Why shooting with both eyes open is important.
1. In any tactical or combat shooting situation, you should be moving. Having both eyes open will allow you to move better/quicker while navigating obstacles or moving to cover.
2. In any tactical or combat shooting situation, your target may be moving. Having both eyes open will allow you to more quickly locate and track your threat(s).
3. It is impossible to close one eye and not have the other eye close a little bit. By doing this, you are diminishing the vision in the eye your using to aim.
Shooting with both eyes open does come a little easier for some, but everyone can learn how to do it effectively within a week.
You can do this at work or at home. Use a pen or pencil and hold it out at arm's length with the thinnest part (front sight post width is good) pointing up.
Close your non-dominant eye and aim the tip of your writing instrument at an object at least three feet away.
Without moving anything, open your non-dominant eye. This will train your brain as to what it should look like to have both eyes open when you shoot. Practice this for a few minutes and then move on to the step two.
Next, you will do the same thing, but this time in reverse. Start off with both eyes open and try to aim at the object. Once your sighted in, close your non-dominant eye and check to see if you are pointed directly at the object. If you are, great! If you are not, move the tip to point where you want it and open both eyes again to teach your brain what visual data to pay attention to when both eyes are open. Do this for a few minutes and then move to step three.
This drill is not only good for training your eyes and brain to shoot with both eyes open, but it's also great for working on front sight focus and also working the muscles in the eye that adjust focus.
Start off with both eyes open and the tip of your pen or pencil about 3-4 inches in front of your dominant eye. The tip should be lined up with your target and you should be focusing on your target. Now slowly extend your arm out all the way while keeping the tip aimed at your target. As you extend past halfway out, your focus should shift to your aiming tip… focus, press, and repeat.
If you practice these three drills for 10 - 15 minutes a day for one week, you will be able
to shoot with both eyes open on the range.
You should do all the same drills and dry fire with whatever weapon(s) you use on the
range.
Now load some magazines and test it out on the range.
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