grouch]

Talk at work the other day was why every one was having hard time hitting the deer they were shooting at with every one offering up opinions. I mentioned that they should be shooting with both eyes open and got alot of blank stairs. I have been doing that for 40 years but it sounds like I'm in the minority. How about the members of the forum, one eye or two?    Gary

[LynnC]

Both open
Makes the target lots brighter......Lynn

[Daryl]

I shoot right handed.  Both right and left eyes are too close in dominance to each other  so I must close one when deliberately shooting a rifle.

When shooting a pelter, I keep both eyes open and only look at the intended target. I don't even see the end of the barrel, except when shooting a flintlock pelter - then left eye closed and deliberate lead and pull.

With iron sights (or scope) and both eyes open, my dominance changes, right/left/right/left/right/left- objects - ie; sights and target jumping left and right, bakc and forth- must close left eye when shooting right handed, right eye when shooting left handed. 

The only time I don't do this in deliberate fire, is with metalics in prone - then I use both eyes open and a blinder over the left eye, so only the right eye cans see the sights and target.  Having both eyes open helps reduce fatigue in the eyes.

[Don Getz]

Daryl.........Cody was right, he always told me you guys were different.    ......................Don

[JoeG]

Many years ago the Army taught me shoot with both eyes open ,
been shooting that way ever since.
works great with peep and open sights



 

[Al Lapp]

I shoot with both eyes open, Better field of view during hunting conditions. Also as a young hunter I bought my first scope and at that time I always closed my left eye, came across an elk at about 15 yds, closed one eye, looked through the scope and all I seen was hair. Then it disappeared, he had stepped down into a gully. After that I used both eyes Iron sights, handguns, The works.    Al

[westerner]

I keep both eyes open but have to us a blinder.  A targ dot stuck to the lense is all I need.  Works the same, looks funny.  Children point.

                     Joe.

[Dave Faletti]

I keep both eyes open for any type of shooting.  I see only what I want to out of each.  The only exception has been with open sights and cross sticks.  Having the stick blocking my view bugs me and I sometimes close that eye.  I think it depends on if one eye is much more dominant or if they about equal.

[Leatherbelly]

I close them both!

[Gene Carrell]

I shoot (hunting or target) with both eyes open. Being right -handed I concentrate on  what is in my right eye, but the left will aid 'situational awareness' and may provide some benefit as to sight/target brightness.

[Ben I. Voss]

Leatherbelly, maybe that's my problem, too!!

[BrentD]

If you have strong dominance of one eye over the other, then shooting with both eyes open is easy.  If you have weak dominance, or lack a dominant eye on your strong side, then you will have issues, and one eyed shooting may be much better. 

For me, the strength of my right eye's dominance has lessened over time.  So, now I can occasionally confuse the blade with my left eye.  Shooting aperture sights may make this more significant since the aperture steals some light making the dominance of the right eye weaker yet. 

In any event the BEST way to shoot is the way that works BEST  - for you, with a given sighting system, in a given set of environmental conditions. 

The only thing that counts is whether you hit what you are aiming at.  The rest is irrelevant.

[bdixon]

Both open, really don't think about it.  Try to be as natural as possible.


Brett.

[Daryl]

If you have strong dominance of one eye over the other, then shooting with both eyes open is easy.  If you have weak dominance, or lack a dominant eye on your strong side, then you will have issues, and one eyed shooting may be much better. 

For me, the strength of my right eye's dominance has lessened over time.  So, now I can occasionally confuse the blade with my left eye.  Shooting aperture sights may make this more significant since the aperture steals some light making the dominance of the right eye weaker yet. 

In any event the BEST way to shoot is the way that works BEST  - for you, with a given sighting system, in a given set of environmental conditions. 

The only thing that counts is whether you hit what you are aiming at.  The rest is irrelevant.

Good point, Brent - I hadn't thought of that - age having an effect, along with the light stealing properties of apertures and that possible effect on dominance.

I just found out the other day, that my 89year old Mother is left eyed - but she didn't know.  She was switched to right handed writing, early in her life, but pitched ball left handed - up until a just few years ago, she bowled right handed - top women senior league bowler for over 20 years.  Taylor is left handed, left eyed, yet he shoots rifles right handed, handguns left handed. Don could be right, then. Guess maybe Cody's got something there.

[James Rogers]

Not only can age cause dominance weaknesses, but fatigue can also a big factor for all ages.

[ehoff]

I shoot with both eyes open, it just seems natural.

[The Original Griz]

Leatherbelly took my response, and my targets prove it
I actually can't shoot with both open, I see too many targets that way, but my son shoots with both eyes open.

[omark]

ive used both eyes for 60 yrs now, except the rare occassion i shoot a scope. i do find if i take a long time sighting, i sometimes close my left, but all normal shooting is with both. i see the doubles people talk about, but have done it enough, i just ignore the double.   mark

[hanshi]

I usually shoot with both open but the left is mostly in a squint.

[Leatherbelly]

Twenty years ago (or more), I use to shoot a lot of trap/sporting clays and for shot, I'd have both eyes open. Felt more natural. I tried that shooting roundball in my smoothie,Ha! all over the place! So I tried both open until I focused on the target,squinted my left eye to closed, and squeezed off.bingo,I hit some! With a cheating rifle , I close my left. As age does it's process, I've noticed also that eye dominance is lessening...so WTH!, I might as well close them both! just kidding
....My son! I hate aging!...

[Flinter]

I shoot with both eyes open. Since I’m from south Arkansas, I have the ability to move one eye like a Chameleon.

Generally, I shoot with both eyes open, but I have noticed: when I shoot my flintlock from 100 yards, using sand bags, at a 2” orange circle that is stuck on a white pie plate, the target seems clearer when I close my left eye.

Well… now you guys know I am a professional fisherman. 

Mike

[roundball]

Both eyes for all sorts of moving targets with smoothbores...master eye only for precise aiming at stationary targets with a rifle

[Luke MacGillie]

Interesting thread:

I shoot a modern M4 type rifle with a red dot scope both eyes open, with right eye looking thru the scope as all I have to do is put red dot on target and pull the trigger. 

Never tried it with non peep sight type irons.....

[Daryl]

Luke- I've done that as well with the iluminated dot sights - dark irons are major different - at least for me.

[westerner]

If I dont use a blinder over my left eye, I see the barrel pointing way left with both eyes open. I started shooting with both eyes open in my early thirty's after reading about the benefits in a shooting article. If my memory serves me, 
The article said it made no difference if a blinder was used. Still a big advantage to keep both eyes open.





         Joe.