I am new to rifles (looking to buy my first) and scopes, but have handgun experience. I know I am left eye dominant, and right handed. The other day, I was in an outdoor store, and was checking out some scopes. When I held the rifle and scope up to my right eye, with both eyes open, I couldn't see through the scope. I switched sides (to the scope on the left eye) and the same thing happend - couldn't see through the scope. But, if I just had the scope eye open, I could see through it. I think I read that you are supposed to keep both eyes open when you use a scope. What am I doing wrong? Why can't I see through the scope with both eyes open, even though I tried with my dominant eye?
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Dominant eye
- Thread starter Cmkaco
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BEO takes a lot of practice. Also, you may be "both" eye dominant or "no" eye dominant if you prefer to see it that way. Pun intended.
I use a cheap plastic pirate patch I found of my kids. I put it over my left eye and leave my eye open yet blocked. This has helped me to train my right eye to me more dominant and to shoot two eyes open. It has taken me years but I'm finally to the point where it's intuitive and easy. I'll still temporarily close my left at times to bring my right eye back to dominance.
TLDR: practice. a lot.
I use a cheap plastic pirate patch I found of my kids. I put it over my left eye and leave my eye open yet blocked. This has helped me to train my right eye to me more dominant and to shoot two eyes open. It has taken me years but I'm finally to the point where it's intuitive and easy. I'll still temporarily close my left at times to bring my right eye back to dominance.
TLDR: practice. a lot.
It might take some work to get it sorted out. Basically close the "off" eye, establish a sight picture through the scope, then open the "off" eye. Repeat this exercise to see if you can end up with both eyes open.
Just close your left eye. I'm left eye dominant and shoot everything right handed. Closing your left will come naturally after a bit.
Damnbedextrant ?
My wife shoots left, right and can shoot off eye either hand with pistol.
She has her NRA de rocker for pistol.
That may not mean much to some but she is proud of it. She is close to de in rifle.
The thing is she has to close the off eye just before the shot.
As I got older my eyesight changed and I also now have to close my off eye right before the shot.
Both my sons have to close thier off eye and both are good marksmen.
It is not a sin to do if it works for you.
People with good vision will only understand this when thier vision changes like mine did.
My wife shoots left, right and can shoot off eye either hand with pistol.
She has her NRA de rocker for pistol.
That may not mean much to some but she is proud of it. She is close to de in rifle.
The thing is she has to close the off eye just before the shot.
As I got older my eyesight changed and I also now have to close my off eye right before the shot.
Both my sons have to close thier off eye and both are good marksmen.
It is not a sin to do if it works for you.
People with good vision will only understand this when thier vision changes like mine did.
I have been competitively shooting for 40 years now, spent the past 20 as a NRA coach, teaching kids and adults alike. It's easier when they are new to rifles to just have them learn to shoot the hand with the dominant eye. Setting a rifle up to shoot cross-eye dominant is extremely difficult at best.
First thing I do with a new shooter is have them hold their "strong" hand out with thumb & forefinger making a circle and with both eyes open, put the circle around a distant (>10ft away) object, like a light switch. Without moving the circle, shut the left eye - is the object still in the circle? If so - right eye dominant. If not, open the left eye, verify circle still around object then shut right eye. If the object remains in the circle, left eye is dominant and you should learn to shoot left handed.
As for shooting with off eye shut, off eye obscured (blinder, opaque tape over glasses, etc) or both eyes open, it is truly up to the shooter and what they are most comfortable doing. In competitions where you are acquiring the next target while you are engaging the current one (IPSC pistol, 3-gun), both eyes open is advantageous.
First thing I do with a new shooter is have them hold their "strong" hand out with thumb & forefinger making a circle and with both eyes open, put the circle around a distant (>10ft away) object, like a light switch. Without moving the circle, shut the left eye - is the object still in the circle? If so - right eye dominant. If not, open the left eye, verify circle still around object then shut right eye. If the object remains in the circle, left eye is dominant and you should learn to shoot left handed.
As for shooting with off eye shut, off eye obscured (blinder, opaque tape over glasses, etc) or both eyes open, it is truly up to the shooter and what they are most comfortable doing. In competitions where you are acquiring the next target while you are engaging the current one (IPSC pistol, 3-gun), both eyes open is advantageous.
I agree .
I acquire targets with both eyes and only close off eye at trigger press.
Also want to clear up my wife does not shoot off eye side on rifle just shows off with the pistol for fun and to drive instructors crazy.
She is also ambidextrous with a bow but has to match eye like with rifle.
I acquire targets with both eyes and only close off eye at trigger press.
Also want to clear up my wife does not shoot off eye side on rifle just shows off with the pistol for fun and to drive instructors crazy.
She is also ambidextrous with a bow but has to match eye like with rifle.
I am not an Optimoligist but believe the root problem is when you're dominant eye is not your strongest eye.
I shoot a lot without corrective eyewear especially pistol.
When things go bump in the nite I don't have time to find glasses, just the closest thing with tritium sights.
I shoot a lot without corrective eyewear especially pistol.
When things go bump in the nite I don't have time to find glasses, just the closest thing with tritium sights.
I used to teach SDM's and this was one of the first things we did. With an ACOG you need to be able to use it one or both eyes open.
This is a super simple way to find out dominance: Put your finger in front of your face, six to twelve inches away, and try to line it up with something in the distance for reference. Look at it with both eyes open. Now blink left to right, left to right. Camera one, camera two, camera...
Your dominant eye will see the finger in the same place as both eyes open. The other, your finger will appear to shift, to move over in relation to what you see downrange, in the distance. Really simple to do.
How you wanna deal with it, saying you need to, is up to you, there's more than one. We had guys use an eyepatch forcing one eye and others switching from right hand to left handed shooting. The latter may feel strange but it's how you have to learn to do it if you wanna use both eyes open.
This is a super simple way to find out dominance: Put your finger in front of your face, six to twelve inches away, and try to line it up with something in the distance for reference. Look at it with both eyes open. Now blink left to right, left to right. Camera one, camera two, camera...
Your dominant eye will see the finger in the same place as both eyes open. The other, your finger will appear to shift, to move over in relation to what you see downrange, in the distance. Really simple to do.
How you wanna deal with it, saying you need to, is up to you, there's more than one. We had guys use an eyepatch forcing one eye and others switching from right hand to left handed shooting. The latter may feel strange but it's how you have to learn to do it if you wanna use both eyes open.
Maybe I don't have a dominant eye. I have done this test numerous times. I usually see two hands. Sometimes one is clearer than the other, and it comes out sometimes right and sometimes left eye dominant. I think just closing the left eye is the way for me to go. Left handed rifles seem to be as rare as hen's teeth, and at 56, I don't think I am going to retrain my trigger finger.
It's not complicated. And visual acuity is distinct from dominant eye.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/xxklp1sz2t1v0bv/Bill Rogers Explains Dominant Eye Grip %26 Stance.mp4?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/xxklp1sz2t1v0bv/Bill Rogers Explains Dominant Eye Grip %26 Stance.mp4?dl=0
I am very left eye dominant and right handed. A lot of time behind a rifle has strengthened my right eye. I can't shoot with both eyes open but my left eye is not slammed shut. I can just squint it a bit and the right eye takes over. Make sure, sure, sure that your diopter is set correctly or your right eye will get worse rather than better. If your eye is adjusting to the scope your weak eye will fatigue very quickly.
Left eye dominant.
Looking through the scope with my left eye.
Shooting a right handed rifle left handed on the trigger.
Running the bolt right handed.
New to shooting...
Am I totally fucking myself? Lol
I must say it’s ridiculously comfortable to me.
Looking through the scope with my left eye.
Shooting a right handed rifle left handed on the trigger.
Running the bolt right handed.
New to shooting...
Am I totally fucking myself? Lol
I must say it’s ridiculously comfortable to me.
There are a lot of video's and exercises that can be seen and used online to help to use both eyes while shooting , and to totally if not partially lessen or remove eye strain and blur while doing it . That are pretty much free .
