Comments on: Sight Picture

By: Malcolm McGregor

Malcolm McGregor — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:22:46 +0000

When I was a kid the British Army trained me with a “tin hat” target, the top half of which was black. You could take a point of aim hold as in #2 above and still see the sights in the light coloured area below. I make the targets myself now and they work well. I tend to think that SIG factory sights are designed for #1 though. Any comments?

By: JRMtwo

JRMtwo — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:19:27 +0000

Instructor Ray’s comment is excellent. My added point is to say that if you are using #1 or #3 and it is working well I would not change.

By: Instructor Ray

Instructor Ray — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 01:18:12 +0000

Remember the reason for the different aiming and sight picture techniques…..#1 is an old school technique used for adjustable sights positioned to hit center where the shooter always knows that by shooting at 6 o’clock he can see where his hits will be made…..shoot for bottom of black bulls-eye and you will hit center….sights were adjusted for that shooting…..this would not work for a point of aim point of impact sighted gun…..you would always end up shooting at 6 o’clock….low…also useful if shooting long distances when taking into consideration the that at a certain distance the bullet travels high and then slowly drops…old method when people were shooting from longer distances knowing the bullet rises then drops…..#2 is most accurate and useful with most of today’s combat fixed sight handguns, which are almost all set to point of aim point of impact…..#3 is where people miss the idea…..the dots were not designed for accuracy and aiming at all….they were designed for quick acquisition of sights in combat situations…..look for the dots line them up and pull (squeeze) the trigger knowing you will hit center mass…..not designed for target shooting because you will most likely always shoot high….not to mention you will not hit what you are aiming for but always above it……best way for al practical purposes is to shoot using method #2 …..cut your target in half using the straight line made from the top of your front sights to the top of your rear sights and squeeze the trigger…..always placing your hits where you aimed…..for those who have problems…..try using what I think is my technique unless someone else created it…..I teach my students to slowly say the word squeeze as they are aiming and squeezing the trigger……take a deep breath and as you press or squeeze the trigger you slowly say the word squuuueeeeeze and repeat the process until the gun goes off…..using my degree in psychology ….the technique helps regulate your breathing as any sniper will tell you is important….also it allows you to consciencly focus on the top of the front sight which should be clear as day….the rear sight slightly out of focus and your target a large blur….your eyes can only focus on one object at a time….then by saying squeeze your trigger finger slowly and automatically moves in a slow smooth manner allowing to make an accurate shot….when saying the word squeeze slow…..sometimes you will finish the word but the gun has not fired…..that ok…..slow and controlled……just repeat the word and your finger will continue squeezing or pressing the trigger until the gun goes off……as you get better at controlling the trigger finger….the faster you say squeeze the faster you can get off a controlled shot…..this will also help you avoid the anticipation shot and shooting the ground …..hope this helped.

By: Greg Bell

Greg Bell — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 04:55:28 +0000

LOL. I have always preferred #3. I think it is just because the HK pistols I grew up on were sighted that way. I always thought I was doing it the wrong way– but didn’t care.

By: David

David — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:08:45 +0000

I have always used #2. I think covering a large part of my target with the front sight as would be done in #3 is not helpful. So for me it all comes down to seeing as much of my target as possible. However, as pointed out, the difference between #2 & #3 in actual point of impact is less than the best group size the pistol can produce.

By: ToddG

ToddG — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:42:28 +0000

JW777 — Must be all those photons forcing your bullets downward when you’re shooting outdoors.

By: John_Wayne777

John_Wayne777 — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:45:07 +0000

I prefer number 2…but what I’ve found is that variations in lighting can dramatically effect the sight picture I need. For instance: Glock 17 using Warren Tactical sights and 124 grain Blazer Brass FMJ ammo. On the indoor range near my home I have to use sight picture number 1 to hit the X. On an outdoor range in say South Hill Virginia in the sunlight, I can use sight picture number 2 and hit the X.

By: Rob E

Rob E — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 08:09:09 +0000

#3 has always been the way I shoot. I use it at all distances with my pistols.

By: Ariel Weisberg

Ariel Weisberg — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:05:42 +0000

I think every make still has a tendency to favor one sight picture over another. There will be variation but it will be centered around some median value.

By: decodeddiesel

decodeddiesel — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:43:03 +0000

I am starting to use #3 now, especially on “2 dot” and “1 dot” sighting systems ala Warren Tactical and 10-8. The Army taught me #2 back in the day on the M9, though when I left the Army most of the trainers were teaching #3. My Springfield 1911 shoots low with #2 and hit dead on with #3 at 10 yards, YMMV.