Every student has likely held a firearm during military training. Typically, we practice aiming with one eye closed. However, some professional marksmen prefer to aim with both eyes open. Why is that? Which method is more effective? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each approach?
Exploring Shooting Techniques
One-Eye Aiming
The choice of which eye to aim with depends on whether you are left or right-handed.
Aiming with one eye is the conventional method for those new to firearms. The technique involves closing one eye and aiming at the target through the sight with the other eye. The choice of which eye to use typically depends on whether you are left or right-handed, but ideally, you should use the eye that is closest to the firearm.
Advantages
The reason this aiming method is taught to most beginners is that it feels completely natural. According to the NRA’s shooting guide, most people have a dominant eye, which can better perceive distant visual data and relay it to the brain compared to the other eye. You can search online for methods to determine your dominant eye.
Additionally, closing one eye helps you focus more on the sight and minimizes distractions from surrounding objects.
Disadvantages
However, many experts and firearms instructors suggest that focusing too intently on a single target can be a disadvantage. Many individuals are trained to use and own firearms for self-defense or recreational hunting. In such situations, you need to be aware of everything around you.
While using one eye may help you concentrate on the target, it limits your field of vision and awareness of your surroundings.
In summary, one-eye aiming has the following advantages and disadvantages:
- Easy to practice for many people.
- Utilizes the capabilities of the dominant eye.
- Facilitates focus on the target.
- Restricts overall visibility.
Two-Eye Aiming
Aiming with both eyes is a less common shooting technique. Nevertheless, experts and experienced shooters tend to prefer this method.
Two-eye aiming enhances observation skills.
Advantages
A significant and clear advantage of two-eye aiming is the enhanced observational capability. Hunters can scan the sky or horizon to spot not only a duck directly in front of the gun but also additional targets up to 15 meters away.
Aiming with both eyes significantly increases the number of consecutive shots that can be taken. In other words, this method allows for quick transitions between targets without losing direction or wasting time, unlike one-eye aiming.
Disadvantages
Users will need to spend time practicing to become accustomed to the two-eye aiming technique, especially those who are used to the one-eye method. Initially, your instincts may lead you to “cheat” by squinting or closing the non-dominant eye. You shouldn’t force yourself to stop this instinct! Your instincts will gradually adjust as you become more familiar with aiming with both eyes.
If you wear protective glasses, you can apply a bit of lip balm to the lens of the non-dominant eye to slightly blur it. This method helps your brain eliminate visual illusions that cause the actual image to appear doubled, allowing you to focus on the target with both eyes open.
In summary, with two-eye aiming, you can:
- Increase your field of vision.
- Enhance your ability to switch between targets.
- Experience difficulties during training.
- Initially encounter visual illusions that may double the actual image.
Ultimately, the choice between one-eye or two-eye aiming is not overly critical. Most trainers will advise you to use the method that feels most comfortable for you, as it will yield the best results. If you have been practicing one-eye aiming, switching to two-eye aiming may be somewhat challenging. Nonetheless, each method has its own unique advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, trying each method to find the one that suits you best is certainly worth the effort.
