Back in boy scout camp where I learned to shoot a 22, the instructions were" close your left eye look at the sights with your right ....". Now of course I use a scope and still close my left eye. I'm curious if any of you shoot (rifle) with both eyes open. If so do you see a benefit?
I'm left eye dominant so I'd have to switch to shooting lefty in order to keep both eyes open. I'm no sniper but I get by with my left eye closed, still we all want to inprove and if I thought both eyes open would be better I'd try.
Anyone have any thoughts on the subject ?
TerryR

I have always shot with both eyes open. I cannot ever remmber shooting with one eye closed.

With a scope on low power settings I have no problem with two eyes open and usually keep them both open. With a very high powered setting, 10X and above, I get distracted and usually close the left eye somewhat. Don't know why.

Ja, being right eye dominant and a right handed shooter, I keep both eyes open and can concentrate on the sights or scope picture from the right eye only. Especially for low power fast shooting, but also at high powers and deliberate aiming, it is easy to ignore the tiny image from the left eye versus the big one in the scope.

Good reason for the left-eyed shooter to learn to shoot left-handed, even if he is right-handed in other things.

I always shoot with both eyes open, even with higher power scopes. It's always seemed natural to do it that way to me.

Yes, both eyes open always...

TerryR,
i can forcebly keep my left eye open (right handed/right eye dominant) just long enough to "find" my field of view, then no way.

I have struggled tremendously attempting to shoot a shotgun 2 eyed (can't get it done).

I know & have heard (and believe)every single analogy about 2 eyed shooting (driving, swinging a baseball bat, field of vision, depth perception ... all of them). It doesn't work for me, so I have quit making myself miserable trying to change, like you, I win no awards (anymore), but I can shoot minute of buffalo & don't embarass myself with a scattergun, so I just accept it. Hope it works for you though.
Mike

try as i may, i can't keep both eyes open when shooting rifle or pistol. shotgun is ok though. I think to many years of concentration in target shooting have much to do with it.

There is no right or wrong. There are as many good shots that use either way. I shhot rifles and bows with left eye closed, but shotgunning birds I shoot with both eyes open looking at the bird, not at my barrel.

I shoot with both eyes open.

But my left 'eye' is glass.

Does that count?

I shut my left eye just before I squeeze the trigger.

I squient and shoot, thats what John Wayne did in Rooster Cogburn.... doubt that it makes any difference one way or the other..I close one eye sometimes, sometimes not...All I really care about is a controled jerk on the trigger.

with both eyes open.

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Anyone have any thoughts on the subject ?
TerryR

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I shoot left but am right eye dominant. While tracking an animal using a scope I keep both eyes open but close my right eye when doing the final aim.

i only have 1 eye so i dont have this problem

BOTH EYES CLOSED. NO WONDER I KEEP MISSING.

All you two eyes open, superior feeling weenies be damned!

I shoot left-eye-scrunched-shut-tighter-than-a-virgin's-thighs and right eye lookin' through my high-powered German or Ausrian scope at what's going to die!

And milliseconds later, it damned well does! So, with both eyes open, consider that!

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Originally posted by 700 nitro:
i only have 1 eye so i dont have this problem

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Hope the glass eye stays in when shooting the .700. You might scare your PH very seriously that way!

I keep both eyes open.

With sights or scopes I shoot both eyes open. With my cameras I use my left eye but also keep the right eye ope to see that the flash has fired.
I had to swith some years ago when I discovered that my focusing was becoming slow and methodical.
I am having more and more problems shooting irons and just went through the process of adding larging diameter front sights to most of my rifles. I have several with the H&H night sight and find it to be the easiest one to use when the light dims down.
Frank

I can shoot either way but with my right eye going to pot I have decided to stock up on left handed guns. Hard to part with my right handed guns but sooner or later they will be worthless as shooters.

IIRC military tactical schools require you to shoot booth eyes open.

I am teaching my step son and daughters to shoot both eyes open.

Both eyes open; enables me to see the animal's reaction to the shot better than thru a recoiling scope.

Squinting the non-dominant eye has an adverse effect on the dominant/aiming eye, contributing to eye fatique. This becomes more evident in long range competitive shooting with iron sights.

While not practical in hunting situations, many target shooters place a small piece of opaque scotch tape in the center of their non-dominant glasses lense to help them hold the eye open. This allows peripheral vision without distraction.

If interested in developing the habit of shooting with both eyes open one might try this technique at the range to see if it helps.

Have shot with many competitors who shoot non-dominant eye shut, so if it works for you, go for it! If you would like to try keeping both eyes open, hope the tape helps.

Regards,
hm

my eyes isnt glass its made from coral....yes as in coral reef with a arcrilic front section its one of the most tecnological advanced ocular prositsis in the world

Ha!! I shut BOTH eyes!!! and it helps to flinch just before shutting them.

Just kidding