Diagnostic help needed.

[Rainman48314]

I started shooting handguns in mid January. No prior long gun or handgun experience ever. I took an orientation class and then a month later the CPL class. I shoot at least twice per week. I wear bifocal contacts or progressive glasses to see and shoot. I'm 61.

All my shooting has been done in a weaver stance, left eye closed. My misses with a .22 are all high and left, in about a 4.5 inch group at 18-21 feet. My shots with a Sig P238 .380 are actually slightly tighter but low and left, a little less left than my 22 pattern. My shots with a SR9c are centered but slightly low.

Today I tried some shooting from an isocles stance. It tighened up my groups. If I fired my first shot with one eye and then switced to both eyes open, groups got very accurate. I felt like I was point shooting and not really using the sights.

I know I anticipate recoil at times, but not 100% of the time. I know that with certain lighting conditions, I can't focus on my 22's front sight.

From just today, is it a given to begin shooting isocles only? Does anyone shoot one eye open for first shot only? Your input is requested. TIA.

[Jeremiah/Az]

I wear bifocals & look thru them with both eyes open. I concentrate on the front sight for close in targets. The target is blurry, but I can still see it fairly well. (7 yrds.) I practise by shooting all positions, strong hand, off hand, & both hands.

You might want to try shooting from sand bags to see where your guns are shooting.

[Bawanna]

After many years of one eye shooting I've tried to retrain myself to keep both eyes open. I quite often find myself sighting with one eye and once I'm close to on target I open both eyes. I've gotten to where once I got them both open I can transition to multiple targets without reverting to the one eye dial in.

It's really really tough to break old habits.

[mr surveyor]

as bad as my eyes have gotten in the last 6-7 years since having lasic surgery, I have had to give up on the one-eyed bulleyes shooting and force myself to keep both eyes open. I'm even improving my shotgunning by forcing myself to keep both eyes open and shoot instinctively rather than chasing a bead I can't see. Your visual focal point may just be altered by the difference in distance from your eyes to the sights which will vary somewhat between the weaver stance and isocolese stance.

[MW surveyor]

Ok, my 2 cents as I'm 63. I use contacts when shooting at the range and have always kept both eyes open. Have since taken to painting my front sights either a florescent green or orange. The high contrast paint really helps in acquiring the front sight for me.

Next, shoot your guns from a sandbag or rest to see where the sights are actually shooting to as Jermiah suggests. Sometimes it is the gun!