Do you shoot with both eyes open or one eye closed? - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

SubReel · 06-06-2005, 08:32 PM

When I first started shooting I shot with one eye closed. When I took an NRA course it was recommended to shoot with both eyes open to be able to see your surroundings. I have been practicing focusing in on the sights and shooting with both eyes open and wanted to know what everyone else around here does.

polarbear · 06-06-2005, 08:35 PM

i have shot with one eye open since i started shooting...i have been trying to get myself out of the habit. Hard to train for both eyes.

one-eyed-fatman · 06-06-2005, 08:37 PM

Scary!!!! Went shooting the other day and noticed my left eye was closing slightly and my right eye was opening some. Now what's a one eyed fatman doing that for?

bobert1 · 06-06-2005, 08:40 PM

I shoot with one eye closed. I am trying to learn to keep both eyes open. For my competition shooting it's the fastest way to aquire your next target. I fear I may be too old to learn any new tricks though.

ampleworks · 06-06-2005, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobert1

I shoot with one eye closed. I am trying to learn to keep both eyes open. For my competition shooting it's the fastest way to aquire your next target. I fear I may be too old to learn any new tricks though.

I'm not an old dog (relatively speaking) but after shooting guns for still close to 15 years (I'm 22), the left eye closed is still the thing with me. Given either of us ever move to Open division, we have to force those eyeballs open eh Bob?

KoG · 06-06-2005, 09:38 PM

Can't seem to break the habit of closing my left eye. All that practice for rifle team made it pretty much subconscious.

poortrader · 06-06-2005, 10:05 PM

Sub,

I also learned to shoot with both eyes open at the NRA class. It's amazing how much better I am shooting now. I didn't realize all I had to do was focus on the front sight to acquire my target.

slowpoke13 · 06-06-2005, 10:40 PM

A guy I work with was stuck shooting with one eye. His instructor put him on the range with a patch over his dominant eye. Still standing his normal stance. He was forced to use his non-dominant eye. After getting used to it, the patch was removed and he got used to using both eyes. It worked for him. Dunno if it'd work for me if I was stuck on one eye.

KoG · 06-06-2005, 10:45 PM

i'll have to give that a whirl. My only other option is to have somebody throw a brick at me when I close my eye...

Eric_Oh · 06-06-2005, 11:18 PM

The firearms course i took also taught to shoot both eyes open. The instructor's outlook on it was that it was always gonna be more tactically beneficial to have both eyes open at all times. First however, we had to master focusing and aligning the sight with our dominant eye. If someone had a hard time remembering to use their dominant eye or weren't just naturally doing it, then they would have to cover the non-dominant eye with a patch or just close it. When they were now out of habit, able to use their dominant eye, then they could practice and continue the course using both eyes open.

View Poll Results: Do you shoot with both eyes open or one eye closed?
both eyes open	100	59.17%
one eye closed	69	40.83%
Voters: 169. You may not vote on this poll

06-06-2005, 08:32 PM	#1
SubReel XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: NJ Posts: 103	Do you shoot with both eyes open or one eye closed? When I first started shooting I shot with one eye closed. When I took an NRA course it was recommended to shoot with both eyes open to be able to see your surroundings. I have been practicing focusing in on the sights and shooting with both eyes open and wanted to know what everyone else around here does. __________________ Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. ~ Wendell Phillips

06-06-2005, 08:35 PM	#2
polarbear XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 188	i have shot with one eye open since i started shooting...i have been trying to get myself out of the habit. Hard to train for both eyes. __________________ XD-9 4\" Service Springfield 1911 Black stainless steel .45 Browning Buckmark .22 NRA EPL MEMBER “Wisdom is knowing what to do next; virtue is doing it.” David Starr Jordan

06-06-2005, 08:37 PM	#3
one-eyed-fatman XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 9,990	Scary!!!! Went shooting the other day and noticed my left eye was closing slightly and my right eye was opening some. Now what's a one eyed fatman doing that for? __________________ http://home.houston.rr.com/gunpics/images/one%20eye.wav

06-06-2005, 08:40 PM	#4
bobert1 XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Dayton, Ohio Posts: 561	I shoot with one eye closed. I am trying to learn to keep both eyes open. For my competition shooting it's the fastest way to aquire your next target. I fear I may be too old to learn any new tricks though. __________________ XD9 Service Bi-Tone for Production XD9 Compact Bi-Tone for carry XD45 ACP Tactical Bi-Tone for L10 w/ PG SS Magwell ROCK RIVER CAR A4 w/EOTECH for side matches USMC Veteran USPSA CRO - TY51981 (forever 'C' Class)

06-06-2005, 09:38 PM	#6
KoG XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Reno, Nevada Posts: 279	Can't seem to break the habit of closing my left eye. All that practice for rifle team made it pretty much subconscious. __________________ Where are you taking me and why am I in this handbasket?

06-06-2005, 10:05 PM	#7
poortrader XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Philly, back to school Posts: 231	Sub, I also learned to shoot with both eyes open at the NRA class. It's amazing how much better I am shooting now. I didn't realize all I had to do was focus on the front sight to acquire my target. __________________ Stupid people will Always be stupid. XD-40 SC Les Baer PII, Kimber Warrior,Kimber Ultra Carry II/SS Walther P22 5" Sig P226R, Sig P225 DSA STG 58 Para, Colt 6721, RRA Entry Tactical

06-06-2005, 10:40 PM	#8
slowpoke13 XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NoVA, Washington DC Posts: 382	A guy I work with was stuck shooting with one eye. His instructor put him on the range with a patch over his dominant eye. Still standing his normal stance. He was forced to use his non-dominant eye. After getting used to it, the patch was removed and he got used to using both eyes. It worked for him. Dunno if it'd work for me if I was stuck on one eye. __________________ XD-9 SC Southpaw

06-06-2005, 10:45 PM	#9
KoG XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Reno, Nevada Posts: 279	i'll have to give that a whirl. My only other option is to have somebody throw a brick at me when I close my eye... __________________ Where are you taking me and why am I in this handbasket?

06-06-2005, 11:18 PM	#10
Eric_Oh XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 538	The firearms course i took also taught to shoot both eyes open. The instructor's outlook on it was that it was always gonna be more tactically beneficial to have both eyes open at all times. First however, we had to master focusing and aligning the sight with our dominant eye. If someone had a hard time remembering to use their dominant eye or weren't just naturally doing it, then they would have to cover the non-dominant eye with a patch or just close it. When they were now out of habit, able to use their dominant eye, then they could practice and continue the course using both eyes open. __________________ XD-40 Service Bi-Tone Glock 19 9mm SigSauer P220ST .45acp

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