09-13-2012, 02:32 AM
Both eyes open in all cases, rifle shotgun, pistol, bow. For High Power Rifle matches I use an occluded blinder for my left eye but keep both eyes open. There are reasons that result in a relaxed focus and properly dilated iris. For iron sights your focus absolutely needs to be on the front sight and the target should be softly out of focus. For optical sights the focus should be on the reticle and the target should also be in sharp focus, which is easily achieved. For hunting with a scope I use both eyes open and see two images, a 1X with my left eye and 6X or whatever the scope magnification with my right eye. My brain ignores the smaller image and focuses on the larger right eye image. I've broken many clay pigeons in flight with my rifle using this method.
Keep your eye on the target and insert the rifle between your eye and the target, there should be absolutely no accommodations of your body to achieve alignment. No tense muscles and the rifle should naturally point to the very center of your target. Test this by looking away or closing your eyes and verifying your sights are on the center of the target with no need to use any muscle to move the rifle into alignment. This is called natural point of aim and is more important than the type or quality of scope you are using.
Bob
Keep your eye on the target and insert the rifle between your eye and the target, there should be absolutely no accommodations of your body to achieve alignment. No tense muscles and the rifle should naturally point to the very center of your target. Test this by looking away or closing your eyes and verifying your sights are on the center of the target with no need to use any muscle to move the rifle into alignment. This is called natural point of aim and is more important than the type or quality of scope you are using.
Bob