Police Officer Preparation & Law Enforcement Resource - Archive

Reading the other thread about dominant eyes made me wonder, how many of you shoot with both eyes open. Somehow I picked up this habbit years ago. I sight the gun with one eye and look at the target with the other. I'm basicly looking through the gun at the target.

I find this works great for me, and I always qualify with a high score. But I don't know anyone else who does this. I know I'm strange, but does it extend all the way to the way I shoot? :)

You should shoot in whatever manner lets you hit the target consistantly, no matter what anyone else says about which way is "right"

From the time I started shooting...I have always closed my left eye...maybe that stemmed from the fact that I was looking thru scopes too...When I started shooting handguns it was just a natural thing for me...I never really had to think about it....I have tried to use left eye...but it always gets tired fast....so it doesn't do me too much good...I have never tried to shoot with both eyes open....Maybe I will try it this weekend....Never really found it odd though....If that works for you then that works for you...I have always just focused on the front site with a blurry but distinct target ahead....

But what I do find odd is that I shoot better with my non-dominant hand....

I shoot both eyes open out to about 5-6 yards, then I use my right eye.

Originally posted by txinvestigator1
I shoot both eyes open out to about 5-6 yards, then I use my right eye.

Same here....

I usually just close my eyes and pray....or I'll look where I'm running towards while shooting back over my shoulder.

Or use a sawn-off shotgun. Doesn't matter where you aim, it'll hit the target. It'll hit everything else besides, mind you...

it really depends on the situation, if i'm qualifying for score, i close my left eye. shooting such as in cqb situations, i point shoot with both eyes open using my thumb as reference.

LFPd

You a 1911 shooter??

nope, glock 22

As already mentioned, just make sure you hit what you are aiming for. However, there are advantages to shooting with both eyes open.... the biggest of which is further cutting down on tunnel vision. When you close one eye you are losing a lot of peripheral vision that could very well save your arse!

I'd never say one is "right". I feel safe saying that both eyes open may be better, assuming you can shoot as well as you can with one eye closed. Both eyes open can be rather difficult to learn. However, I know a couple really good techniques to get there... the best of which involves vaseline over your non-dominant eye.

I would never condone the "P" word though. :) When discussing pointshooting, we may as well start discussing abortion and evolution... that's how heated it can get. :) I say ALWAYS train with the sights, knowing that you are probably going to lose them in a shootout anyways. That being said, I also know (first hand), with some practice you should be able to go through your entire draw with your eyes closed and then open them to find your sights lined up.

Even with a rifle, I learned to shoot with both eyes open. Though, for the longer range shots, I would always close my left eye when finalizing my sight picture. Both eyes open really made the army pop-ups easier to pick up, though. It just stuck with me.

I'm right handed and left eye dominant so when I'm shooting a pistol I look through the sights with my left eye. Looks kind of funny with my head hunched over, but it works. I use my right eye for rifle though. I always keep both eyes open and just focus on the sight picture no matter what I'm shooting.