I’ve only been using a dot consistently now for about six months. I thought I was pretty decent at it until I tried occluding my optic. Once I started doing that at home in dry fire practice, especially with target transitions, all I could say was “wow”! I learned very quickly that I was not as target focused as I thought I was. And Ben and Joel are totally right about it being a “slap on the wrist”. Because I noticed at times I would not even realize that I was staring at the dot with my optic not occluded. Occlusion made it very clear when I was doing that because the little paster‘s I put on my wall would slowly start to fade away until I really target focused. It’s a great training tool!
Should be part of everyone’s introduction to RDS. Makes a big difference for most shooters. Also allows you to maintain situational awareness more effectively.
When I first got into red dots. I took a red dot class and spent hours on dryfire and 2K rds on live fire practice during the next couple of months. Ran across an old RUclips video were some elder shooter mentioned shooting occluded. A week of dryfire occluded and the next range trip was the fastest improvement I had experienced. I was actually kinda pissed it wasn't mentioned in the class, and at that time, not a single popular RUclipsr was talking about it. And I was searching and watching every video I possibly could on how to aquire the dot faster and how to shoot better with a red dot.
A friend of mine is a master class shooter. Shoots occluded 100% of the time. He introduced it to me a few weeks ago. I’ve just started shooting with a RD and have not had a chance to live fire occluded yet. But dry firing at home has made a huge difference. Good stuff.
The first red dot sight in production didn't even have a front lens but was instead occluded by design. IMO, occlusion is one of the best tools to train optics
I ran across this video about 2 weeks before my first match. I trained this way up to the match. What a difference. I will say when I’m away for a while I can sometime notice my focus shifting from target to red dot because the target starts to disappear. Great training aid.
My 1SG taught us this concept way back in 2010. We would do ready up drills with the cap over our M68's to train us to shoot with both eyes open. It also is a good thing in case you lose your kill flash, then you can put your cap over the lens so that no light is reflected.
I was surprised how many people were confused by my dot being occluded, and even more surprised that I managed to squeak into 9th with it that way. I've known about it for long enough that I just assumed everyone knew.
I first learned about occluding my red dot a couple days ago. Not matter how much a dry fired, I always have problems finding the dot unless I'm moving super slow. Started occluding my red dot after someone suggested it two days ago. I'm still not sure I'm doing it right, or perhaps I have deficiency in my eyes. Even occluded, I often have to move the gun around to find the dot and it's in a different place every time; even when presenting from the compressed ready position. The other problem I have is that sometimes the dot will slowly fade away and all I see is the target, and other times, the target will slowly fade away and all I see in the dot against a black background. I find that if I blink both the target and the dot reappear. I'm hoping that if I do this enough in dry fire, it will just become muscle memory, but right now, something tells me that I'm off base somehow.
When I first started shooting dots, I thought I was staying target focused until I did this. I found I started looking at the target but switched back and forth. After a month of occluding the dot, I have a hard time focusing on the dot instead of the target. Personally I keep my comp gun occluded and my EDC not while practicing with both equally.
The SBGW SRO TFT is great, the 507Comp covers break on me all the time. Last one was alive for 1 live fire shot (new out of the package) and it went flying across the range. Id say its me, but Ive got through 6 of them now….
I’ve tried occluding my dot for a few days and I cannot really get the dot to superimpose on the target. All I see is a blacked out red dot. The only time I’m slightly successful is when I transition between targets but I lose it after a half second. Any suggestions?
Another way I've found to do this is at 25 yards aim at a target with only your dominant open and find where the guns and hand occlude below the target. Then create a 2nd target below the main target at the occluded location. Now with both eyes open you should be able to see the lower and upper target at the same time. The gun and hands will be a ghost image. There are eye divergence exercises to train on how to get good at target focus.
I’ve only been using a dot consistently now for about six months. I thought I was pretty decent at it until I tried occluding my optic. Once I started doing that at home in dry fire practice, especially with target transitions, all I could say was “wow”! I learned very quickly that I was not as target focused as I thought I was. And Ben and Joel are totally right about it being a “slap on the wrist”. Because I noticed at times I would not even realize that I was staring at the dot with my optic not occluded. Occlusion made it very clear when I was doing that because the little paster‘s I put on my wall would slowly start to fade away until I really target focused. It’s a great training tool!
Should be part of everyone’s introduction to RDS. Makes a big difference for most shooters. Also allows you to maintain situational awareness more effectively.
When I first got into red dots. I took a red dot class and spent hours on dryfire and 2K rds on live fire practice during the next couple of months. Ran across an old RUclips video were some elder shooter mentioned shooting occluded. A week of dryfire occluded and the next range trip was the fastest improvement I had experienced. I was actually kinda pissed it wasn't mentioned in the class, and at that time, not a single popular RUclipsr was talking about it. And I was searching and watching every video I possibly could on how to aquire the dot faster and how to shoot better with a red dot.
A friend of mine is a master class shooter. Shoots occluded 100% of the time. He introduced it to me a few weeks ago. I’ve just started shooting with a RD and have not had a chance to live fire occluded yet. But dry firing at home has made a huge difference. Good stuff.
100%? why does he even have it on there then?
I have been shooting 60 years, this process works great for training with a Red Dot.
as someone who has eye problems, and has had physical therapy for my eyes, it is amazing what your eyes can do when trained.
The first red dot sight in production didn't even have a front lens but was instead occluded by design. IMO, occlusion is one of the best tools to train optics
I ran across this video about 2 weeks before my first match. I trained this way up to the match. What a difference. I will say when I’m away for a while I can sometime notice my focus shifting from target to red dot because the target starts to disappear. Great training aid.
Ben and Joel (the ice cream of the shooting world!), you guys are doing some great content on this channel!
My 1SG taught us this concept way back in 2010. We would do ready up drills with the cap over our M68's to train us to shoot with both eyes open. It also is a good thing in case you lose your kill flash, then you can put your cap over the lens so that no light is reflected.
I was surprised how many people were confused by my dot being occluded, and even more surprised that I managed to squeak into 9th with it that way. I've known about it for long enough that I just assumed everyone knew.
same way you determine which eye is dominant, back in the early 80's all had was O.E.G gunsights by Armson
This video came right on time
Great teachers
I first learned about occluding my red dot a couple days ago. Not matter how much a dry fired, I always have problems finding the dot unless I'm moving super slow.
Started occluding my red dot after someone suggested it two days ago.
I'm still not sure I'm doing it right, or perhaps I have deficiency in my eyes.
Even occluded, I often have to move the gun around to find the dot and it's in a different place every time; even when presenting from the compressed ready position.
The other problem I have is that sometimes the dot will slowly fade away and all I see is the target, and other times, the target will slowly fade away and all I see in the dot against a black background.
I find that if I blink both the target and the dot reappear.
I'm hoping that if I do this enough in dry fire, it will just become muscle memory, but right now, something tells me that I'm off base somehow.
When I first started shooting dots, I thought I was staying target focused until I did this. I found I started looking at the target but switched back and forth. After a month of occluding the dot, I have a hard time focusing on the dot instead of the target. Personally I keep my comp gun occluded and my EDC not while practicing with both equally.
Hi joel! Met ya at universal a few years back. Your such a nice guy. Bill
*stares in iron sights*
The SBGW SRO TFT is great, the 507Comp covers break on me all the time. Last one was alive for 1 live fire shot (new out of the package) and it went flying across the range. Id say its me, but Ive got through 6 of them now….
This is the Binden Aiming Concept, correct?
I’ve tried occluding my dot for a few days and I cannot really get the dot to superimpose on the target. All I see is a blacked out red dot. The only time I’m slightly successful is when I transition between targets but I lose it after a half second. Any suggestions?
my dot is still not sighted in lol might as well do this
For dry fire, sure maybe. You still need the dot to be zeroed to do this with live rounds.
Yes you can focus on dot when occluded. Alpha delta Mike! Lol😂all match long
What did JJ said?
They don't make a cover for C-More? I didn't see it in the Pro Shop listings.
Use a piece of tape, bro.
Electrical tape or painters tape works fine
oh this is why its sold out!!! LOL
Whoever did the white balance on this video should be fired.
Irons all day FJB
Another way I've found to do this is at 25 yards aim at a target with only your dominant open and find where the guns and hand occlude below the target. Then create a 2nd target below the main target at the occluded location. Now with both eyes open you should be able to see the lower and upper target at the same time. The gun and hands will be a ghost image. There are eye divergence exercises to train on how to get good at target focus.
When will the SBGW cover for the SRO be in stock at benstoegerproshop?
What’s a way to practice occlusion with irons for those of us saving up for a first dot?
There is no way to train occlusion with irons. Because the way you focus your eyes is different with irons vs optics.
At 2:15 Joel uses the term "find" the red dot. So I assume he is inexperienced and a bad shooter.