training/tactical or target, anyone else train w/their weaker side????

[dodge]

my current tactical mentor suggests as much as 70% of my training should be w/my opposed eye or limb. meaning whatever side you're dominate you should be training w/the opposite side

i have attempted to implement this into my training/target shooting regiment & feel it's improving my stronger side moreso than ever would of expected
ie. now i'm even more accurate & acquire target more quickly w/dominate limb & eye

just interested if anyone else trains for the what ifs or worse case scenario

reasoning behind this thought; is in a tactical environment, your enemy will attempt to disable the stronger limb/eye. thus, leaving only your weaker side for protection

w/out proper trading off & practicing w/both limbs/eyes you aren't completely prepared for those what ifs


look forward to others input regarding this topic

[Matt P]

My friend,
If you have an attacker who has the presence of mind to disable your strong side limb/eye, then I suggest you have encountered a individual who seems quite intent on training himself/herself. This would be a very bad situation for you to begin with. You now are facing someone dedicated, and willing to apply what they have learned.
I would tell you any person who is involved in criminal activity, and trains to deal with use of force issues as they relate to victims, is a very serious and bad person to meet. In that situation, hopefully your legs work well so you can run away.

Beyond that, training with your weak, or support side, builds confidence. You can never have too much confidence with a firearm.
With that confidence, you will be more alert. Thus, you can make more of an effort to avoid confrontation.

I use airsoft gas blow backs to train weapon transitions to support side, along with shooting on the move support side only.
I am unsure about the eye switching thing. I wouldnt train others in it. Not to say that some may see a value in it.
Whatever reason you use to encourage your own training, I feel go for it.

Most criminals looking to victimize a person, usually expect little to no resistance. More actually go to great lengths to avoid contact. Those willing to have contact, are quite dangerous to deal with potentially.

Jeff Coopers color code of mental awareness could be one of the most valuable things you could equip yourself with...
Be well..

[randy]

Does he recommend you shoot with both eyes open?

[Kempfer]

I don't know about hypothetical scenarios that have been mentioned by the OP, personally I am absolutely against training for a hypothetical encounter with a hypothetical enemy. Some instructors will say, as the OP said, to prepare for the "what ifs". But I have been taught that line of thought can also train you for the wrong "what ifs".

But what can be taken from those "what ifs" are some basic fundamentals of shooting that you should train which is in this case, support side shooting.

You don't know when it will come but there is a chance it might so I definitely would train for it.

For pistol I practice one hand gun manipulation and malfunction clearance at home with a shot timer. Both support and strong side.

I also practice one hand draw with support side and strong side, under a shot timer as well. I also practice El Prez one handed on both sides as well. I find the gun manipulation and the draw to be the ones that need practice the most. The El Prez drill is to help me practice driving the gun to multiple targets with one hand and practice one hand reloading.

You "should" be shooting with both eyes open always.

[elSquid]

reasoning behind this thought; is in a tactical environment, your enemy will attempt to disable the stronger limb/eye. thus, leaving only your weaker side for protection

I don't know if the 'enemy' will have the capability and reasoning to disable individual limbs.

However, "stuff happens" and you may wind up getting shot in your primary hand...

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=988015

-- Michael

[randy]

Where did you find your current tactical mentor? What is his backround? It's a great idea to shoot weak hand and manipulations too. The eye thing is worrysome. Shoot with both eyes open. Disable one eye and the eye you have left is the dominate eye.

As far as the BG going after your dominate body parts COM is COM doesn't matter good or bad guy.

Don't spend so much time on what ifs that you don't get in enough practice with your go to body parts.

[dodge]

,,,,,,,Those willing to have contact, are quite dangerous to deal with potentially.

Jeff Coopers color code of mental awareness could be one of the most valuable things you could equip yourself with...
Be well..

agree w/nearly everything stated & thanks for the coopers referral
will have to check that out

Does he recommend you shoot with both eyes open?

yes
he suggests i train for all scenarios
both eyes
dominate eye
weak eye.......etc..
& yes he does have me working w/both eyes open a lot
but not only

........

You "should" be shooting with both eyes open always.

both open always
not always, but do train w/both open

Where did you find your current tactical mentor? What is his backround? It's a great idea to shoot weak hand and manipulations too. The eye thing is worrysome. Shoot with both eyes open. Disable one eye and the eye you have left is the dominate eye.
.........

http://www.mktactical.com/instructors.html

he also, works with/trains, many leos from all over northwest @ his facilities

alright fellas,
much thanks & will implement a lot more "both eyes open" into my target/tactical training sessions
& i try to get some training in @ least 3 times weekly
so this should be an easy transition to stick to using both open @ most times

[willm952]

lately, I've personally been looking more into the combative side of pistol/carbine. there are situations where you can't get to your gun fast enough or need to fight to get to it.

see tacflow.com
that's integrated combatives right there from pistol to hand to knife and back.
which ever is most effective for the threat at hand even if you have your gun with you.

also, seems a lot of trainers who have combat experience recommend there's no such thing as weak hand.

weapon hand and reaction hand or something similar is what they call it.
seems like a good idea mentally.

great to hear you train at home! do the same here with techniques from the magpul dvds

hope this helps out.

[MustangGreg66]

I shoot some USPSA competition and every once in a while there's a stage where you're required to do some "weak hand" shooting. The hardest stage I ever had to do I think had a Texas Star that had to be shot from 20 yards weak hand. After that showed up I decided that I needed to train with both hands for sure. I'd say maybe 10-20% of my practice involves weak hand shooting, I should probably amp that up a bit.

[G-Solutions]

Ambidextrous weapon skills are good and should be trained extensively.

- your favored hand can get injured in a fight (the shooting hand gets hit A LOT in force-on-force)

- The best way to shoot around cover may be your using your less favored side.

This type of training is integral part of all Suarez International intermediate-level courses - with pistol as well as with rifle - on the move!

[dodge]

l,,,,,,,,,,,,
see tacflow.com
that's integrated combatives right there from pistol to hand to knife and back.
which ever is most effective for the threat at hand even if you have your gun with you.
...........

great to hear you train at home! do the same here with techniques from the magpul dvds

hope this helps out.

appreciate the input & will look into acquiring some of these in the near future

I shoot some USPSA competition and every once in a while there's a stage where you're required to do some "weak hand" shooting. The hardest stage I ever had to do I think had a Texas Star that had to be shot from 20 yards weak hand. After that showed up I decided that I needed to train with both hands for sure. I'd say maybe 10-20% of my practice involves weak hand shooting, I should probably amp that up a bit.

right on!!! a little bit of the idea behind even posting or asking was to perhaps inspire others to implement some into their training or target practice

Ambidextrous weapon skills are good and should be trained extensively.

- your favored hand can get injured in a fight (the shooting hand gets hit A LOT in force-on-force)

- The best way to shoot around cover may be your using your less favored side.

This type of training is integral part of all Suarez International intermediate-level courses - with pistol as well as with rifle - on the move!

this was essentially how my mentor approached the subject
says 80%+ times the attacker will attempt to injure favored side