Shooting Expert Says Shoot With Both Eyes Open

Shotgun coach Nick Penn maintains that much of common shooting wisdom is incorrect. He helps shooters "see the light" and keep both eyes open.

According to U.K. shooting coach Nick Penn, half of the people who take shotgun shooting lessons are wasting their money. Why? He says it's because they're told to shoot with one eye shut. Penn maintains that shooting with both eyes open is essential.

But there's more to it than that, Penn says. You should go by feel—more than barrel or bead reference—when you pull the trigger.

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He says shooting is the only sport in which the proper techniques and form haven't been thoroughly explored.

"With shooting, no one has ever come out with a proper explanation as to how it works," he declares. "And this is how it works."

Throughout the video, other shooters reiterate Penn's take on effective shooting, also denouncing commonly taught shooting techniques.

"I don't have a barrel on my gun anymore," laughs shooter Andrew Blackwell. "You don't look at the barrel, you don't look at the bead, you don't look at the lead...you look at the bird."

"It's a big leap of faith to think that your eyes can tell you where the shot needs to go without using the barrel as a reference point," instructor Paul Beecher says.

I imagine much of the success for Penn's no-barrel-reference technique depends on a proper fit of the gun to the shooter. Additionally, I don't know about you, but I was taught to shoot with both eyes open. Perhaps it's different in the U.K., I don't know. But it's worth reinforcing that shooting a shotgun with both eyes open will lead to more success.

So, shoot with both eyes open, trust your instincts and practice, practice, practice. You can teach an old dog new tricks.

Like what you see here? You can read more great articles by David Smith at his Facebook page, Stumpjack Outdoors.

NEXT: Is Trapshooting America's Fastest-Growing High School Sport?

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