Shooters: Do you aim through both eyes or squint?

Question

For those of us who shoot, I'm just curious...do you guys (and gals) use both eyes when aiming a pistol or do you like me, close your left eye and just look at the sights through your right? Is there a "right" way to aim?

Answer 1

shotgun keep both eyes open;target rifle one eye;tactical rifle botheyes; hand gun one eye.

Answer 2

You shoot with both eyes open. Yes it is difficult at first but not for very long.
However you really only aim with one eye. Usually your dominant eye. I think if you give it a little effort you will be using both eyes open in no time. Here is a trick some people use, put scotch tape on the weak eye glass of your shooting glasses. The blurriness will help you use your dominant eye and still keep both eyes open.

Why both eyes open?
first reason is that your eyes get fatigued quicker with one eye shut.
next reason is one eye closed offsets your balance and causes you to correct which causes the gun to move more.
in other words you get a longer better hold on the target

If you get into practical shooting you get all of the above plus faster target acquisition.

I am sorry there is so much bad advice out there. What I have told you is true regardless of discipline or weapon. Some snipers will use an eye patch but I think that is even falling by the wayside

Answer 3

Yes you should shoot useing only one eye. The proper way to see which eye to use or its actually called Right or left eye dominant. Take a handgun or rifle (make sure its unloaded). Useing a Handgun close one eye and aim at an object 15 ft or so away. First close your left eye and get your gun on target perfectly. Then without moving the gun close your right eye and open your left without moving your sights from the target. If your sight picture is way off target you now know you are right eye dominant and should aim with your left eye. Then try the other eye the same way, which ever one keeps you on target is the one you need to use to aim. Good Luck!!

Answer 4

When I shoot pistols for score I close one eye, but when I do tactical courses I leave both eyes open. The tactical courses I shoot are from alot closer ranges. Tactical shotgun and rifle courses I use both eyes , but I am also utilizing an ACOG red dot sight. Try both ways and see what is best for you. Remember consentrate on proper marksmanship skills (grip,sight picture, breath control, etc.) and focus only on your front sight. Leave the rear sight and your target somewhat blurry and you'll be fine.

Answer 5

When I 1st started shooting I used one eye to aim, as I progressed I learned to use both eyes open. It takes some getting used to but it helps a lot with eye fatigue. I'm now shooting better than i ever have, pistols and rifles, scoped or iron sight, using both eyes open. Pistols was the hardest to get used to, but after some practice it's second nature to me, the iron sights appear as a mirage almost, making it possible to have a greater field of view while on target, plus the eye strain is completely gone.I have found using a high-visibility iron sight helps tremendously when learning to shoot with both eyes open. You can use any bright fingernail polish to touch up your iron sights, or you can purchase hi-viz or bright sites and have them installed.

Answer 6

One eye closed gives a better straight line perception. Closed eye in target shooting is normal. Sighting could work good enough with both eyes open in close up situations but not as accurate due to the perception change and less concentration on the true sight picture. You can hit close to true aiming point. Of course, with laser dot sights at close ranges, just put the dot where you want the bullet to go.

Answer 7

eyes wide open on the pistol look over the top of the action.

try looking at something then bring your hand up and point at it,,easy huh?

now look and close your eyes and point,,,neet huh? make your pistol an extension of your hands..remember you are in combat. if u are shooting pistol for points and scores then use youre sights close an eye if you want too

Answer 8

You can determine your dominant eye by holding your hands together to create a in a small diamond shape between the webbing in between your thumb and finger. Hold it at arms length, keep both eyes open and look through it at something at arms length. Then pull it back to your eyes. The eye it is drawn to is your dominant eye.

I have a cousin in the Special Forces and he shoots pistols with both eyes open. I have tried, but I am terrible with both eyes open. I do better to close my left eye.

Answer 9

Not really sure, but I do know that each person will have a dominant eye (usually it's the hand you write with, but not always).

When I was taught to shoot, I found out that I my dominant eye was my left even though I'm right-handed. I was taught that keeping both eyes open is the better way to shoot.

Answer 10

NO! I shoot with my right eye closed and my left one open or you can do it the other way around it you need to. some people keep both eyes open, but i find that kind of hard. but what ever you do don't squint it is to hard on your eyes and they will get tired easily

Have fun shooting

Answer 11

I normally squint and look through the sights so that I'm more focused, instead of seeing peripherally with my other eye, and throwing off my distance and depth perception.

There's no right way to aim.. it's whatever you feel most comfortable with, and what seems to work for you.