Do you close one eye?

[Gsyme]

Have two friends who are more experienced shooters than I am. One says both eyes open, the other says only do that with a shotgun. What do you all recommend and why? I am still newbie enough to develop good or bad habits. I've been shooting with both eyes open most of the time - whether I am using a scope or open sight - but I mostly use open sights.

- G

 

[kball]

I'm not a seasoned bench shooter like others that will probably respond to this and I am really curious what they will say. But in my opinion if the eye you are looking through the scope with is your dominate eye and what your other eye is seeing does not muss up your sight picture (or confuse your brain) then by all means keep them both open. Wish I could do that but I'm left eye dominate and shoot a rifle right handed.

 

[sticman77]

i go with whatever you're more comfortable with!

if i'm using a red dot, or 1-4x or so, i naturally use both eyes out of habit from training with the red dot.

higher magnification i find both eyes open to be disorientating, and go with one eye. and i learned open sights with one eye open so continue to do so.

 

[Calbarry]

For years I shot with my left eye closed. A few years ago, I tried shooting with both eyes open. Now I shoot with both eyes open. To me, there's less strain and you get a bigger FOV with both eyes open. Use the system that your most comfortable with. 

 

[pdxFrank]

Keep them both open. Use a blinder when shooting for fun.

 

[douger]

both eyes open for sure 

 

[bandg]

Everyone will be different. What works best for douger might not work best for others.

 

[esingle]

Hello Its a matter of personal preference, I prefer both eyes open but some people with dominate eye issues may be forced to use one eye. Eric

 

[Longfellow]

+1 on using both eyes for red dots. My right eye is my strong eye and I'm right handed; so I usually close my left eye when using a scope / peep sights / open sights.

 

[GoldenStateAIRGUNer]

Both open ! 

 

[Lt.Dan]

Both eye open.

 

[Glenroiland]

Both open

 

[boscoebrea]

Both eyes open,you will get used to it,,dominate eye will remain dominant and there is less strain when shooting with both eyes open,No squinting,but you can relax,,,hey that is what it about relaxing,no jerking,follow through....practice and it will come young Skywalker.

 

[SeeOhTwo]

I was taught to keep both eyes open. I feel comfortable with it and you can see if anything is unknowingly entering your "field of fire" that you don't want to put a hole in.

Cheers,

Glenn in Texas

 

[thebeav]

Both open w/blinder......

 

[bltefft]

I can shoot with both eyes open, but I'm more comfortable closing my left eye. I'm a right-handed shooter. Same for archery.

 

[r1lover]

One eye open for rifle and pistol, scoped or not.

Both eyes open for trap, skeet and wing shooting.

My right eye is dominant but not by much.

 

[Lewis]

Now I'm really confused. When shooting backwards in a mirror, which eye do I close?

Judging from my targets most would think I close both eyes!

 

[fuznut]

Think about it, do you close one eye when you throw a football or baseball? How about when you line up a shot on a pool table? The brain is use to both open, best to shoot everything that way if you can. Dominate eye is a much bigger deal, if your left dominate and shooting right handed thats much worse than closing one eye. Most important of all is after 50 never go around a mirror. 

 

[tjmac]

As a field target shooter, I keep both eyes open. My left eye sees the level, wind conditions and anything moving that gives real time data to make a better shot. Holding off six inches on one shot and one inch on the next shot, to hit the same target, can only be done if your input is real time. This may be specific to field target, but hunting would probably be about the same.