dlm1188

Hey guys,



I'm pretty new to pistol shooting in general and very new to semi-auto pistols. I was raised on long guns and mostly scoped long guns, so I naturally got into the habit of closing my weaker eye when shooting. Not only is this a habit, but when I try to shoot my pistol (or anything for that matter) with both eyes open, I have double vision. I've read some articles on the matter and I do wish to become proficient with both eyes open because the added depth perception, and most importantly the added field of view is important in defensive shooting.



I was wondering what your opinions and experiences were on the subject matter. Most of all I'm interested in tips about how to train to shoot with both eyes open. I can figure out which "view" I'm actually aimed at, but I'm much slower and less accurate because I can't focus on the target and the sights. When I focus target, I get double vision of the pistol, when I focus on the pistol I get double vision of the target and sometimes double vision of both.



I'm right hand and right eye dominant and I hold the pistol in front of my right eye, if that helps.



Thanks guys.

Volzfan

I'm Rt hand/Rt eye dominant too and have always shot with the left eye closed but lately I've been practicing with both eyes open. It's a hard habit to break for me. I'm getting better results though.

Gett Daddy

As with anything, practice makes perfect, but perhaps try a piece of tape over your shooting glasses? I've seen others do this and I suppose that would force you to rely on your dominant eye without, hopefully, experiencing the double vision. I used to be right eye dominant, now I'm a lefty, so I had some issues during my crossover. I will do whatever research I can cuz I'd like to know more about this anyhow. Otherwise, I'm figuring some of the other fellas might have some good advise.

dlm1188

Thanks for the advice guys. I'm hopin to get some range time in soon, so I'll attempt some electrical tape over my glasses to help.

Volzfan

You might want to try the blue painters tape. It might come off cleaner. I keep a wide roll in my bag to tap up targets to get more use out of them. I know what you are thinkin and yes I'm a tight wad!

Badger

I'm in the same boat with Volz.

dlm1188

We're birds of a feather Volzfan, I keep brightly color duct tape or survey paint and just make targets out of weekly grocery ads. Unless I'm sighting in, then I go to walmart and buy the cheapest 1" grid target I can get. Hahah. I also end up using only one or two targets when I go to the range. I keep a sharpie around and mark my hits every time I go down range. Bein raised on 100 acres and ending up covered in dirt everyday, I never believed that cleanliness was next to Godliness, but I do think frugality is. Hahah.



Duct tape, bailing wire or WD-40 fix most problems. For everything else there's SIG Sauer.

Jeff.Slim

learn to shoot with head adjustments right or left. I am left eye Dominant and right handed so i shoot "over the top". I move my head right to focus my left eye, or shoot one eye closed.



I will be the first to admit over the top can kick my ass sometimes, if i get tunnel vision i start getting blurred picture.

sigp229r 

I'm right handed and right eye dominant... Typically, I shoot with both eyes open. However, I catch myself closing my left eye when I am trying to shoot more accurately.

Gett Daddy

awesome!





Duct tape, bailing wire or WD-40 fix most problems. For everything else there's SIG Sauer.

JeffsSig

Also do dry fire while your setting around with both eyes open.

This save cash plus works your trigger pull out at the same time.

dlm1188

Yup, I've been getting some snap cap time in at night.

rbgsig226

Right handed and right eye dominate, I started at a young age closing the left eye. After joining the Army and through out all the different Shooting, CQC and CQB Courses, I learned that both eyes open was indeed the best. This was from some of the best in the business, FBI Hostage Rescue Team, Canada's TRU Team, GSG-9, HSS International, Army Special Forces and Delta, SEAL's etc.



Two of the main reasons for both eyes open is, eye strain / fatigue from keeping one eye closed and reduced peripheral vision / situational awareness on the closed eye side.



Like others have mentioned the two best methods I used to change was a patch on the left side of my shooting glasses, keeping that eye open. After that became more natural, took a lot of practice, I then used the dry fire with a snap cap around the house. Like most all Tactical Training, perfect practice and repetition builds muscle memory.



This is what worked for me....



Both Eyes Open

dlm1188

I got some range time in today with Hogue grips on my P226 for the first time. I was very pleased with the comfort on the grip, but it did take a bit to get used to them. I also taped up my glasses on the left side and tried shooting with both eyes open today. Man it was frustrating!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I found it very difficult and I kept wanting to close my left eye. Here are the not so good results below...



Just a pic of my SIG, my target is the on on the right of the barrel at 25 yards









The target from shooting 20 rounds at 25 yards with both eyes open... roughly a 8" target. A bit embarrassing.







And here's another target at 50 yards, from my .22 rifle, using iron sights, sitting position, single elbow supported, both eyes open. Also a bit embarrassing.

rbgsig226

Semper, Don’t get discouraged, it will take some time to reprogram yourself to change something you used to do.



And actually at 25 yards, that is not a real bad defensive grouping. Remember most civilian deadly encounters happen between 3 and 7 yards. You will get closer groups when the both eyes open becomes natural. The other benefit of both eyes open is the increased visibility and awareness on that weak side.

Hang in there, Perfect Practice and Repetition breeds Accuracy .

rebel619

Dry firing with both eyes open is extremely hard, I can only imagine trying to shoot with both eyes open...I would prob be all over the place but like my father says practice makes perfect.

garandguy

Good post! This is what I suggest to my students. The patch over the glasses works great over time! Before joining the Corps I was right eye dominant with either hand. I shoot with both eyes open myself and believe it to be better for the reasons listed above and because you can react to a threat thats in your peripherial vision alot quicker when you can actually see them. As far as the above post about blurred vision try holding the gun up to your eye level instead of dropping your head down(Sometime we do it without realizing we are doing it) and hold the pistol a little farther away from you. Keep up with the dry fire for trigger control and ride the trigger reset and learn it! In most defensive or CQB type handgun encounters watch the FRONT SIGHT and use it to aim with. Oh and make sure to keep both eyes open even though the one side of your glasses is taped. Let me know how it works out for ya as I have a few other tricks up my sleeve too .



Its on now I found the enoticons .

garandguy

If your life depended on the top target you would still be alive and thats the most important thing! Like it was said PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT! Try riding your triggers reset instead of slapping the trigger too. When dry firing use a dime on top of your barrel. If the dime falls youre doing it wrong. You can start out with quarters since theyre heavier. We used dimes because they are the lightest. This will help with your trigger control. The coin shouldnt fall until the hammer drops and the shot is broke. What type of grip and stance are you using? From the target there are several things going on but I dont want to over load your brain right now so just practice on what I said and for using both eyes open use the tape over glasses routine. If you have any questions I'll be around or you can email me.

On a side note I like the range you got there! Here is a link to the one I use to teach courses www.southernindianarifleandpistolclub.com.

thndrchiken

Even with a scoped long gun you should still keep both eyes open.

dlm1188

Thanks for the advice! I'll definitely start dry firing more and using a dime for trigger control. The taped glasses help, but I now have a dilemma. When these photos were taken I was not wearing prescription glasses for distance vision and now I do. So I need to figure out an eye patch or something, so I don't have to put tape on my prescription lenses. My biggest issue is time spent dry firing, since I can't afford to go to the range even weekly, I'm lucky if I get out every other month because of school and finances, so I'm going to start a routine of dry firing exercises in my apartment to help improve for free.



I will try and explain the grip, but I might not be able to do so well... I am right handed, so my right hand grips the pistol first, pressed up against the beavertail with my right thumb pointed forward straight at the magazine release. Left hand grabs right hand in a similar fashion as the right hand grips the pistol, left thumb on top of right thumb, pointing forward, resting right below the hammer drop lever. Right arm almost fully extended, but not quite, slight bend at elbow, left arm bent at the elbow a little past 90 degrees. Standing in a boxer's stance, legs about shoulder width apart, left foot and shoulder forward, right foot and shoulder back. And I slightly lean my torso forward instead of being straight up.



I just tried the dime trick and it seems to be fine. I balanced the dime on the barrel and a few times on the front sight and it never fell and that was with double action and single action. I can cycle through about 7 double action pulls before the dime falls.