Shoot with one eye open, and one closed, or both open?

[SteveNZ]

I'm left-handed, and left eye dominant.

• Shoot rifles right-handed close left eye when sighting. (can also shoot off left shoulder using left eye but not work a bolt).
• Shoot shotguns right-handed mainly due to cast of stock, I squint the left eye when sighting.
• Handguns I shoot either hand but aim with the left eye, closing right eye.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

I shoot with one open and one closed. What do you do? Will be interested to find out.

So, I guess pointing the gun in the general direction, closing both eyes and yanking the trigger is the wrong answer?

 

[skydiver386]

So, I guess pointing the gun in the general direction, closing both eyes and yanking the trigger is the wrong answer?

The preferred technique is to leave at least one eye open.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

So after going through all the posts, it looks like I need to join the “both-eyes-open” club—no matter what I’m shooting. Apparently, squinting like a pirate might’ve worked for the old safari legends, but it’s not doing me any favors.
I’ve been practicing this with my handgun, and let’s just say… I’ve got some work ahead of me. My first shot or initial sight picture still needs a bit of a “manual override.” I basically have to tell my eyes, “Focus on the front sight, please.” To get that right on the first attempt, I end up giving a quick blink or briefly closing my left eye for a split second so the right eye can take over.

But once that first sight picture is locked in, everything clicks. After that, my brain just settles in—“Oh, right, we know this game”—and I can keep both eyes open without any trouble staying on target.

I wear prescription bifocals. I have to shoot the irons on my rifles and handgun without my prescription glasses. Very rare that I do shoot with irons so no big deal. My handgun stayed in US when I emigrated to Canada and rifles normally wear scopes.

 

[MS 9x56]

So, I guess pointing the gun in the general direction, closing both eyes and yanking the trigger is the wrong answer?

You must shoot a magnum rifle.

 

[SStomcat]

So, I guess pointing the gun in the general direction, closing both eyes and yanking the trigger is the wrong answer?

Yep. That’s how you educate the woods and spook every deer within three counties—louder forests, emptier freezers.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

You must shoot a magnum rifle.

Yeah, but I don't really close both eyes and yank the trigger. Joking.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

Yep. That’s how you educate the woods and spook every deer within three counties—louder forests, emptier freezers.

You mean you actually kill animals and eat them? I'm shocked! Shocked I tell you! What would the Humane Society of the United States say? Why don't you buy meat from a store so animals don't have to die?

Okay, I'm starting to make myself sick with this joke.

Merry Christmas everyone!

 

[SStomcat]

I know… it’s horrifying. I prefer my meat ethically harvested by a guy in an apron behind fluorescent lights. And I'm considering tofu for Christmas but it keeps running away.

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

You mean you actually kill animals and eat them? I'm shocked! Shocked I tell you! What would the Humane Society of the United States say? Why don't you buy meat from a store so animals don't have to die?

Okay, I'm starting to make myself sick with this joke.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Perhaps an addendum to this thread on what calibre for tofu and wether you shut one or both eyes when shooting it
Gumpy

 

[MS 9x56]

You mean you actually kill animals and eat them? I'm shocked! Shocked I tell you! What would the Humane Society of the United States say? Why don't you buy meat from a store so animals don't have to die?

Okay, I'm starting to make myself sick with this joke.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Had me worried for a minute. I thought AOC had hijacked your user name!

 

[Doug Hamilton]

Perhaps an addendum to this thread on what calibre for tofu and wether you shut one or both eyes when shooting it
Gumpy

Oh no! Not he endangered tofu! We can't shoot them! I was already worried about saving the clay pigeons.

 

[coreydb]

The definition of a good shot is one where you do not disturb the sights between the time you close your eyes and pull the trigger.

Well, if you don't hit clean, at least you'll miss clean

 

[Daryl S]

& here I thought the wild Nauga's were the endangered ones. Not the Tofu's too!!!!!!!

 

[Doug Hamilton]

& here I thought the wild Nauga's were the endangered ones. Not the Tofu's too!!!!!!!

I was told that they were.being killed just for their.hides. Save the naugas!

 

[skydiver386]

& here I thought the wild Nauga's were the endangered ones. Not the Tofu's too!!!!!!!

In a lifetime of hunting I've never seen one in the wild.

BTW, I spell my name Darrell. Only Hillbillies on the Bob Newheart Show spell Daryl with a Y.

 

[SStomcat]

I can see this post only going downhill from here. Unwatch

 

[Woodcarver]

Left handed, right eye dominant. Dad caught me leaning across the BB gun to use my right eye when I was 5-ish, so he taught me to shoot right handed. Also had me closing my left eye to shoot, both irons & scopes. Fast forward a few decades and I found that I was shooting with both eyes open with pistols (shot with both hands) and shotguns (shot off both shoulders), why should rifles be any different? So I quit closing my left eye. Now, it's very rare to close the left eye (or right, if shooting left handed) unless the scope is cranked way up (above 6-7x ish) and/or the light on the target is causing an issue. On game, fur or fowl, both eyes wide open.

 

[Daryl S]

I am right handed, right eyed.
Some people get a good view of the sights with both eyes open. For me, I have shadowy sights that I see when both eyes are open, then all of a sudden the sights are sharp and clear to the left eye, but I'm looking down the side of the rifle or handgun, then they'll switch again. My eyes switch dominance. Frustrating. Thus, one eye close with handguns and rifles, but - when shooting instinctively with handgun - both eyes open as they are no sights to see. My boys in the riot squad were able to keep 6 in a row in the center mass on the metal man at 25 yards, guns below their shoulders. Loved teaching them. Spring training was GREAT.
The token 2 women we were forced to admit into the squad, quit after their first shotgun training.
Everyone shot both shotguns and when shooting instinctively handguns, with both eyes open.