New Dot Sight Technique!?

mr alexander · Post by **mr alexander** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 11:58 am

Whether shooting iron sights in the past or dot sights now, I am one of these shooters who always placed a strip of scotch tape over the lens of my non-aiming (left) eye. I did this to keep from seeing double images, which was very distracting. It's worked well for me for decades. I read an article recently about an AR-15. A photo showed the shooter firing the rifle which had a flat top upper receiver, atop of which was mounted an Aimpoint dot sight. Strangely, the front lens cover was closed, while the rear one was open!? Oh, photographers...what do they know? They shoot pictures, not guns. Then then caption caught my eye. Quoting exactly:
"Did you know that with the front lens cover closed your dominant eye will focus on the optic's red dot, the non-dominant eye on the target, and your brain will superimpose the two for accurate target engagement? Try it." Well I did. I am right-handed/right eye dominant. I took the tape off of my left eyeglass lens and placed it over the front end of my 1" UltraDot sight. This prevented me from seeing the target through the sight. Keeping both eyes open (no tape), I raised my H.S. Victor and pointed it at the target. What did I see? In front of my right eye, I could see the dot aglow against the scotch tape that was in it's background. To the RIGHT of that image was a full view of the slow fire target! Obviously, my brain could not superimpose the dot onto the target as described in the article. Not sure why it didn't work for me. I am passing this info on in the hopes that this technique may be of some benefit (If it happens to work for you!). If you try doing it, kindly post your experiences/comments here. Thanks.

Isabel1130 · Post by **Isabel1130** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 2:53 pm

I can see where it "might" work with a rifle but it does not work with conventional pistol. The dot is out there at the end of your arm and not just in front of your eye like a rifle scope.

Kirmdog · Post by **Kirmdog** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 3:14 pm

What?????????????????????????

I like you place a piece of scotch tape over my non shooting eye when using iron sights.

I use both eyes and no scotch tape when shooting a red dot sight and my dominat eye superimposes the red dot over the bullseye in both eyes. Meaning I see one target with a red dot in the middle not two bullseyes one with a red dot and one without, not like iron sight were I would see double images without the scotch tape over my non-dominat eye. I believe this has to do with focal distance. With irons your focusing on the front sight and the bullseye is 50',25yds,50yds away (take your pick). With the red dot your looking at the target and superimposing the red dot over it, one focal lenght.

I may be wrong but your assessment of photographers might be right. I for the life of me figure out how that is supose to work.

Rover · Post by **Rover** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 3:15 pm

As opposed to my iron sight use when I use a blinder on my left eye, I find no need when using a red dot.

I use my regular glasses instead of my closer focusing shooting lens for a clearer view of the bull. Works fine.

Gort · Post by **Gort** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 8:54 am

This technique has been around for over thirty years and sights are available.
http://www.armsonusa.com/armsonoeg.html
They sell the O.E.G. ( Occulded Eye Gunsight ). This system only works when the user has good binocular vision. I have poor vision in my left eye and cannot use the O.E.G. system.
Gort

BenEnglishTX · Post by **BenEnglishTX** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 1:39 pm

Gort wrote:This technique has been around for over thirty years and sights are available.

It's been around for at least 50 years and with a little research, I wouldn't be surprised if I could find similar devices much, much older than that.

To draw from another field of expertise - Various add-on aiming devices for cameras (in photo parlance, "shoe mount external viewfinders") have been sold over the years that work this way. Note in the picture of this 1960s-vintage Voigtlander, the Kontur viewfinder has a front lens that is blacked out. You use it with both eyes open. Your dominant eye, behind the finder, will superimpose framing lines around what you're seeing with your non-dominant eye.

Some people really swear by these things for fast, accurate shooting of photos with both eyes open.

ghillieman · Post by **ghillieman** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 2:50 pm

That how I shoot with my EOTech, both eyes open looking at the target bring the gun up and the reticle is placed over the target. I'll get my Pardini out and try this with the objective lens covered.

waxman · Post by **waxman** » Sun Apr 22, 2012 9:17 am

Of course it should work, since you only need to see the dot (dust cover over front of scope or not), and the target. Using both eyes, one for target and one for dot makes sense to the brain. It should combine the two images.

Seems to depreciate the "dominant eye" advantage however.
If both target and dot are superimposed in the dominant eye, that would seem superior to using both eyes.

Maybe this method works for some folks!