Using a scope with both eyes open

[Itamajus]

Well i got to shoot a rifle with a scope mounted on it and i found it more comfortable to aim and shoot with my both eyes open... few days after that i talked to a friend and he said its not good because the shoots are less accurate... so i wanted to know is he right or it doesnt make no effect on the accuracy?

the view i get then i keep my both eyes open looks like in this pic but the zone ouside(around) the scope is not that focused but the focus in the scope is good
http://img244.echo.cx/img244/8213/sniperiniraqa62ut.jpg

[CombatBoots]

Well you don't seek targets with the scope, when you have aquired a target you should be dedicated to it. So You'll probably see noting that important that your spotter couldn't tell you of.

So yes, close one eye please.

[sergey31]

There are LER scopes that are designed to be fired with both eyes open... Usually scout rifles are made to fire this way, using LER or pistol scopes. The scopes usually should not be greater in X then 4.
Normal sniper scopes, it's best if you close one eye to focus better and don't get distracted.

Like this one for example..... You need both eyes open to use it and it's almost like a cross between iron sights and a scope.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0803/sergey25/Stuff45/Mn01A.jpg

[Mark Sman]

For some people keeping both eyes open can be a problem with a long or short relief scope.

It has to do with eye dominance and the parallax error inherent on focusing on things close to you with both eyes. This is also what gives you depth perception. Regardless, if the target is far away, the scope is still close. More so with short relief scopes which magnify the effect.

Hopefully your dominant eye will be the same one you are trying to focus on the scope with. Right hand shooter, right eye. Left hand . . .

This is usually the case. But there are all sorts of variations. If your dominant eye is crossed from your shooting side you will most likely have to close the off scope eye. An alternative is to black out one lense in a pair of shooting glasses. Less eye strain, but obviously only useful on the range.

Most people with cross dominance just get ready wth both eyes, and close the off eye just before aiming.

Even without cross dominance some folks find it easier to stay focused on the scope with one eye open.

This same parallax problem presents itself in firing with iron sights if the front and rear sights are far away from each other.

Some folks just can't keep both eyes open. Some have a problem, but overcome it with practice. Aperture sights reduce this problem by making the rear sight something you almost completly don't have in focus.

Post and V or U sights require that the rear sight be somewhat closer to the same focal point than post and peeps do. Thats why guns with a larger distance between front and rear sight almost always use peeps.

As to accuracy it makes absolutely no difference whatsoever whether you use both or one eye.

Provided:
You do it the same way every time.
You have set the aiming system for it.
You don't have eye/focus problems that preclude it.

I've fired many many rounds through short eye relief scopes, using both eyes open. It is not a problem. Actually my off aim eye is kind of crap. Lucky, it could have been the other way around.

[Itamajus]

Thank you for the info p-)

[PrincessRAR]

when you rest your eyes (eye relief) both eyes should be open, if you are in a combat situation both eyes would normally be open to find a target, once the target is aquired on a rifle you would tend to shut your non dominant eye and then drop the mother..

as for pistols ever since i qualed on the 9mm, i have shot with both eyes open, unless i am cornering a shot

[Para]

I think the best thing for you is to try it out on the range for a while and see which way is the most accurate for YOU, I often shot the rifle with both open and found I got very good results, but over greater distances [over 600 yards] I went back to one eye.