*I started with both my eyes open and managed to transition to one eye closed through the squinting method. Now I'm able to shoot with both my eyes closed. An upside of this method is that I'm able to reuse my paper targets almost indefinitely being very few impacts in them.*
I have used both eyes for years with iron sights on pistols, and always struggled with inconsistent accuracy. I started closing my non dominant eye, and my accuracy improved massively.
Here’s some context, in a life and death situation you will naturally have both eyes open out of fear. You may even have tunnel vision so train with both eyes open because that will be your default vision when the SHTF.
Mark, you said the smartest thing I've ever seen on any shooting channel or anything about aiming... No one is closing an eye and aiming at someone in life and death up close like within 100yards, more I'd say especially untrained will shoot with both eyes closed in life and death because they haven't the muscle memory to see what their shooting .. lol and unless you train yourself or just like shooting, the only life and death practice you get will be military or cops, or a civil issue one day .
Not really, with pistols you can just index the gun to your left eye and with rifles you can just switch shoulder (shooting left hand). Im cross eye dominant and Ive shot with both eyes open for 5 years, i do competitions too (mainly IPSC).
I'm right handed left eye dominant and it just takes a bit of practice but it shouldn't be to difficult to keep both eyes open, I always have. And with a rifle I just force myself to use my right eye. The key is practice don't just try for 5 minutes and then give up.
@@ujimin5510 Same here. While my accuracy suffers from CED on the pistol range, it’s nowhere near as difficult as shooting right-handed archery as a left eye dominant guy.
Wow! Squinting has helped me IMMENSELY! I always saw double and knew which sight picture to use (or split the difference). This was a game changer. Thank you!
Went to the range this weekend for the first time, instructor taught one eye closed,I was more comfortable with both eyes, your explanation helped tremendously. ❤
I’m right handed and left eye dominant. My work only uses iron sights. On the range, I find myself closing one eye when shooting from 25 yards and both eyes open from 3-15 yards.
I have struggled with double vision shooting with both eyes open all my life. I learned that at close ranges, say seven to ten yards I was able to index off the rear of the slide and do pretty well. Now I’m adjusting to the dot world. I’ve recently added a Holosun SCS to my Glock 19 and this has really helped. The dot is closer to the bore axis.
Started w/ one eye. Now I'm mostly 2 eyes. Sometimes I go 1 eye to find focus on the iron sights when I'm trying to get accurate at the range. How I learned to use 2 eyes is by focusing on the target and bringing the gun up, that helps me figure out which 2nd picture I need to ignore.
Very well done video, explained and demonstrated. A lot of methods and ideas explained here. Fairly new owner of a Stoeger STR-9c and I will defintitely come back and watch this again before i make it to the range. Dennis 63 years Austin, TX
Thank you for this video, I just came from your video on how to use iron sights and red dot sights. One thing I wanted to comment on is this video is not a "How to" video showing, or teaching, someone how to aim. In the "How to" use the sights video, you demonstrated how to, and where to, place the sights on the target for two specific holds of the gun. However, in this video, there was not a demonstration of how to actually shoot with both eyes open. You discussed the difference between the two, and talked about vision issues and target awareness, but there was not a demonstration of actually shooting with one or both eyes open.
Thanks for the non-condescending videos, guys. (new shooter gets tired of the 'tude some guys have) I had dual cataract surgery 25 years ago...before the tri-focal lenses/advancements of today....so my vision is focused WAYYYY out for distance. I can count pine trees on the ridge 5 miles away...but gun sights...well..it's double vision deluxe...drunkard style...no matter which sights I try to focus on. As a result...I close my right eye. (left handed/left eye dom). Tried a dot in the store but it didn't come in instantly...and while I may have been able to suss it all out over time...that doubt isn't something I need in the mix....so I opted to just go with night sights. Again...thank you for the honest/all-encompassing take.
Same. Cataract surgery changed my shooting at age 67. I see the target clear but my sights are blurry. I put on bifocals which are just clear in the top part but like reading glasses in the bottom. Then the sights are clear but target is blurry. I can’t seem to win…LOL. I did go with XS Big dot sights and it seems to help with seeing the sights without glasses and the target is clear.
I started my Marine life with equal sight in both eyes and learned to be a rifle and pistol expert on both the range and combat course. Crossed rifle and pistol badges for five years. Shrapnel ruined the vision in my right eye. I had to learn to shoot left-handed. Regained my expert range badges left-handed. Never mastered the combat course again. The lack of vision in my right eye slowed my response time, and cyclops does not do so well for target acquisition.
I am much more accurate when I keep both eyes open with iron sights, but I often have difficulty forcing my dominant eye to assert its dominance. I find that a quick left eye wink usually works, but sometimes I have to lower the gun and reset my whole sighting process. This is obviously not something I would want to do in a defensive situation, so my carry always has a red dot.
I figure if I'm in a self defense situation, either they're far enough away that I have time to get my sights right, or they're so close that I don't really have to ADS anyway
I took all the iron sights off my gun and practiced without them.. What's the point of having them on if I couldn't see those dots.. And I am not shooting for competition.. I'll be good if my shots are falling in 6 inch circle and it did now.. It took awhile to adjust but practice makes perfect, right??
Another reason to train with both eyes open is because, when presented with an actual threat, your body might override your single-eye training and make both eyes wide open - fixated on that threat. In that case, being able to aim with both eyes open would be a big plus.
That's like saying it is best to train with your finger on the trigger because, presented with an actual threat, you might override keeping the finger off the trigger and forget to shoot. The fact is, muscle memory overrides EVERYTHING. If you consistently practice, your muscles will make your movement natural. I know people who have always kept one eye open as they unholstered their gun to shoot and automatically opened their eyes after the shot for situational awareness. I know one person who did this when he was being robbed. The reason they do this is for shot placement. Making the shot with one eye is far easier than with both. I say, do whatever will make that bullet hit its target consistently. Then, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE.
I started shooting with one eye open, but over time I've learned to keep both eyes open. Keeping both eyes open, also gives me better depth of field and perifial vision that is important for practice and real life conditions.
I found that blindness in one eye due to a TBI from a GSW has some odd benefits, you can shoot with both eyes open, but only use one... Lack of peripheral vision from blindness in left eye from damage to the central artery of the left retina, has the head slightly rotating left for handgun shooting so the right eye centers more to be looking evenly down the sights with proper grip angles centered. I found out I had to do this for iscosoles versus weaver stances, but I still prefer iscosoles stance far over weaver stance. I did find for one eye shooters that the rotational 45 degree angled mirror(Eotech makes expensive ones and there are similar ones elsewhere for less than 1/25th price-$500 vs. $25), that by buying two rotational mirror attachments with 45 degree angled mounds, this allows people with only one eye to be able to shoot from both shoulders. The airsoft or other similar ones are 99% as good as Eotech's version! P.S.- You can accurately shoot from below your waste by seeing the target and reticle with limitless eye relief in the optic or behind cover without exposing your head but just a middle finger(aim with index finger by instinctive pointing near target while the middle finger pulls the trigger) the side vision mirrors allow clear view with engagement of your target without facial or body exposure for potential compromise.
Thanks. I've been an avid shooter for 63 years and an instructor for 20 years and I still squint with my non dominant eye. I still work on it at times but default to squinting.
My struggle is I'm cross eye dominant, and my brain gets pissy trying to process the optical information shooting with both eyes open Red dots on my rifles and sidearms elevates that as I can remain focused on what I'm looking at and where the dot is the round goes. No more focusing on the front sight and trying to align it on a blurred backdrop.
Bro i honestly thought i was the only one…I have a hard time looking through the back sight to the front sight with out like this weird crossing over lay..but once i do one eye open it’s fine
Lighting conditions! Natural light, I usually have no problem with eye dominance. Indoor range, I need to squint to maintain consistency. I do have an astigmatism. Short answer is know what you can do and how your systems work best, be able to adapt to all systems that you use.
I'm lucky in as far as I have near perfect eyesight and I can aim with either my left eye closed (I'm right handed and right eye dominant), or both eyes open. Personally I prefer to do all of training with both eyes open, since that's the habit I want to to have in case I need to defend myself and others. Here and there I might close my left eye, buy I've found that my accuracy doesn't really improve or get worse, if I do.
💥😎Very Good Advice!👍🇺🇸 However what'd ya do if u have One Perfect Eye & ur legally blind in the other Eye...but can still see shapes & colors out of it?
The tendency to shut one eye is because most of us start off shooting .22 rifles as a kid. Everybody learns to shoot a rifle with iron sights with their dominant eye. At close range I just point shoot for center of mass with both eyes open because I was trained to watch the hands. Hands kill you. At close range (within 7 yards) you should shoot with both eyes open because you need your full range of vision to detect threats. You should practice punching the front sight into the center of the target and snapping the trigger. I don't really "aim" the gun at close range unless it is a head shot. At longer ranges it is dependant in part on your eyesight. Some people have good enough vision to shoot with both eyes open. I can't, at least not well, due to an astigmatism. Some poor folks are right handed but left eye dominant. Red dots seem to work well for them. There are differences if you run a red dot. I don't put red dots on my handguns, just on my rifles, but then I'm old and set in my ways.
I was helping a friend learn to shoot using iron sights. I told him to leave both eyes open. His aim was terrible. Eventually he started to practice with one eye open and his aim improved dramatically. It seems he was using the front post with his left eye and lining up with the notch at his right eye...I've done this too in the past. Now if I can get him to stop flinching... :)
Great info as always. CCW Safe is by far the best IMO. Since I've made the transition to red dot sights on my EDC/self-defense firearms shooting with both eyes open is more natural and seems to be easier to accomplish while shooting with iron sights only. I've trained myself to do so in a matter of speaking. Thanks again, stay safe God Bless ✌️🇺🇲
i just searched how to aim on pistol because i have airsoft gun and what im pointing goes not right way thats why im searching for these. and plus this video help me how to shoot now it goes right way
I'm like you - my eyes are constantly changing right now - getting old! My left eye is starting to become dominant over my right, so it's been messing me up when I keep both eyes open. Still keep both open, but close my left eye quickly just to make sure I'm on target.
Like most pistol noobs I started out doing the one eye squint. That said, I'm right handed but left eye dominant which is not ideal, so when I decided to start aiming with both eyes open I was determined to acquire the sight picture with my right (non-dominant) eye so I was better balanced with my stance and grip. It definitely took some getting used. I'm not a pro at two eye aiming by any means but I feel I'm more able to defend myself in a real world situation today than when I was using one eye.
For best accuracy you are supposed to focus on the front sight. If both eyes are open and focused on front sight you will see two targets. Very bad. Others say with both eyes open you are supposed to focus on the target,, but that is wrong also because then you see two guns plus you get signt alignment errors which put you further off than front sight focus. My thoughts are to use a combination of both eyes wide open while scanning and for targeting to close one eye and focus on front sight. This requires training. Logically,, In a real threat situation you must engage a single target fully until that threat is completely eliminated before scanning again and moving to the next target anyway. Having too much information coming in can be bad if it causes you to rush or make a bad shot and not eliminate the direct threat fully. It can be likened to room clearing and digging the corners,, you focus on your direct task without any distraction. The others worry about their corners. Being single you do a sweep scan both eyes open and when you spot the immediate threat you have to put total focus there until eliminated. Thats my $.02
I shoot a scoped rifle with both eyes open and a pistol with one eye closed. Crazy but I can shoot pretty good. Guess it works for me but not highly recommended for others.
I'm left eye and right hand dominate. I learned early in life the easiest was use my left hand when shooting. The hand is not as important as the correct eye. With all the combination of shooting. It became pretty natural quickly. I'm left hand dominate only when I pick up any type of gun.
Interesting. I just started shooting and as an experienced cinematographer I naturally am using 2 eyes very comfortably. As a camera operator who worked with action scenes and actual combat sports, I had to be able to anticipate where action was going so I could get it properly framed in camera. Using both b eyes oopen, Ib hit to the point where it was like having a live monitor (the imagev from my camera eyepiece) overlaid and to one side of my full line of sight, almost like a picture-in-picture. For very careful aim, the tendency is to close one eye, even for me. But I am finding it's almost counterproductive for me. I think without my background itv would be much more challenging.
As a Southern California police officer, I've always looked over the top of my sights. This causes me to shoot just smidge low. Not a problem when "aiming" center mass. I generally needed to be able to see multiple threats simultaneously.
I'm pretty much self taught (my neighbor told me to line up the sights when I was in first grade and thats it) and used to only shoot with one eye until I got into airsoft. Thats when I started learning to shoot with both open and pretty much never went back until I joined the navy. They made me shoot with one closed during basic and I chose to when I did my M4 qual since I have very limited experience with the irons since both my airsoft and AR have a red dot. I still have a little bit of double vision but I know which one to use if I even use them at all anymore.
Yeah almost 60 and have never been able to use both eyes open, and have flung some lead. I am right eye dominant but just barely so I see two equal targets and a blurry mess. I will try adapting but have high hopes for a dot sight which I have only dabbled with.
Question...how about shooting with or without reading glasses? Avid shooter who enjoys the sport of target shooting. At 57 I've had to wear readers for the last 6-7yrs to see anything clearly within arms length. Issues I battle while shooting... readers on and sights are clear but targets blury, readers off and sights are a blur but target clear.
This is why target focus is better, even with iron sights. Better to have your full vision in a fight, and better to have your target not be blurry and double-imaged. With practice, it’s not difficult to look through your slightly blurry iron sights and get good hits even at distance.
I have a dominant eye and struggle if I shoot with both eyes open. This is a good video. The only thing that surprised me was the narrator's use of the phrase repeatedly, "seeing two targets and not knowing which target to shoot." Personally, I've never been faced with that issue. My problem with double vision is seeing double sights at the end of the pistol. With two eyes open, I see blurred double sights at the end of a pistol. On a shotgun, with two eyes open, toward the end of the single shotgun barrel, I'll see a blurred second barrel, complete with its own blurred second little round shotgun bead sight. Its bad enough what I see with two eyes open, but I really feel sorry for folks seeing two targets. I didn't know that problem existed, at least, while sober. 😮
I have what they call "mono-vision" which means that one eye is dominant for close and the other eye is dominant for far away. So do you use the close eye for the sights or the far away eye for the target?
I’ve had this question and I’ve shot some not a lot out if I put my finger in front of my face and close one eye seems like the point I’m pointing at changes left or right depending on what eye I close so I have to use the squint technique. I struggle with focusing on the sight if I have both eyes open
I was trained to be left eye dominant as a kid with rifles, always closed my right eye.. but I shoot pistols right handed. Apparently instinctively I'm right eye dominant. But I have a misalignment with my eyes so I get a pretty bad dual sight picture with both eyes open. The only way I can shoot with both eyes open is to do a center axis relock with the pistol on my right side. Then the sight picture becomes clear enough that I can focus on the target and have a clear definition of which picture to use. This shit is tricky man.
I have read, and been taught as a part of defensive handgun courses, that physiologists describe tunnel vision which occurs naturally when adrenline is released into the system during times of extreme stress. That such is part of the design of mammals with binocular vision in order to help them concentrate on threats and danger. It brings up the question whether having both eyes open gives any advantage with regard to peripheral threats, since tunnel vision affects both eyes and, for all intents and purposes, eliminates peripheral vision. I would imagine that highly trained people, like special warfare operators, might gain some advantages to training to shoot with both eyes open because they also invest a lot of time in controlling the attendant stresses and adrenline flows. That takes a LOT of specialized training. And those folks are very different than Joe Average like me. Not saying don't try it. Just saying that, if push came to shove, it wouldn't make much difference to the average person.
I’m left handed, shoot right handed, was left eye dominant but trained myself to be right eye dominant now I shoot both eyes open when shooting from either hand with pistol.
I have tried to do both eyes open but am left dominant eye & right hand shooter, I have been having so many problems with seeing my Target right . I have done so many tactics but am 😅still having difficulty.
ok so I've had this problem since I started shooting I've been cross-eye dominant, which was fine for a while, now however which eye is dominant seems to be swap between left and right and it's becoming more difficult to get the right sight picture. I have found that which ever I close, even for a fraction of a second becomes my dominant eye, for that shot and as long as I don't need to transition targets. I am not sure how to overcome this new obstacle.
So if I wanted accuracy close one eye, if I needed/wanted to see more targets (or was in a small cqc situation) both eyes open, this would be correct, yes? (But not 100% everything of course)
As a beginner with no vision issues, is it more accurate to shoot a pistol with both eyes open? I'm more concerned (at this point) with accuracy than with transitioning and wide field of vision.
I'm confused about dominant eye. I've always thought mine was right. After trying the various tests on google, I can't tell which eye is dominant. Both do the same thing🤷♀
Both eyes open hard focus on the target is the correct answer. Very difficult to shoot both eyes open with a hard focus on the front sight post. This is what amateurs and all of the “cross eyed dominant” shooters have issues with.
I am debating training two eyes open/nondominant eye rifle shouldering, but I am so much slower and less accurate that way and realistically I can only afford to train so much and my right eye is very bad, not very useful but could pick up something.
Learning to shoot with two eyes open sounds like the concept they recommend for people getting lasic surgerywho normally need bifocals. They only correct one eye so the one not corrected is used for reading close up, things like menus. Your brain needs time to learn to switch eyes depending on what you're looking at. Some people (actually, many form what I heard) try it for a short time, hate it, and go back in to get the other eye done. I don't think they normally give it enough time but I totally get it.
Will CCW Safe cover me if I am working armed security? Still looking for a company that covers me in the line of duty. Unlike police officers, there isn't any unions for security officers that will go to court if we get into a shooting.
No, will not cover you. The PPO you are working under is responsible for defending you in the line of duty and has to carry insurance for that purpose. You legally need to work with a company that has a PPO registered with the BSIS licensing authority. As armed security you are considered a civilian under the law but since employed with a firearm you are ineligible for coverage by CCW Safe, USCCA, AOR etc. Professional tip, avoid getting into a shooting unless you want to turn your life upside down and be dragged through the courts and vilified.
Can you tell me about the brand of hearing protection you used in this video. I am noise sensitive and having a hard time getting what I need. I am not price sensitive, so I am willing to get a better solution. I appreciate any response you can give me. Thanks.
I've noticed after shooting for the past 10 years. I started with one eye open and transition to both eyes open. However, all my focus is pretty much down Range. So having that peripheral vision is not really there and I've kinda gone back to one eye. Have you ever experienced someone maybe having that same issue!?
starting with the squinting method i eventually got used to it and was able to translate to shooting with both eyes open. my question is how do i transition to shooting with my third eye?
Hi there. Question about aiming to the target. When focus is on the front sight of the pistol, target is getting blurry beyond 10 yards. Any suggestions how to handle this?
One weird thing for me is I seem to need to "warm up" with one eye closed. I've noticed my groups are much tighter if I start the range session with one eye closed, and then after a few groups, open up the second. Not sure why this happens, but it seems pretty consistent. Maybe I just don't shoot enough.
![[DRAGON BALL LEGENDS REVEALS ＆ STUFF] LEGENDS FESTIVAL 2024 Special Edition Part 1](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/mV5bGIswTtQ/mqdefault.jpg)
*I started with both my eyes open and managed to transition to one eye closed through the squinting method. Now I'm able to shoot with both my eyes closed. An upside of this method is that I'm able to reuse my paper targets almost indefinitely being very few impacts in them.*
You are an absolute genius! I’m going to adopt your revolutionary method.
Me too😂
What's up with the bold text?
😂😂😂
Very funny
I have used both eyes for years with iron sights on pistols, and always struggled with inconsistent accuracy. I started closing my non dominant eye, and my accuracy improved massively.
you probably have non-dominance where they fight for dominance.
Here’s some context, in a life and death situation you will naturally have both eyes open out of fear. You may even have tunnel vision so train with both eyes open because that will be your default vision when the SHTF.
I figure when it’s up close people will point shoot and when it’s far away people will aim
Mark, you said the smartest thing I've ever seen on any shooting channel or anything about aiming... No one is closing an eye and aiming at someone in life and death up close like within 100yards, more I'd say especially untrained will shoot with both eyes closed in life and death because they haven't the muscle memory to see what their shooting .. lol and unless you train yourself or just like shooting, the only life and death practice you get will be military or cops, or a civil issue one day .
You're the best teacher i've seen on You Tube ! Everything is explained clearly ! You're the best bro !! Just what i needed ! Supreme job !!
Being right handed and left eye dominant it is pretty much impossible to use iron sights with both eyes open. But red dots are not a problem for me.
Not really, with pistols you can just index the gun to your left eye and with rifles you can just switch shoulder (shooting left hand). Im cross eye dominant and Ive shot with both eyes open for 5 years, i do competitions too (mainly IPSC).
@@LongNguyen-qg8yj Exception, not the norm
I'm right handed left eye dominant and it just takes a bit of practice but it shouldn't be to difficult to keep both eyes open, I always have. And with a rifle I just force myself to use my right eye. The key is practice don't just try for 5 minutes and then give up.
@@ujimin5510 Same here. While my accuracy suffers from CED on the pistol range, it’s nowhere near as difficult as shooting right-handed archery as a left eye dominant guy.
Just squint with non dominant eye, fixes the issue
Red dot... Both eyes
Irons... One eye.
At least thats what works for me
Wow! Squinting has helped me IMMENSELY! I always saw double and knew which sight picture to use (or split the difference). This was a game changer. Thank you!
Went to the range this weekend for the first time, instructor taught one eye closed,I was more comfortable with both eyes, your explanation helped tremendously. ❤
I’m right handed and left eye dominant. My work only uses iron sights. On the range, I find myself closing one eye when shooting from 25 yards and both eyes open from 3-15 yards.
@@OtenCaliFoShizle1926 same saw this today
I have struggled with double vision shooting with both eyes open all my life. I learned that at close ranges, say seven to ten yards I was able to index off the rear of the slide and do pretty well. Now I’m adjusting to the dot world. I’ve recently added a Holosun SCS to my Glock 19 and this has really helped. The dot is closer to the bore axis.
Your videos are very informative. I have been shooting for over 50 years and the way you present these is great for new shooters.
Agree With You Sir! 👍👍👍
Started w/ one eye. Now I'm mostly 2 eyes. Sometimes I go 1 eye to find focus on the iron sights when I'm trying to get accurate at the range. How I learned to use 2 eyes is by focusing on the target and bringing the gun up, that helps me figure out which 2nd picture I need to ignore.
As a new gun owner/enthusiast, I appreciate this video. Thank you.
Very well done video, explained and demonstrated. A lot of methods and ideas explained here. Fairly new owner of a Stoeger STR-9c and I will defintitely come back and watch this again before i make it to the range.
Dennis
63 years
Austin, TX
I'm right-handed and left ete dominant. It makes for a most interesting crick of the neck with iron sights.
Thank you for this video, I just came from your video on how to use iron sights and red dot sights. One thing I wanted to comment on is this video is not a "How to" video showing, or teaching, someone how to aim.
In the "How to" use the sights video, you demonstrated how to, and where to, place the sights on the target for two specific holds of the gun. However, in this video, there was not a demonstration of how to actually shoot with both eyes open. You discussed the difference between the two, and talked about vision issues and target awareness, but there was not a demonstration of actually shooting with one or both eyes open.
Thanks for the non-condescending videos, guys. (new shooter gets tired of the 'tude some guys have) I had dual cataract surgery 25 years ago...before the tri-focal lenses/advancements of today....so my vision is focused WAYYYY out for distance. I can count pine trees on the ridge 5 miles away...but gun sights...well..it's double vision deluxe...drunkard style...no matter which sights I try to focus on. As a result...I close my right eye. (left handed/left eye dom). Tried a dot in the store but it didn't come in instantly...and while I may have been able to suss it all out over time...that doubt isn't something I need in the mix....so I opted to just go with night sights. Again...thank you for the honest/all-encompassing take.
Same. Cataract surgery changed my shooting at age 67. I see the target clear but my sights are blurry. I put on bifocals which are just clear in the top part but like reading glasses in the bottom. Then the sights are clear but target is blurry. I can’t seem to win…LOL. I did go with XS Big dot sights and it seems to help with seeing the sights without glasses and the target is clear.
Gun nerd internet can be obnoxious, AK dorks specifically stay on their high horse.
Thank you for the info. This was one thing I have been debating with myself
Left on left. I’m blessed I feel, no over thinking. Same as I bat. 🙏🏽
Very informative. I'm in my mid/late 40s as well. All the points u made are excellent.
I started my Marine life with equal sight in both eyes and learned to be a rifle and pistol expert on both the range and combat course. Crossed rifle and pistol badges for five years. Shrapnel ruined the vision in my right eye. I had to learn to shoot left-handed. Regained my expert range badges left-handed. Never mastered the combat course again. The lack of vision in my right eye slowed my response time, and cyclops does not do so well for target acquisition.
I am much more accurate when I keep both eyes open with iron sights, but I often have difficulty forcing my dominant eye to assert its dominance. I find that a quick left eye wink usually works, but sometimes I have to lower the gun and reset my whole sighting process. This is obviously not something I would want to do in a defensive situation, so my carry always has a red dot.
Lmao same just a quick wink if it blurs. But obvi red dots dont have this problem single focal point rather than 4 different things to focus on
I figure if I'm in a self defense situation, either they're far enough away that I have time to get my sights right, or they're so close that I don't really have to ADS anyway
I took all the iron sights off my gun and practiced without them.. What's the point of having them on if I couldn't see those dots.. And I am not shooting for competition.. I'll be good if my shots are falling in 6 inch circle and it did now.. It took awhile to adjust but practice makes perfect, right??
Thank you, great information and explanation!
Another reason to train with both eyes open is because, when presented with an actual threat, your body might override your single-eye training and make both eyes wide open - fixated on that threat. In that case, being able to aim with both eyes open would be a big plus.
That's like saying it is best to train with your finger on the trigger because, presented with an actual threat, you might override keeping the finger off the trigger and forget to shoot. The fact is, muscle memory overrides EVERYTHING. If you consistently practice, your muscles will make your movement natural. I know people who have always kept one eye open as they unholstered their gun to shoot and automatically opened their eyes after the shot for situational awareness. I know one person who did this when he was being robbed. The reason they do this is for shot placement. Making the shot with one eye is far easier than with both.
I say, do whatever will make that bullet hit its target consistently. Then, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE.
I started training with both. You'll find your dominant eye will start to find focus more easily with reps.
I started shooting with one eye open, but over time I've learned to keep both eyes open. Keeping both eyes open, also gives me better depth of field and perifial vision that is important for practice and real life conditions.
I found that blindness in one eye due to a TBI from a GSW has some odd benefits, you can shoot with both eyes open, but only use one...
Lack of peripheral vision from blindness in left eye from damage to the central artery of the left retina, has the head slightly rotating left for handgun shooting so the right eye centers more to be looking evenly down the sights with proper grip angles centered. I found out I had to do this for iscosoles versus weaver stances, but I still prefer iscosoles stance far over weaver stance. I did find for one eye shooters that the rotational 45 degree angled mirror(Eotech makes expensive ones and there are similar ones elsewhere for less than 1/25th price-$500 vs. $25), that by buying two rotational mirror attachments with 45 degree angled mounds, this allows people with only one eye to be able to shoot from both shoulders.
The airsoft or other similar ones are 99% as good as Eotech's version!
P.S.- You can accurately shoot from below your waste by seeing the target and reticle with limitless eye relief in the optic or behind cover without exposing your head but just a middle finger(aim with index finger by instinctive pointing near target while the middle finger pulls the trigger) the side vision mirrors allow clear view with engagement of your target without facial or body exposure for potential compromise.
Thanks. I've been an avid shooter for 63 years and an instructor for 20 years and I still squint with my non dominant eye. I still work on it at times but default to squinting.
Thank you for the tips have ben shooting for 65 years
My eyes are getting old
Never to old to learn😊😊😅😊😊
My struggle is I'm cross eye dominant, and my brain gets pissy trying to process the optical information shooting with both eyes open
Red dots on my rifles and sidearms elevates that as I can remain focused on what I'm looking at and where the dot is the round goes. No more focusing on the front sight and trying to align it on a blurred backdrop.
Bro i honestly thought i was the only one…I have a hard time looking through the back sight to the front sight with out like this weird crossing over lay..but once i do one eye open it’s fine
Lighting conditions! Natural light, I usually have no problem with eye dominance. Indoor range, I need to squint to maintain consistency. I do have an astigmatism. Short answer is know what you can do and how your systems work best, be able to adapt to all systems that you use.
How do you get sight alignment with both eyes open I don’t understand. I’d like to try it, but I don’t get it.
I'm lucky in as far as I have near perfect eyesight and I can aim with either my left eye closed (I'm right handed and right eye dominant), or both eyes open.
Personally I prefer to do all of training with both eyes open, since that's the habit I want to to have in case I need to defend myself and others.
Here and there I might close my left eye, buy I've found that my accuracy doesn't really improve or get worse, if I do.
💥😎Very Good Advice!👍🇺🇸
However what'd ya do if u have One Perfect Eye & ur legally blind in the other Eye...but can still see shapes & colors out of it?
The tendency to shut one eye is because most of us start off shooting .22 rifles as a kid. Everybody learns to shoot a rifle with iron sights with their dominant eye.
At close range I just point shoot for center of mass with both eyes open because I was trained to watch the hands. Hands kill you. At close range (within 7 yards) you should shoot with both eyes open because you need your full range of vision to detect threats. You should practice punching the front sight into the center of the target and snapping the trigger. I don't really "aim" the gun at close range unless it is a head shot. At longer ranges it is dependant in part on your eyesight. Some people have good enough vision to shoot with both eyes open. I can't, at least not well, due to an astigmatism. Some poor folks are right handed but left eye dominant. Red dots seem to work well for them.
There are differences if you run a red dot. I don't put red dots on my handguns, just on my rifles, but then I'm old and set in my ways.
Thank you for all the teaching and advice. You are truly amazing!!!! :) :)
Got it both eyes open and usr two guns at once .
That way you cant miss one for each of the targets you see in double vision .
I was helping a friend learn to shoot using iron sights. I told him to leave both eyes open. His aim was terrible. Eventually he started to practice with one eye open and his aim improved dramatically. It seems he was using the front post with his left eye and lining up with the notch at his right eye...I've done this too in the past. Now if I can get him to stop flinching... :)
Great info as always. CCW Safe is by far the best IMO. Since I've made the transition to red dot sights on my EDC/self-defense firearms shooting with both eyes open is more natural and seems to be easier to accomplish while shooting with iron sights only. I've trained myself to do so in a matter of speaking. Thanks again, stay safe God Bless ✌️🇺🇲
Didn't ask IMO
Beginner gun owner here. What ear plugs are you using? I love the discreet and efficient looking design.
Very nuanced and detailed, thank you very much.
i just searched how to aim on pistol because i have airsoft gun and what im pointing goes not right way thats why im searching for these. and plus this video help me how to shoot now it goes right way
Excellent info and I’m gonna try it. Mid 40’s? Try mid 70’s!! Very helpful.
Tremendous information, thank you brother!!
I'm like you - my eyes are constantly changing right now - getting old! My left eye is starting to become dominant over my right, so it's been messing me up when I keep both eyes open. Still keep both open, but close my left eye quickly just to make sure I'm on target.
I shoot with both eyes closed momentarily
Like most pistol noobs I started out doing the one eye squint. That said, I'm right handed but left eye dominant which is not ideal, so when I decided to start aiming with both eyes open I was determined to acquire the sight picture with my right (non-dominant) eye so I was better balanced with my stance and grip. It definitely took some getting used. I'm not a pro at two eye aiming by any means but I feel I'm more able to defend myself in a real world situation today than when I was using one eye.
For best accuracy you are supposed to focus on the front sight. If both eyes are open and focused on front sight you will see two targets. Very bad. Others say with both eyes open you are supposed to focus on the target,, but that is wrong also because then you see two guns plus you get signt alignment errors which put you further off than front sight focus. My thoughts are to use a combination of both eyes wide open while scanning and for targeting to close one eye and focus on front sight. This requires training.
Logically,, In a real threat situation you must engage a single target fully until that threat is completely eliminated before scanning again and moving to the next target anyway. Having too much information coming in can be bad if it causes you to rush or make a bad shot and not eliminate the direct threat fully. It can be likened to room clearing and digging the corners,, you focus on your direct task without any distraction. The others worry about their corners. Being single you do a sweep scan both eyes open and when you spot the immediate threat you have to put total focus there until eliminated. Thats my $.02
I shoot a scoped rifle with both eyes open and a pistol with one eye closed.
Crazy but I can shoot pretty good. Guess it works for me but not highly recommended for others.
I'm left eye and right hand dominate. I learned early in life the easiest was use my left hand when shooting. The hand is not as important as the correct eye. With all the combination of shooting. It became pretty natural quickly. I'm left hand dominate only when I pick up any type of gun.
Interesting. I just started shooting and as an experienced cinematographer I naturally am using 2 eyes very comfortably. As a camera operator who worked with action scenes and actual combat sports, I had to be able to anticipate where action was going so I could get it properly framed in camera. Using both b eyes oopen, Ib hit to the point where it was like having a live monitor (the imagev from my camera eyepiece) overlaid and to one side of my full line of sight, almost like a picture-in-picture. For very careful aim, the tendency is to close one eye, even for me. But I am finding it's almost counterproductive for me. I think without my background itv would be much more challenging.
Thank you !!
Very useful info! Thanks
As a Southern California police officer, I've always looked over the top of my sights. This causes me to shoot just smidge low. Not a problem when "aiming" center mass. I generally needed to be able to see multiple threats simultaneously.
I use both eyes with muscle memory and good technique habits!!!
I'm pretty much self taught (my neighbor told me to line up the sights when I was in first grade and thats it) and used to only shoot with one eye until I got into airsoft. Thats when I started learning to shoot with both open and pretty much never went back until I joined the navy. They made me shoot with one closed during basic and I chose to when I did my M4 qual since I have very limited experience with the irons since both my airsoft and AR have a red dot. I still have a little bit of double vision but I know which one to use if I even use them at all anymore.
Great content and great delivery.
Yeah almost 60 and have never been able to use both eyes open, and have flung some lead. I am right eye dominant but just barely so I see two equal targets and a blurry mess. I will try adapting but have high hopes for a dot sight which I have only dabbled with.
Question...how about shooting with or without reading glasses? Avid shooter who enjoys the sport of target shooting. At 57 I've had to wear readers for the last 6-7yrs to see anything clearly within arms length. Issues I battle while shooting... readers on and sights are clear but targets blury, readers off and sights are a blur but target clear.
This is why target focus is better, even with iron sights. Better to have your full vision in a fight, and better to have your target not be blurry and double-imaged. With practice, it’s not difficult to look through your slightly blurry iron sights and get good hits even at distance.
Thanks!
Welcome! Thanks for the Super Thanks!
I have a dominant eye and struggle if I shoot with both eyes open.
This is a good video.
The only thing that surprised me was the narrator's use of the phrase repeatedly, "seeing two targets and not knowing which target to shoot."
Personally, I've never been faced with that issue. My problem with double vision is seeing double sights at the end of the pistol. With two eyes open, I see blurred double sights at the end of a pistol.
On a shotgun, with two eyes open, toward the end of the single shotgun barrel, I'll see a blurred second barrel, complete with its own blurred second little round shotgun bead sight.
Its bad enough what I see with two eyes open, but I really feel sorry for folks seeing two targets.
I didn't know that problem existed, at least, while sober. 😮
Very good training advice thanks
Thanks TH, You Guys Are The Best!!!
could you please cover when shooting with eyes open, how to aim using the front/rear sites?
You use both bottom and top at the same time
I have what they call "mono-vision" which means that one eye is dominant for close and the other eye is dominant for far away. So do you use the close eye for the sights or the far away eye for the target?
I’ve had this question and I’ve shot some not a lot out if I put my finger in front of my face and close one eye seems like the point I’m pointing at changes left or right depending on what eye I close so I have to use the squint technique. I struggle with focusing on the sight if I have both eyes open
Reconditions on prescription eye pro
I was trained to use two eyes at closer range, one for distance.
Another benefit of having both eyes open is being able to more accurately judge distance.
I was trained to be left eye dominant as a kid with rifles, always closed my right eye.. but I shoot pistols right handed. Apparently instinctively I'm right eye dominant. But I have a misalignment with my eyes so I get a pretty bad dual sight picture with both eyes open. The only way I can shoot with both eyes open is to do a center axis relock with the pistol on my right side. Then the sight picture becomes clear enough that I can focus on the target and have a clear definition of which picture to use. This shit is tricky man.
I have read, and been taught as a part of defensive handgun courses, that physiologists describe tunnel vision which occurs naturally when adrenline is released into the system during times of extreme stress. That such is part of the design of mammals with binocular vision in order to help them concentrate on threats and danger. It brings up the question whether having both eyes open gives any advantage with regard to peripheral threats, since tunnel vision affects both eyes and, for all intents and purposes, eliminates peripheral vision. I would imagine that highly trained people, like special warfare operators, might gain some advantages to training to shoot with both eyes open because they also invest a lot of time in controlling the attendant stresses and adrenline flows. That takes a LOT of specialized training. And those folks are very different than Joe Average like me. Not saying don't try it. Just saying that, if push came to shove, it wouldn't make much difference to the average person.
At 53 I now see down the sights with both eyes but can also so the side of my slide. Some weird double vision and left right eye dominance switching.
I’m left handed, shoot right handed, was left eye dominant but trained myself to be right eye dominant now I shoot both eyes open when shooting from either hand with pistol.
I have tried to do both eyes open but am left dominant eye & right hand shooter,
I have been having so many problems with seeing my Target right . I have done so many tactics but am 😅still having difficulty.
Good explaining👍🏾
ok so I've had this problem since I started shooting I've been cross-eye dominant, which was fine for a while, now however which eye is dominant seems to be swap between left and right and it's becoming more difficult to get the right sight picture. I have found that which ever I close, even for a fraction of a second becomes my dominant eye, for that shot and as long as I don't need to transition targets. I am not sure how to overcome this new obstacle.
It really helpful
TY for the information
So im all left handed and left eye, but my set up is all based for right eye right hand. So have I been helping myself or hindering?
So if I wanted accuracy close one eye, if I needed/wanted to see more targets (or was in a small cqc situation) both eyes open, this would be correct, yes? (But not 100% everything of course)
I feel no eyes open shooting is the most accurate. That way I’m certain to hit what I’m aiming at.
Awesome information.
As a beginner with no vision issues, is it more accurate to shoot a pistol with both eyes open? I'm more concerned (at this point) with accuracy than with transitioning and wide field of vision.
I'm 56 now I'm having trouble with focusing on the front site while looking down at the target, should I be using my reading glasses or not. Thankyou
I'm confused about dominant eye. I've always thought mine was right. After trying the various tests on google, I can't tell which eye is dominant. Both do the same thing🤷♀
you don’t have a dominant eye, they are both submissive
Both eyes open hard focus on the target is the correct answer. Very difficult to shoot both eyes open with a hard focus on the front sight post. This is what amateurs and all of the “cross eyed dominant” shooters have issues with.
I shoot with both eyes closed.
🤣🤣🤣
Ohh you must be Steven Seagal lol
@@jacksonk0824 hysterical 😭
@@jacksonk0824 pro style 😌👌
I am debating training two eyes open/nondominant eye rifle shouldering, but I am so much slower and less accurate that way and realistically I can only afford to train so much and my right eye is very bad, not very useful but could pick up something.
In a tactical situation I would definitely go cross dominance closed eye.
I know I am faster that way
Learning to shoot with two eyes open sounds like the concept they recommend for people getting lasic surgerywho normally need bifocals. They only correct one eye so the one not corrected is used for reading close up, things like menus. Your brain needs time to learn to switch eyes depending on what you're looking at. Some people (actually, many form what I heard) try it for a short time, hate it, and go back in to get the other eye done. I don't think they normally give it enough time but I totally get it.
Will CCW Safe cover me if I am working armed security? Still looking for a company that covers me in the line of duty. Unlike police officers, there isn't any unions for security officers that will go to court if we get into a shooting.
No, will not cover you. The PPO you are working under is responsible for defending you in the line of duty and has to carry insurance for that purpose. You legally need to work with a company that has a PPO registered with the BSIS licensing authority. As armed security you are considered a civilian under the law but since employed with a firearm you are ineligible for coverage by CCW Safe, USCCA, AOR etc.
Professional tip, avoid getting into a shooting unless you want to turn your life upside down and be dragged through the courts and vilified.
If you're working armed security, your company insurance will cover you if you acted within your company protocols and guidelines.
Can you tell me about the brand of hearing protection you used in this video. I am noise sensitive and having a hard time getting what I need. I am not price sensitive, so I am willing to get a better solution. I appreciate any response you can give me. Thanks.
Mid 40's?! Crazy brother, look good.
In my late 50's my eyes began switching back and forth between right and left eye dominant. After lasik surgery, this problem went away.
I've noticed after shooting for the past 10 years. I started with one eye open and transition to both eyes open. However, all my focus is pretty much down Range. So having that peripheral vision is not really there and I've kinda gone back to one eye. Have you ever experienced someone maybe having that same issue!?
for hunting, 2 :) learned the hard way
I always figured if its beyond hip fire range you actually do some sort of aiming.
starting with the squinting method i eventually got used to it and was able to translate to shooting with both eyes open. my question is how do i transition to shooting with my third eye?
Hi there. Question about aiming to the target. When focus is on the front sight of the pistol, target is getting blurry beyond 10 yards. Any suggestions how to handle this?
One weird thing for me is I seem to need to "warm up" with one eye closed. I've noticed my groups are much tighter if I start the range session with one eye closed, and then after a few groups, open up the second. Not sure why this happens, but it seems pretty consistent. Maybe I just don't shoot enough.