Eyes...open or closed?

BuckMan101 · #1 06-02-2019, 08:10 AM

Might seem like a dumb question to some, but which is actually better. Shooting with eyes open or one eye closed? Or should you change depending on rifle/ handgun ?

Also what is the best handgun grip for accuracy? parallel, c clamp, etc... looking for suggestions.

lyallpeder · #2 06-02-2019, 08:30 AM

I say always open, and this is a good grip to try.
https://youtu.be/4vY5B2Hjwkk

NinjaHunter · #3 06-02-2019, 08:37 AM

I'm in the camp of both eyes open due to less eye fatigue.

Though, it took a lot of dry firing sessions before becoming used to it. In both scoped and open sights.

Nyksta · #4 06-02-2019, 08:40 AM

Depends on your brains eye dominance and what handed you shoot. Some people have a stronger perception with their left eye even though they are right handed. This causes picking up the front sight with the wrong eye and being way off target.

elkhunter11 · #5 06-02-2019, 09:06 AM

I shoot with both eyes open for rifle, handgun, shotgun and archery.

Bigwoodsman · #6 06-02-2019, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

I shoot with both eyes open for rifle, handgun, shotgun and archery.

X2.
If you want to be a proficient shooter learn to shoot with both eyes open!

BW

catnthehat · #7 06-02-2019, 12:54 PM

I have many friends who shoot with one eye closed and some who have to shoot opposite their master eyes for several reasons/ some are past national champions so it can work .
I also have many friends who shoot with both eyes open ( myself included )
Many who are past Provincial and National champions .
I believe that there is no “ right “ answer when it comes to the proper sight picture as some people do not shoot enough to take advantage of using both eyes open.
There are many more important things that need to be stressed first , especially when shooting with open sights and offhand

Cat

Deer Hunter · #8 06-02-2019, 01:19 PM

It's different for everybody depending on how their less-dominant eyes behaves compared to the dominant.

Pathfinder76 · #9 06-02-2019, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deer Hunter

It's different for everybody depending on how their less-dominant eyes behaves compared to the dominant.

This is why you choose your hand based on eye dominance. Not the other way around.

obsessed1 · #10 06-02-2019, 02:36 PM

My eye dominance has changed from right to left. When shooting a scoped rifle I tend to close my left unless it's very low magnification. With open sight rifles I have to close my left or I can't even locate the sights in my vision picture. Rifle with peeps, hand guns,and shotguns I close my left eye for "a while"'then open both before I break the shot and my right continues to act as dominant. Used to shoot both open until about 3 years ago when my vision changed

Wrongside · #11 06-02-2019, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuck

This is why you choose your hand based on eye dominance. Not the other way around.

Exactly.

marxman · #12 06-02-2019, 05:33 PM

I am right eye dominant and right handed although I shoot left because of my vision. I close my other eye. I doubt if it makes any difference in rifle shooting, after you decide on your target and start lining it up surely you don’t need the other eye

honda450 · #13 06-02-2019, 06:12 PM

I shoot with both eyes open, habit, my Dad shot that way as well.

Guess it boils down to what your more comfortable with.

TrollGRG · #14 06-02-2019, 08:22 PM

If you expect to miss your first shot and need a followup quickly - keep both eyes open. If you expect that an army of zombies (or something else) is bearing down on you and you have to find a second target quickly - keep both eyes open.

If you have trouble with depth perception when using a scope at 6, 7, 8 magnification - close one eye (not the one looking through the scope)
If your off eye causes you to lose the sight picture (even if it is not your dominant eye) - close one eye.

In other words do what is comfortable for you - don't do what others say to do or what they do.

Fishfirlife · #15 06-03-2019, 02:00 AM

Like any firearms course for your PAL or hunters course you should learn to shoot eyes open so you don’t loose your field of view when bringing up your rifle scope to the animal or iron sights with a shotgun I find two eyes and shoot with middle finger so your index finger is along the receiver to point at the target.
My question is for long range is it better to take a deep breath when you squeeze the trigger or exhale as you shoot ?

fps plus · #16 06-03-2019, 05:59 AM

Sometimes I shoot with my eyes closed but generally have better results with my eyes open

gtr · #17 06-03-2019, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fps plus

Sometimes I shoot with my eyes closed but generally have better results with my eyes open

You must be a sako owner.

Scottmisfits · #18 06-03-2019, 07:54 AM

I can shoot with eyes open or one eye closed, it doesn't seem to affect my point of impact at all.
I shoot right, shoot archery right, and I can do both left as well, just not as comfortable. I have also Robin hooded both left and right handed, at 20 yards.
I am right handed by nature but most sports I do left, hockey, golf, etc. Yet when I use a spotting scope or a range finder, I gravitate to my left eye. I'm not sure why, but my right is my dominant eye.

Dewey Cox · #19 06-03-2019, 08:03 AM

I close an eye.

tullfan · #20 06-03-2019, 08:15 AM

I can only see out of my left eye. I think both eyes are open when I shoot, lol. As long as I can see something, I know 50% of me is doing its job.
Tullfan

fps plus · #21 06-03-2019, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtr

You must be a sako owner.

6.5 creedmore

pg733 · #22 06-03-2019, 03:43 PM

if you can shoot better with both eyes open,then there's your answer..
i shoot with both eyes open..

it helps..

waldedw · #23 06-04-2019, 06:12 AM

I'm a right handed shooter by nature but unfortunately i'm also left eye dominant so it's tough to shoot with both eyes open, the boys at the trap club have been on me for years to shoot with both eyes but I cross fire and can't hit poop, have tried all the gadgets there is for front sight blockers etc. and just said to heck with it and close my left eye and shoot, same with my scopes, one eye and good to go.

58thecat · #24 06-04-2019, 08:15 AM

I wide shut and yank the trigger.....

Everyone is different.

SHORTMAG · #25 06-09-2019, 05:02 AM

For me, both eyes open...sporting clays, skeet, trap, AND behind my scopes and pistols !

raised by wolves · #26 06-09-2019, 10:24 AM

Try both styles and see what works best. It's personal preference. As a kid shooting competition I always closed the disengaged eye. Out hunting it was both eyes open, whether it be shotgunning for birds and either iron sights or a scope on a rifle.

Some schools still advocate for closing the disengaged eye. Not sure about the current military doctrine but when I joined the CF was still flogging closing an eye. This drove me nuts when I was on the range during Basic. I remember being screamed at by some PONTI of an NCO and junior whistle range officers, for keeping both eyes open. It got funnier and louder when I challenged the course WO and the range officer to a shoot but that's for another thread.

My son is still young and he is experimenting with both styles. He's on the fence about his preference. I would like to advocate for both eyes open but it has to be the his preference for the overall ergonomics of shooting.