One eye or two?

[Armed-N-Ready]

OK, with a scope I close my left eye, with a holo sight or red dot on a rifle both eyes are open. I feel I am more accurate shooting a handgun with both eyes open. It takes a while to get use to this but for me it is the only way to go. Better depth perception, wider field of view and let's face it we don't walk around with one eye closed. I often wondered what happens in an actual self defense situation. Does the shooter even remember if he closed one eye or not?

 

[patience0830]

My eye's can't decide who's in charge when I leave them alone by themselves so I decide and close the left one. If I'm behind a rifle and can take my time and blink the left one a few times I can train the brain to pick the one it wants but pistol is too far away from my face to make it work.

And I want the burglar in the dark scenario to go well so I train like I think I'm gonna have to fight. Under stress I don't want my cranium trying to figure out which sight picture to use.

 

[M67]

I was raised with closing one eye, did it for skeet, rifles, and pistols. I taught myself to use both eyes open (which was tricky, left eye dominant and right handed).

I'm glad I did. You can pick up anything, aim, fire. I can get on my target quicker (especially handgun), I can focus better, and overall I just like it more.

 

[gregkl]

I was raised with closing one eye, did it for skeet, rifles, and pistols. I taught myself to use both eyes open (which was tricky, left eye dominant and right handed).

I'm glad I did. You can pick up anything, aim, fire. I can get on my target quicker (especially handgun), I can focus better, and overall I just like it more.

I am cross dominant the same way you are too. Made it difficult to get any good at shooting archery instinctive with a re curve.

I just started shooting pistol again in over 15 years. Now I require reading glasses to read, do close up work, etc. I am having a hard time with target acquisition, let alone picking up the front blade. I am hoping different sights and practice will help.

 

[esrice]

Both eyes open is ideal. Sometimes however, depending on the shot that needs to be taken, and the circumstances surrounding the shot, it would be beneficial to close the non-dominant eye.

But I'll be honest, I've never closed an eye in force-on-force (that I could later recall), and have only seen my front sight a couple of times.

 

[elliotle]

I close one eye if I'm using magnified optics, otherwise it's both eyes open.

As far as actual self defense situations, I had the good fortune of having a laser installed on my handgun less than 24 hours prior, so both eyes were open.

 

[Sticky]

Both eyes open. It's easier for me to track moving targets that way. Better peripheral vision. With scope, aperture, or open handgun sights my eyes feel more relaxed and less eye strain.

 

[calcot7]

Try the alternate blinking technique. In conjunction with the strobe of a high lumenal output flashlight the effect is devastating.

 

[SmallTownGunner]

As with others I'll use one eye with my rifle since I can take my time but what I encounter with my pistol is I'm right eye dominant-right handed and the problem is my right eye is the worst of the two. My glasses do their part but there's still a noticeable difference so I'm still adjusting to two eyes open.

 

[Armed-N-Ready]

It might be too early to call this one.

So far the "eyes" have it. It really makes sense, we don't really do much with just one eye. Outside of looking through a rifle scope, telescope or microscope I can't think of anything we do with one eye closed. Why give up 50% of your field of view when in a life or death situation. I'd be shocked to find out any real shooting incident where the shooter closed one eye.

 

[Bigshep]

I close one eye ONLY when using a scope. Other than that it seems to disorient me a little bit. Not to where I cant shoot, just the fact that its different and takes away a little bit of situational awareness. I just thank Uncle Sam for that one. Two eyes open is just much much much more natural for me than one eye closed.

 

[dlbrown75]

Depends. If im shooting to hit a small dot and taking my time then one eye open. If im shooting for real life practice then both are open. This is with handgun. With rifle always one eyed.

 

[Grelber]

Have been working on making the transition to both eyes open for about 4 weeks I think.
It gets easier everyday, there are still times though when I have to think before getting the sight picture instead of things being automatic.

 

[You'll shoot your eye out]

I have and use an astronomical telescope. I use both eyes but ignore what my left eye sees since it is not looking into the eyepiece. the result is psychological but it still works, the brain is fooled into seeing a full view as if both eyes were seeing the subject. It's a very common method of viewing with a telescope. I guess it rolls over to my shooting, both of my eyes are open but I am only seeing what the right eye sees.

 

[VN Vet]

Both eyes open. It's easier for me to track moving targets that way. Better peripheral vision. With scope, aperture, or open handgun sights my eyes feel more relaxed and less eye strain.

I agree. I keep both eyes open.

Vv

 

[bcannon]

I shoot my pistol better 2 eyed - my rifle 2 eyed with reflex sight or iron sights - 1 eyed with a scope - anything magnified gets too disorienting 2 eyed

 

[goColt]

Keeping both eyes open is preferred. As mentioned previously this offers better peripheral vision and target tracking. It also helps with depth perception and balance. The more light the brain receives, the better the information you have to figure out what's going on and what to do.

As with many things, you can train yourself to do this. It just takes time, patience and persistence.

 

[Bushido Devil Dog]

I am what I call "forced cross-dominant". I am right handed and naturally right-eye dominant, but thanks to a car accident on SR67 right at the 4-lane to 2-lane merge, I damaged the retina in my right eye, which has ruined my detail vision on that side. Because of this, for rifle/scope work I have to shoot left handed. For pistols I am now ambidextrous, but still mainly carry and shoot right-handed. I still have good peripheral vision in my right eye, but the loss of the ability to see details in the optical center of my vision is a mixed blessing of sorts in that I can now keep both eyes open, and maintain better peripheral vision.

 

[U.S. Patriot]

Depends. If I'm target shooting, one eye closed. If I'm point shooting, both eyes open.

 

[EPD1102]

Both eyes open for combat shooting and anything with iron sights or red-dot sights.
Faster target acquisition and better field of view around me for better situational awareness.
One eye open only if using magnified optics for precision shooting.