Changes in technology can alter your training needs. After all, flintlocks became cap-and-ball six-shooters, which led to double-action revolvers and eventually to semi-automatics—and, while some flintlock skills still apply (like a steady trigger pull), some are no longer needed at all.
Today’s renaissance is in the form of red-dot (or reflex) sights. Both new and experienced shooters may struggle with adopting this technology, however. As discussed in a previous piece, this is essentially because of how sight-focused a shooter can become. In a self-defense scenario, speed is needed. For that, we need to focus on our target, not our sights.
Target-oriented focus is perhaps best seen in shotgun clay-shooting. Most shotguns don’t have sights, and since the tiny disc targets are moving in excess of 40 miles per hour, it’s unlikely that a shooter would have time to build a sight picture if they did. Shotgunners have an advantage, though, in that their target is brightly colored and moving rapidly—the perfect recipe to draw the human eye.
Unfortunately, electronic optics are also brightly colored, which draw the eye to the sight when we want to be target-focused. Dealing with this problem is as simple as occluding, or obstructing, the image.
As a reminder from the previous occlusion discussion, some people occlude their dot by using target pasters (the stickers you can use to cover holes in a target so you can reuse it), but those often leave behind a residue. Blue painter’s tape is another option, but it sometimes comes off in the middle of a practice session. White masking tape is a good alternative; if you’re careful, you can affix it to the housing without making contact with the glass. You can also permanently modify the optics cover that came with your pistol by cutting off the parts that cover the rear of the window and emitter, as both of these areas need to be clear for the drill to work.
In an earlier issue, we covered occlusion drills focused on target transitions to train your eye to look for the target instead of the dot. Now, it’s time to move on to more complicated tasks to further perfect this concept.
Both movement and rapid fire are required to conduct these drills, so be sure that your range allows both before getting started. Many target types could work for this. I prefer a standard IPSC because it offers a simple way to track progress. You’ll need just one of these, eye and ear protection, your handgun and 100 rounds.
Phase One: Controlled Pairs
One of the easiest ways to avoid concentrating on the dot is to simply not allow yourself the time to do so. During a controlled pair, the shooter fires their first shot, then fires a second shot the moment the recoil is over—typically within a quarter of a second. By placing your target inside of seven yards, your goal is to land two shots anywhere on the cardboard as quickly as possible. (Trying to get both shots into the A-zone can be a later development.)
1. With your dot occluded, load your handgun and assume a low-ready position.
2. On command (your own, a coach’s or using a timer’s beep), present and fire one shot at the center of your target.
3. As the gun returns to battery, fire a second shot.
4. Gradually increase speed, ensuring that your focus stays on the target and that dot use is minimal.
5. Repeat this drill 20 times.
Phase Two: Introduce Movement
Under stress, we fall to the level of our training, which is why introducing some form of it during practice is essential. Simply moving your feet in between targets is enough to “press the reset button” and help you both check and develop the skill of staying target focused.
1. With your dot occluded, load your handgun and assume a low-ready position.
2. On command, present and fire a controlled pair at the center of your target.
3. Immediately and swiftly move to a marked position at least 15 feet away.
4. Present and fire a second controlled pair.
5. Repeat this drill 15 times.
Learning to work with a new sight system is both challenging and rewarding, but, with routine practice and adherence to the fundamentals, you’ll be amazed at how much it improves your overall shooting skills. If nothing else, it’ll keep things interesting until the next big technological advancement comes along.
