Had a discussion with a friend about the proper way to aim a pistol. He said you must close one eye, and aim with the other. A right-handed shooter should close left eye and aim with right..
I say you should keep both eyes open for aiming.
That’s the way I have been shooting for a couple of years now and find it more accurate with a pistol. A rifle I do use the close one eye sighting method though.
What do you think or are there any steadfast rules.

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technology is great when it works
and one big pain in the ass when it doesnt.
Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.

There are no rules - do whatever works for you. Well there is one rule sorta- this is for open sights: front and rear sights level and equal amount of light on both sides, focus on the front sight.

Ya, no real rules. I'm left eye dominant but right handed. I learned to shoot left handed for precision long distance shots with a rifle.
Then trained my other eye to close so I could shoot right for snap shots (plus blow back sucks on an open eye) and finally learned both eyes open just for fun and for use while wearing masks.

I can teach anyone to mechanically shoot almost anything and turn them into at least a decent marksman. The trick is finding out what works for them and not forcing them into the accepted norm.

Pistol shooting, some people swear by weaver stance or the bulls eye stance. The proper handgun stance is the stance that allows you to deliver one aimed, controlled shot after another safely, efficiently, and comfortably.

and don't aim it like this. lol

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http://www.fieroracing.com

You are absolute right You blink one eye to get your bearing then open the other eye. Look at it this way, two eyes are better than one. I will give you a little trick about shooting. I used to tell anyone that I could place a 3 by 5 card over the end of a rifle barrel and I could hit the bullseye. Well they could not understand because they would look down the barrel and all they would see is the card on the end of the barrel. So I would tell them this is why you want to keep both eyes open, now open both eyes and sight down the barrel and you can see right through the card. Try it and you will see.
Don

When I shot competitively I always shot with both eyes open, so I'm in your camp on that one. (ANOTHER time we agree ) However, after I lost my right eye in '90 it didn't take long to adjust to shooting a pistol with just my left eye, so I can't really say that those that shoot with one eye closed are wrong. Since I'm right handed, though, it really screwed up any hunting I do with shotguns or even shooting rifles as I have to either shoot left handed or I have to really get my head over the stock..........and even then I suck.

What I really need to do is find an instructor and work to learn to shoot left handed, but other things have been more important.

John Stricker

quote Originally posted by 84fiero123: Had a discussion with a friend about the proper way to aim a pistol. He said you must close one eye, and aim with the other. A right-handed shooter should close left eye and aim with right.. I say you should keep both eyes open for aiming. That’s the way I have been shooting for a couple of years now and find it more accurate with a pistol. A rifle I do use the close one eye sighting method though. What do you think or are there any steadfast rules.

I use one eye, of course depending on if I'm shooting lefty or righty..

Try each style, to determine which one yields the best results. Then stick with it.

I like to keep both eyes open to scan for targets, then close one eye for precision aiming. As soon as I pull the trigger, I re-open the other eye and resume scanning. For the type of shooting I did in the military (pop-up targets on the rifle range), this method worked best for me. It allowed me to quickly identify a target and sight in on it, so I could shoot it before the next one popped up. It also allowed me to see targets that I wouldn't have seen with one eye closed.

Slap leather, put the front sight on center mass and start spraying.

I have always shot with both eyes open. Just put the pistol out in front of my nose and aim. Works for me.

I usually don't use the sights much.
I just do some rough triangulation most times.

I can atleast hit the paper most times.

We practiced quickdraw & hipshooting alot growing up.
We were preaty good at about 25 feet.

Aiming a PISTOL. A pistol I believe is a lot different than a rifle.

I used to aim with just one eye but found the pistol shoots to the left when pulling the trigger. That I believe is my fault, I’m pulling the pistol a little to the left when I squeeze the trigger. But when I aim with both eyes open I’m right on target.
Just curious as to others peoples ways and accuracy.
I always use one eye when using a rifle, and have never had any trouble. It’s the pistol I’m having the disagreement about with aiming.

Sorry to here about the eye John. I don’t have good eyesight, worn glasses since I was 6. How the heck do you fly? Your depth perception has to suck. Landing must be a ***** .
But as far as shooting goes I have never had any trouble. As a kid with my scoped .22 rifle I could light a stick match at 100 yards.
Just to clarify I'm firing a Glock 17 9mm with tritium night sights, not a lot of kick but lots of rounds.
I like the 17 roung cap. and if you stagger the rounds, fmj, mjhp,teflon. it will do the job and then some.

quote Originally posted by jstricker: When I shot competitively I always shot with both eyes open, so I'm in your camp on that one. (ANOTHER time we agree ) However, after I lost my right eye in '90 it didn't take long to adjust to shooting a pistol with just my left eye, so I can't really say that those that shoot with one eye closed are wrong. Since I'm right handed, though, it really screwed up any hunting I do with shotguns or even shooting rifles as I have to either shoot left handed or I have to really get my head over the stock..........and even then I suck. What I really need to do is find an instructor and work to learn to shoot left handed, but other things have been more important. John Stricker

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technology is great when it works
and one big pain in the ass when it doesnt.
Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.

[This message has been edited by 84fiero123 (edited 02-14-2006).]

quote Originally posted by 84fiero123: How the heck do you fly? Your depth perception has to suck. Landing must be a ***** .

I can't answer for John, but binocular depth perception isn't significant beyond about 20 feet ... even when both eyes are perfect. Our eyes are just too close together. But the visual part of our brains is magnificent. It begins to use other cues for depth perception just as binocular vision starts to fail us, and it works so well that we're seldom even aware of it ... that is, until an optical illusion knocks us for a loop. One often-neglected aspect of pilot training involves identifying some common optical illusions (especially those at night) and learning ways to deal with them.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO i know this one seriously!!

was helping a friend study for his police officer exam thingy

both eyes. period. we had a big discussion on it before we looked up answer. its both eyes.

i am so smart! s-m-r-t!

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https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum1/HTML/050262.html "Ritalin"
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Personally I don't aim. I point and visualize my round hitting the target.

You're 100% right, Marvin. Landing is a piece of cake, although I did have to get a SODA (Statement of Demonstrated Ability) from the FAA that gets included with my medical.

Since I lost my eye I've gotten my instrument rating, commercial single and multi engine rating, and flight instructor's rating, as well as a CDL with endorsements for combination and doubles. The only thing I'm really dangerous at is pouring a cup of coffee, if I try to pour you one and the edge of the pot isn't touching your cup, RUN! RUN FOR THE HILLS! You're going to get coffee in your lap.

John Stricker

quote Originally posted by Marvin McInnis: I can't answer for John, but binocular depth perception isn't significant beyond about 20 feet ... even when both eyes are perfect. Our eyes are just too close together. But the visual part of our brains is magnificent. It begins to use other cues for depth perception just as binocular vision starts to fail us, and it works so well that we're seldom even aware of it ... that is, until an optical illusion knocks us for a loop. One often-neglected aspect of pilot training involves identifying some common optical illusions (especially those at night) and learning ways to deal with them.

quote Originally posted by jstricker: The only thing I'm really dangerous at is pouring a cup of coffee, if I try to pour you one and the edge of the pot isn't touching your cup, RUN! RUN FOR THE HILLS! You're going to get coffee in your lap. John Stricker

LOL, Dam thanks for the warning. So I'm safer in your plane than at the kitchen table. LOL I love it. Thanks Jon I needed that.

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technology is great when it works
and one big pain in the ass when it doesnt.
Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.

[This message has been edited by 84fiero123 (edited 02-15-2006).]

With respect to your pulling left on one eyed shooting with a glock.

have you adjusted your grip? You mentioned stance when you started this. It may not be your vision so much as your "perception" your body is compensating for the closed eye. You're probably rotating your head slightly to the left to bring your right eye better into focus for things in front of you.

So, that said, if both eyes open works for you stick with it. Or add one more thing to worry about when you're setting up your body alignment.
If you want to try something just to test. Try the Bulls Eye stance.

You should have joined the army, they had less stringent vision requirements.

Back when I was a Junior in HS, I didn't have glasses, I had perfect 20/20 vision. I was a straight A student because from about the 6th grade on I had one goal in mind, going to the Air Force Academy and getting my wings. Bob Dole attended HS here in Russell with my dad (and Arlen Specter graduated in his class with him) and he had agreed that if I maintained my 4.0 I would receive an appointment from his office. I noticed the end of my junior year that I couldn't see things as clearly. It was really pronounced when I tried to read the old overhead scores at the bowling alley (do they even have them anymore??). I went in for an eye exam and my vision had slipped to 20/40 and I needed glasses for my distance vision. Barely, but I needed them.

At that time, you were not eligible to go to the academy without perfect vision because all cadets got through at least basic jets. (I don't believe this is true any longer.)

I was offered an appointment to West Point, but to be honest, all I ever really wanted to do was fly jets in the Air Force and I didn't pursue it at all. At that time it was possible to be a helo pilot without 20/20 vision in the Army, but few West Pointer's went on to that type of duty. In retrospect, things probably worked out for the best as I'd have most likely never met my wife and my life would have been vastly different. To be honest, I'm pretty happy with my life, so there is a lot of downside there if I'd have gone the other path.

The Air Force and Navy STILL have a 20/20 requirement for flight, the last time I looked. The Army is still a little more lenient. Blackrams would be a lot more current on this stuff than I am because I haven't looked into it for 20 years.

As to why, I can't really say, although I suspect it's just a matter of them having enough candidates WITH perfect vision they don't have to settle for less. At least that was the impression I got back then with the Air Force academy, why settle for less when you have a line forming with everything perfect? I was marginal on size, as well, as I was 6'0" (height was OK) and 215 pounds, no fat. If you've ever looked in a fighter cockpit, there's not a lot of extra room in there and the pick people the right size to fit.

If you get a chance to go to an airshow where there are some military aircraft and personnel, look at the people with wings on (that fly jets) and notice how close to the same height, build, and size they are.

John Stricker

quote Originally posted by 84fiero123: So why wouldn't the Air Force let me fly when I tried to join in 73? They said I had to have 20/20 vision. I think I know but just curious about what you think John. PS You made me laugh so hard on your last post I couldn’t even spell your name right.

Thanks John that explains it more so that I understand it.
I went down and to get my draft card and was told I was classified 1 H. Not knowing what that meant I asked what that meant. 1 hold, If Vietnam escalates I was the first one they would call.
If I remember right we were not completely out until 75, but I could be mistaken, memory is just mush.

Vietnam was winding down and we wanted to get in and away from what turned into some of the things I have told you about in other posts. My Colorful Past as my wife calls it.

I tried to join the Air Force with 3 friends that had more balls than brains at the time. I wanted to fly jets also the thrill I think more than anything else, that and I didn’t want to be a ground grunt.

But I guess I would have been a perfect fit being average, 5’8” 145 lbs. At that time I was in the best shape I have ever been. Nice to know what you told me John but I should as you said tried the Army to fly. Would have kept me out of a lot of trouble, but live and learn.

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technology is great when it works
and one big pain in the ass when it doesnt.
Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.

We are contemporaries, age wise. I graduated HS in '74 and went to college that fall.

Did you have a "Lottery Party"?

We did. Beer was involved. Quite a lot of beer, as a matter of fact. I laughed my butt off when my roomate's birthday was the first one drawn (as I said, beer was involved, it doen'st seem so funny anymore).........until mine came up something like 12th! Not a lot of difference between 1 and 12 in the old lottery. (For you young'uns, we're not talking about winning the $300M powerball either). As I was going through HS and before, of course, VietNam was in full force. A lot of my friends just a bit older than I were over there. Most came home. A few didn't. That was one reason I really wanted to go to the academy, although I'd have wanted to go regardless, because I would have at least some small say so in what happened to me.

John Stricker

quote Originally posted by 84fiero123: Thanks John that explains it more so that I understand it. I went down and to get my draft card and was told I was classified 1 H. Not knowing what that meant I asked what that meant. 1 hold, If Vietnam escalates I was the first one they would call. If I remember right we were not completely out until 75, but I could be mistaken, memory is just mush. Vietnam was winding down and we wanted to get in and away from what turned into some of the things I have told you about in other posts. My Colorful Past as my wife calls it. I tried to join the Air Force with 3 friends that had more balls than brains at the time. I wanted to fly jets also the thrill I think more than anything else, that and I didn’t want to be a ground grunt. But I guess I would have been a perfect fit being average, 5’8” 145 lbs. At that time I was in the best shape I have ever been. Nice to know what you told me John but I should as you said tried the Army to fly. Would have kept me out of a lot of trouble, but live and learn.

I can't find it, but I remember on E-bay seeing sights that go on the side of the pistol so you can hold the gun "sideways" like "gangstas" and have sights that way, it was pretty funny. Someone will probably have better luck finding it than me. But I am MUCH more accurate with 2 eyes, one hand, standing sideways towards target.

No lottery party, just one big party from graduation in 73 on, like I said those were real fuzzy years.

For those of you that don’t know what John and I are talking about. When the daft was in effect they pulled birthdays. March 25th is mine so if they pulled my birthday first I would be first to be drafted. If they pulled my birthday 25th I would be 25th to be drafted, all the way to 365 days of the year. The lower your number the better, your chances of being drafted and ending up in Vietnam. A very unpopular war or if you believed the propaganda, a Police action.

But that is history. Long ago and far away.

Beer was always involved in everything we did at that time, or 151 rum, that was my favorite.

So for you younger guys that think guys like John and I and many others on this forum are just old geezers who never had any wild side. Think again, I’m sure we could tell you stories that would make your hair curl. We have been there and done that and then some.

Not a lot of rum for us, cost too much. Beer. Everclear mixed with, well, everything. Hop, skip, and go nakeds were the date rape drug back then. 1/2 of a fifth of Everclear in a two quart mix of Pink Lemonade will knock you on your............., well, you know the rest. Then there was the party where we cooked up some calf fries. Started out as a Mountain Oyster party, but lamb fries cost too much and our neighbor in the next trailer house's dad owned a cattle feedyard. He said he'd bring the nuts if we'd skin and cook them. Since even back then they were $20/lb at the butcher, we jumped at that.

Never figured he'd bring two 30 gallon sized Hefty trash bags full of them. We must have fried up $1,000 worth of bull private parts that night. I got really good at skinning them, though. Beer and calf fries, now I'm hungry.

John Stricker

quote Originally posted by 84fiero123: No lottery party, just one big party from graduation in 73 on, like I said those were real fuzzy years. For those of you that don’t know what John and I are talking about. When the daft was in effect they pulled birthdays. March 25th is mine so if they pulled my birthday first I would be first to be drafted. If they pulled my birthday 25th I would be 25th to be drafted, all the way to 365 days of the year. The lower your number the better, your chances of being drafted and ending up in Vietnam. A very unpopular war or if you believed the propaganda, a Police action. But that is history. Long ago and far away. Beer was always involved in everything we did at that time, or 151 rum, that was my favorite. So for you younger guys that think guys like John and I and many others on this forum are just old geezers who never had any wild side. Think again, I’m sure we could tell you stories that would make your hair curl. We have been there and done that and then some.

quote Originally posted by jstricker: Not a lot of rum for us, cost too much. Beer. Everclear mixed with, well, everything. Hop, skip, and go nakeds were the date rape drug back then. 1/2 of a fifth of Everclear in a two quart mix of Pink Lemonade will knock you on your............., well, you know the rest. Then there was the party where we cooked up some calf fries. Started out as a Mountain Oyster party, but lamb fries cost too much and our neighbor in the next trailer house's dad owned a cattle feedyard. He said he'd bring the nuts if we'd skin and cook them. Since even back then they were $20/lb at the butcher, we jumped at that. Never figured he'd bring two 30 gallon sized Hefty trash bags full of them. We must have fried up $1,000 worth of bull private parts that night. I got really good at skinning them, though. Beer and calf fries, now I'm hungry. John Stricker

Dam dude you really were country. I never heard of Mountain Oysters until I lived on a horse farm as a tenant. Corn squeeze's, now that’s like 195 proof, gooood stuff. I remember falling out of a boat fishing one time drinking that and almost drown in 4’ of water.
But dam I’m not sure I can eat breakfast now.

Either is fine. I am military pistol trained and was told by an instructor to use both eyes open and concentrate on the front sight post. If you have, say, your left eye closed, you can't see anyone approaching from that side.

Gonna try this. If its me it wont help but should improve my bad habits.

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technology is great when it works
and one big pain in the ass when it doesnt.
Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.

this isn't mine but I just ordered the same laser last week for my USP.

[This message has been edited by Black88GT (edited 02-18-2006).]

quote Originally posted by Black88GT: this isn't mine but I just ordered the same laser last week for my USP.

I saw those, but didn't like the way it is mounted. I thought it would snag puting it in the holster.

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technology is great when it works
and one big pain in the ass when it doesnt.
Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.

I don't really use holsters and the USP doesn't have any of the good lasers available. I really want the Crimson Trace laser grip or the one like you pictured but this is the only one they sell that isn't big and bulky with a light on it.

[This message has been edited by Black88GT (edited 02-18-2006).]

What's the proper way? Side ways, Duh. I don't want the gun to be in my way, hehe.