How to Shoot With Both Eyes Open
Shooting with both eyes open helps you see more of what’s around you. Unless you’re doing long-range precision shooting, it’s usually better to keep both eyes open—especially in real-world situations.
But how do you train yourself to shoot this way? It takes time and practice, but here are some simple methods that can help.
1. Start With One Eye Closed
Begin by closing your weaker eye. Aim and shoot like you normally do. Then, slowly open both eyes while keeping your aim.
Keep practicing by shooting a few rounds with one eye closed, then some with both open. The more you do this, the more natural it will feel.
2. Focus on the Target First
Look at the target with both eyes open. Then bring your gun up until your sights or optic line up with where you’re looking—without changing focus.
Keep your stance steady and pull the trigger smoothly. This helps you stay locked in on the target without losing awareness of your surroundings.
3. Try the “Squint and Open” Method
Start by squinting your weak eye instead of closing it. Slowly open it more and more as you get used to the sight picture.
This one takes practice, but over time, you’ll stop needing to close either eye.
4. Cover Your Dominant Eye
If you’re cross-eye dominant (for example, left-eye dominant but right-handed), shooting with both eyes open can be harder.
Try covering your dominant eye with your hand while aiming with your non-dominant eye. Your brain will slowly learn to adjust.
5. Use an Eye Patch or Blurred Glasses
An eye patch can help you train your non-dominant eye. Wear it for an hour or so while practicing.
Another trick is to apply Chapstick or a bit of blur to one lens of clear safety glasses. As you improve, you can reduce the blur or stop using the patch altogether.
6. Practice With Dry Fire
Dry firing means practicing without live ammo.
Use dummy rounds or snap caps. Pick a safe target on your wall.
Aim and pull the trigger while keeping both eyes open. This removes the pressure of recoil and sound, making it easier to focus and build the habit.
7. Use a Red Dot or LPVO Scope
A red dot or Low Power Variable Optic (like the Odin 1-8×24 FFP LPVO Rifle Scope) makes it much easier to shoot with both eyes open.
These optics let you stay focused on the target instead of the front and rear sights. They don’t block your side vision and help with faster aiming.
Why It’s Worth Learning
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Better awareness: See everything around you, not just what’s in the scope.
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Improved depth perception: Both eyes open = better distance judgment.
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More control: You can shoot better with either hand or eye when needed.
Find Out Which Eye Is Dominant
Make a triangle with your hands and look through it at a target. Bring it toward your face. The eye it naturally centers on is your dominant eye.
Final Thoughts
There’s nothing wrong with using just your dominant eye—but learning to shoot with both eyes open can make you faster and more aware. Whether you’re a hunter, competitive shooter, or in law enforcement, it’s a valuable skill.
Just like anything else, it comes down to practice. And using the right gear—like an LPVO scope—can make a big difference. If you’re serious about improving, the Odin 1-8×24 FFP LPVO Rifle Scope is a great place to start.