Re: Firing with both eyes open?

[MathesonT@xxxxxxx]

In a message dated 4/19/2001 8:04:18 AM Pacific Daylight Time, tro@mpinet.net 
writes:


> Ok, next time I hit the range (not often enough) I want to practise firing my
> Glock 19 with both eyes open. I'm looking for pointers and tips cause I'm 
> not
> very good at it.

Make sure the one eye you are using is actually your dominate eye.  A lot of 
right handed shooters are surprised to learn they are actually left eyed.  
Does have much impact when shooting with only one eye open, but when you go 
both eyes it can have cause all sorts of problems.

To transition from shooting with one eye open to both eyes open takes lots of 
practice.  LOTS.  To practice at home, hang a target on a door at the end of 
the hall.  With your gun in the low ready, close your dominate eye and with 
the weak eye focus on a point to the side of the target.  No bring the gun 
up, opening your dominate eye and focusing on the front sight, while trying 
to keep the weak eye from drifting onto the sights.  Start slowly, and do not 
expect miracles.

May or may not work for you.  If it feels wrong after several hours of 
practice you could switch to another method.  Try aiming at the side of the 
target with dominate eye on sights and weak eye close.  Now swing to center 
of target while opening weak eye.  Here the goal is not transitioning from 
weak eye to dominate eye, but to stay with the dominate eye.

All of this goes on the assumption that you are following basic marksmanship 
procedures and can put a tight group where you want it with just your 
dominate eye.  If not, focus on basic skills with one eye until you get that 
down and then start working on both eyes open.

Rob

PS  There are many other methods, all of which work for some people.  You can 
try  wearing a translucent cover over you weak eye so that it gets some 
information without a clear picture, you can go straight to both eyes open 
and just practice, you can rapidly switch from one eye to the other and back, 
and so on.  Good luck and be patient.