OzFclass

Although most would swear that I shoot with both eye's closed, they're actually both open. I do it that way because when I started shooting 6 years ago, everything I read regarding shooting in general said that was the correct way.

I've seen plenty of great shooters come from both camps.

Do you shoot 1 or 2 eyes open? Why?

2 open

In general, two eyes open is far better. And in a relaxed focus mode.

You will notice this more after a long 20 shot string. Squinting or closing of one eye often gradually changes the focus of the other one over a period of time.

Hence the eye patch often used by many top pistol and many small bore and air rifle shooting.

Some do not like the eyepatch when shooting outdoors in bright light.

Peter Smith.

pjifl wrote:In general, two eyes open is far better. And in a relaxed focus mode.

You will notice this more after a long 20 shot string. Squinting or closing of one eye often gradually changes the focus of the other one over a period of time.

Hence the eye patch often used by many top pistol and many small bore and air rifle shooting.

Some do not like the eyepatch when shooting outdoors in bright light.

Peter Smith.

Advantage or disadvantage? I'm basically blind in my right eye hence I shoot as a lefty, I might naturally have a leg up on you Denis

Although I wouldn't wish Kerataconus on any man.....

It depends. You need to establish eye dominance first. if your shooting right handed but left eye dominant then forget shooting both eyes open. likewise right eye dominate, left handed shooter. If your eye dominance matches your handedness then both open is better. This goes for rifles. If your shooting instinctive with pistols then you can shoot both open regardless of handedness with the correct shooting position.

Both
one on target and one on the flags

Yes - there are always exceptions.

But there are exceptions to the exceptions as well.

I shoot quite happily either RH or LH with both eyes open. Started RH at a young age with a L dominant eye.
Retrained as a LH shooter very young but with both eyes open and now it comes naturally. Same with a microscope.

Since then have mixed in everything. I would target shoot LH but hunt mainly RH.

For many years shot TR LH and FO RH concurrently.

Recently I have been shooting FO from the L shoulder using L eye but with RH on the trigger because of R eye problems.

You need the best eye but be relaxed as well whatever that entails and not blindly (oops) follow some textbook.

I do find that screwing one eye closed for any extended period will tire and change the focus of the other eye.

Peter Smith.

jasmay wrote:
I'm basically blind in my right eye hence I shoot as a lefty, I might naturally have a leg up on you Denis

Although I wouldn't wish Kerataconus on any man.....

Jason I'm in the same boat. I'm naturally a righty but I shoot L/H because my right eye is soo bad. I think it works out best that way for a rested rifle shooting anyway. It means your gun hand doesn't have to be moved or disrupted to cycle the bolt. RBRP means you can always see into the breech too.

Different story shooting off hand left handed and trying to cycle a right bolt.

both open,.....close bolt,.....close left eye,......pull trigger. (right handed).
open both eyes to see a '5',.......close eyes and shake head.

Send-it wrote:both open,.....close bolt,.....close left eye,......pull trigger. (right handed).
open both eyes to see a '5',.......close eyes and shake head.

2 eyes open!!!

1st you don't get tired and blurry eyes.
2nd it's good practice in hunting as you get a good field of view.
3rd in my 200m rimfire fly matches I find I can keep some level of focus on a couple of flags which can be theoretically beneficial. Although I have much the same outcome as "send it".



That's my story and I'm sticking with it !

Good conditions, 1 eye,
Windy both eyes open. 1 on the flags and one on the cross hairs. Close left just before I shoot ! Tried shooting with both open all the time and get distracted!