Turning a blind eye .

K

Kevin the grey

Joined
Aug 26, 2005
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I don,t shoot my firearms very much . It has been a couple of years since I even used my Nylon 66 22 cal . (favourite absolute tack driver) . When I bought my Marlin 30-30 A/S it was the first rifle I used a scope with .

My eyes occasionaly fight for dominance when using bi-optics . I could only use a monocular until I discovered focus free binoculars . My boss at the firing range
gave me a pair of steiner focus free . They are kind of a comprimise yet they work well for scoping the edges of clearings and beyond for deer . No need to fuss with focussing knobs once they are set . I do not think they are meant for clarity at distance and therein lies the comprimise . They do eliminate any discomfort using ordinairy optics brings about .

My question is this . I have heard it is best to keep both eyes open when using a scope . I tried it a couple of times and gave it up . To me it felt like both eyes were trying to focus on the same object with the unaided eye failing miserably . I shot fairly well with one eye closed and so not knowing more I left it at that .

Since I started shooting instinctively with traditional bows which uses both eyes open I found I could shoot a scoped rifle with both eyes open . I never theorised too much on why or noticed any improvement other than not having to keep one eye closed . I never did shoot very much like this as I utilise most of my resources shooting bows , travelling to rendesvous/tournaments and promoting trad archery .

What is the theory behind keeping both eyes open using a scoped rifle ? What are the advantages/disadvantages ?
 
Over my head, but keeping both eyes open with a scope can work if the power is low.


munk
 
My Optometrist said the dominance issue is caused by the fact that I see far well . Due to the longer distances involved the eyes take longer to focus and
somehow this causes the two to fight . Since my eyes have aged a little it has become less apparent .
 
I have no idea about it's advantages. I can see that the brain likely will have trouble merging the zoomed and the normal image.

I have a weird technique shooting with my slingshot, I dont really 'aim' or at least I am not doing what other people call aiming. I can hit a can at 60ft and shoot a hole in it. Some of those who use a 'proper aiming technique' cant do this.

I have never tried to open both eyes when using a scope, just when I am using a red dot aim I have both eyes open. First time that I hear this suggestion, and frankly, it doesn't make much sense to me.

If closing one eye works for you, why change it?


Keno
 
richardallen said:
it doesn't make much sense to me.

If closing one eye works for you, why change it?


Keno
Click to expand...

Richard we only improve through endeavor . It is not so much to change things as to find out the reasoning behnd it and see if I could improve myself .

As for keeping one eye closed ? I used to do it in bars to see if it made the women half as ugl....oops I mean twice as attractive . All it did was make me fall down . L:O:L
 
Kevin the grey said:
What is the theory behind keeping both eyes open using a scoped rifle ? What are the advantages/disadvantages ?
Click to expand...

The theory I have heard repeated the most is that the eye used to sight with will be more relaxed if the other is also open, allowing it to focus more sharply. Shooters frequently put tape on the lense of their shooting glasses over the non-sighting eye to prevent a double immage with both eyes open. With this method the non-sighting eye doesn't really see anything but the other eye is supposedly more relaxed. I have tried this and while it may help a little, I think it is a PIA (taping & untaping) so I just keep the non-shooting eye closed.

This "both eyes open" business may only apply to iron sights and 1x optics though. If you are using a scoped rifle it seems to me you can just focus the lense and not worry about keeping the other eye open.
 
I was taught pretty much the way cliff just explained. Open sights or no power scopes, open both eyes. Higher power scopes, use one eye as the images from both eyes will conflict and cause trouble. I acually prefer open or peep sights because I learned to shoot that way. Scopes always cause me problems with eye relief anyway, especially if I'm snap shooting. I only like scopes if I am shooting from a bench or other support.
 
Thanks . I also enjoy open sights . I think the reason I also like optics is that it is a different game . A completely different set of parameters or at least so many that do not coincide as to make it a whole new ballgame for me .

Its kinda like the difference between single shot and semi-auto . They both might be shooting . One is radicaly different from the other .
 
One reason I have seen suggested for both eyes open with a lower powered or especially a "scout" scope is the ability to see things outside the scope's field of view. Maybe you will see another animal. Maybe you will see some wandering soul about to get into your field of fire.

Haven't been in such a situation myself to try it though.

Tom
 
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