Both eyes open?

[JoshT]

A topic on another board got me thinking...

I shoot pretty much all my sights with both eyes open. Standard sights, peep sights, handguns, shotguns and scopes up to about 10x... all of them with both eyes open... that's how I was taught. I know keeping both eyes open has many advantages if you can do it: greater field of view, maintaining depth perception, view of critter uneffected by recoil, etc. I guess this is why the whole "all I saw was a scope full of fur"... or "I couldn't find it in the glass" things have never happened to me.

But, I know most guys shoot with one eye closed even with open sights. Have any of you tried to master shooting with both eyes open and just can't do it... or are there advantages shooting with only one eye that I'm just not seeing?

[haugenna]

I shoot clays at 100 and 200 offhand with both open to see where I hit.  I don't have the confidence to do it on an animal.

[BC CHASER]

I shoot everything with both eyes open.  I am also cross dominant.  I have tried to train my wife the same but she always has to close one.

[littlebuf]

im both eyes open 100% of the time with handguns and open sights, also with a scope up to the higher magnifications, once its up around 9 or 10 i tend to close one eye

[Antlershed]

I was just taught to shoot with one eye closed, so that's how I've always done it. Never thought to try shooting with both open. I can see where you would have an advantage if you can do it though.

[shoot-em-dead]

I was just taught to shoot with one eye closed, so that's how I've always done it. Never thought to try shooting with both open. I can see where you would have an advantage if you can do it though.

 

[walt]

Both eyes with a shotgun or a pistol, one eye with a rifle.  It is how I was taught and has worked out well for me.  I have never tried both eyes with a rifle.

[BigGoonTuna]

i've always shot with one eye closed with a rifle or pistol -- both open with a shotgun.

[ecnclan]

Both eyes open for everything.

[BLKBEARKLR]

I shot with both eyes open for a while but then started getting a wondering eye and I stopped that. Asked the doctor and he said it was because my domiant eye was behind the scope so my other eye would start to wonder around

[SpokaneSlayer]

I keep both eyes open until I get the sights on my target, then close one before shooting.  Kinda best of both worlds.  When shooting trap or skeet, I do the opposite.  Close one eye to get my sight plane, then have both eyes open before calling for the bird.

[Straight Shooter]

...with a scope up to the higher magnifications, once its up around 9 or 10 i tend to close one eye

[MountainWalk]

Both open for all shooting.

[257 Wby Mag]

Josh, I've always shot with one eye open, bow, rifle, musket, and shotgun. Never had a problem.

[TheHunt]

I shoot with both eyes open.  I think it boils down if you can hit what you shoot at, one or both eyes open.   My opinion and I have no scientific data to back it up, but here is my logic.

A single eye collects light to make out the image your looking at.  With both eyes open you are collecting twice as much light.  Therefore your brain can consume more neural stimulas from two eyes then one which in low light conditions you should be able to see better with two eyes open then one.  But what the heck do I know?  I am not a neurologist or medical doctor but I have played doctor a few times in my life!!!