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Using two eyes

1K views 1 reply 2 participants last post by  twoguns 
#1 ·
I am an experienced rifleman who has never shot well with a pistol. While trying out a new BHP a couple weeks ago, I discovered that if I shot with both eyes open, I shot very well. My new BHP is chrome and has a red front sight which made focusing on it with both eyes much easier. A friend provided me with a flip up black non-dominant eye patch from Gil Hebard. I tried that today and it improved my shooting markedly. My wife, who is afraid of guns, outshoots me with the Hi Power! She is a natural two eye shooter. My question is, how can I become a natural two eye shoter? Are there some drills I can run? The eyepatch is great, but I feel a little silly and I'd like to shoot better than my wife!

Thanks.
 
#2 ·
Howdy Mr. Cliph,

First, I moved your post over to this room, as it will be read more often here, and probably generate more responses for you as well. Second, welcome to the site.

I was very lucky in the old Captain who taught me to shoot when I became a LEO made me learn to shoot using both eyes. I started to shut my left eye, as that is what they do in the movies and on tv, so it seemed like the right thing to do to me. I won't use his language but he pointed out using a firearm and driving a police car were the two most dangerous tasks I would be called upon to do as a LEO. He asked me if I would shut one eye while chasing another vehicle at 140mph. He made his point anyway. During a lethal force situation, why did I want to start off by cuting my vision in half at a very dangerous point in time.

As far as drills I can not really offer any precisely. What I would suggest is you try to shoot from an isoceles stance, facing the target squarely, both elbows locked tightly, feet shoulder width apart. If you are going to lean at all, lean slightly forward and crouch a bit also if you want. You want a stance that will be comfortable but still give you some range of movement right and left if required too.

But with both elbows locked, your pistol sights should now be lined up directly off your nose, which will make it very natural for you to sight using both eyes. I know you shoot, but just as a reminder as I think it is often harder for handgun shooters to remember too. It is impossible for your eyes to focus on rear sight, front sight and target at the same time. No one can do that. You want your front sight to be crystal clear in your vision. Concentrate on the front sight. Your rear sight and the target with both be blurry, but the "experts" claim that subconsciously you will still be aiming towards center mass on your target.

You mention your wife is a natural shooter, who groups well. I understand you want to outshoot her, but the bottom line is you simply may not be able to do so. The "experts" also claim that from a physical body build standpoint (something to do with shoulder structure I think), females are built to be inherently better shots than males. It is just a rare female who works to develop their shooting skills. So it does indeed sound to me like your wife is a natural sir.

Work to shoot tighter groups and make a competition out of it if you two would enjoy that challenge. But even if she still beats you more times than not, if she were my wife, I would still be glad she did.

If you will check in this section you will find one of two other threads on this same topic as well, and some of the suggetions offered by members in them might be of use to you as well.

twoguns
 
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