Shooting with both eyes open is a technique that can greatly improve your accuracy and reaction time when firing a gun. In this blog, we will explore the benefits of this technique and provide tips and techniques for practicing and perfecting it.
The Benefits of Shooting With Both Eyes Open
There are several reasons why learning to aim with both eyes open can be beneficial for shooters:
1) Improves Peripheral Vision
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When aiming with both eyes open, you are able to maintain peripheral vision, which allows you to take in as much as much visual information as possible. This can be especially important in dynamic and fast-moving situations, as it allows you to quickly and easily spot potential threats or targets.
2) Faster Target Acquisition
The ability to keep both eyes open while aiming can also allow for faster target acquisition. By being able to see more of your surroundings and quickly spot potential targets, you can react more quickly and effectively in high-pressure situations.
3) Helps to Track a Moving Target
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Shooting with both eyes open allows you to take advantage of binocular vision, which enables your brain to merge the images from both eyes into one. This improves the accuracy and completeness of the image of the target, making it easier to track and predict any movement.
4) Increases Accuracy
Keeping both eyes open while aiming can also improve your accuracy. When one eye is closed, the brain has to work harder to merge two different images into one, which can cause the aim to be less precise. By keeping both eyes open, the brain receives a more complete image of the target, which can result in better aim.
5) Improves Depth Perception
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Using both eyes while aiming allows you to perceive depth and distance more accurately. This can be particularly helpful when shooting at targets at different ranges, as you can more easily make adjustments to your aim to account for the target's distance.
How to Shoot With Both Eyes Open
Now that you know the benefits of shooting with both eyes open, here's how to do it:
1) Focus on the Target
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Begin by focusing on a target in the distance, while being aware of your surroundings. Your left eye and right eye need to be focused on the same thing.
2) Aim With Your Dominant Eye
As you aim, pay attention to your dominant eye rather than your non-dominant eye. It's important to know which eye is dominant because it will be the one that will be doing the majority of the aiming.
For most people, their dominant eye is the same as their dominant hand. For example, if you are right-hand dominant, chances are that you are right-eye dominant as well. However, in rare cases, the dominant hand is not the same as the dominant eye (having a dominant right hand but being left eye dominant). This is known as cross-eye dominance.
Whether you are cross-dominant or not, the rule still applies: aim with your dominant eye. This will help you to improve your aim and increase your chances of hitting the target.
3) Dry Fire Practice
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Dry fire practice is an effective way to hone your shooting skills when learning to shoot with both eyes open. This type of practice involves simulating live shooting by pointing an unloaded gun at a safe target and pulling the trigger. This allows you to focus on your form and technique without the added pressure of live ammunition.
To practice dry fire, set up two targets at least 10 feet apart and aim at them with your unloaded weapon, whether it be a pistol, rifle, or shotgun, and different types of optics such as iron sights or scopes.
While aiming, make sure to have a front-sight focus rather than a target focus. You are putting yourself up for a miss if you are concentrating on the target rather than the sights. Essentially, you want a sharp focus on the front sight while keeping the target slightly blurry.
4) Use a Red Dot Sight
When first learning to shoot with both eyes open, it is common to see two-sight pictures. This is because your brain is still adjusting to the new technique and is not yet able to merge the images from both eyes into one sight picture. This can be disorienting and make aiming difficult.
If you have this issue, try using a red dot sight or a holographic sight. These sights project a red dot or holographic reticle onto the target, which can help you keep both eyes open and maintain your sight focus.
5) Take Your Skills to the Range
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Finally, use this technique in live-fire scenarios, such as at the range or in a shooting competition. This will help you become more comfortable and confident in your ability to shoot with both eyes open in real-world situations.
Tips and Tricks to Keep in Mind
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Shooting with both eyes open can be a game-changing technique for shooters of all levels. However, it can be a difficult technique to master. Below are some tips and tricks that can help you:
Use a Quality Gun: Make sure to use a quality gun that is well-maintained and properly sighted. This will help to ensure that your shots are accurate and consistent.
Use a Shooting Aid: If you're having difficulty keeping both eyes open, consider using a shooting aid such as shooting glasses that block one eye. This can help to train your brain to keep both eyes open.
Practice Different Shooting Scenarios: Practice shooting in different scenarios, including low-light conditions and moving targets. This will help you to become more versatile and adaptable as a shooter.
Keep Your Head Upright: Avoid tilting your head to one side when aiming. Keep your head upright and in line with your body to maintain proper alignment and improve accuracy.
Don’t Forget to Blink: Keep in mind that keeping both eyes open does not mean that you cannot blink. It's important to blink normally to avoid dry eyes and fatigue.
Summary
Shooting with both eyes open is a shooting technique that every shooter needs to learn. While mastering this technique takes practice and patience, it's worth the effort. And what better way to practice than by using EasyShot shooting targets? The unique design of these targets makes it easy for you to see your shots and adjust your aim, so you can quickly master the art of shooting with both eyes open. Try EasyShot targets today and see the difference for yourself.