How To Shoot With Both Eyes Open: Defensive Shooting Techniques

Published on March 13, 2017
Duration: 8:29

This guide details the technique of shooting with both eyes open, crucial for defensive scenarios. Taught by Neil from Geauga Firearms Academy, it emphasizes maintaining situational awareness and overcoming the habit of closing one eye. The method includes a specific sight focus drill to train the brain for two-eyed target acquisition.

Quick Summary

Shooting with both eyes open is vital for defensive scenarios, as it maintains peripheral vision and enhances situational awareness, allowing for better threat detection. A key technique is the 'scan and assess' phase, utilizing both eyes for a wider view. Training drills, like moving a training handgun closer and further from the face, help overcome the habit of single-eye focus.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction to Both-Eyes-Open Shooting
  2. 00:21Defensive Context and Fundamentals
  3. 01:13Peripheral Vision and Blind Spots
  4. 02:22Threat Proximity Demonstration
  5. 03:12Scan and Assess Technique
  6. 03:51Overcoming the One-Eye Habit
  7. 05:02Sight Focus Training Drill
  8. 07:10Live Fire Demonstration

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is shooting with both eyes open important for defensive situations?

Shooting with both eyes open is crucial for defensive scenarios because it maintains your peripheral vision, significantly enhancing situational awareness and allowing you to detect potential threats that might otherwise be missed in a blind spot.

What is the 'scan and assess' technique in defensive shooting?

The 'scan and assess' technique involves using both eyes open after an engagement to quickly broaden your field of view, checking your surroundings for additional threats or assessing the overall situation before lowering your guard.

How can I train to shoot with both eyes open if I'm used to closing one eye?

A recommended training drill involves moving an unloaded training handgun closer and further from your face. This helps your brain learn to isolate the front sight and maintain focus with both eyes open, overcoming the ingrained habit of single-eye focus.

What are the risks of closing one eye while shooting defensively?

Closing one eye while shooting defensively creates a substantial blind spot in your peripheral vision. This blind spot can allow threats to approach unnoticed within arm's reach, severely compromising your safety and ability to react.

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