Sight Picture

[thejoe]

I just watched a good video on pistol shooting by Todd Jarrett. I liked what he had to say. I'm striving to do most of it already and will incorporate the things I'm not doing into my range time.

But, there is one thing I cannot seem to do. I cannot get the sights to be "chrystal clear." No matter how hard I try, the target is clear and in focus and the sights are just a little bit fuzzy (I am seeing the front sight, though). Do you guys have any good advice on how to train around this shortcoming? What am I doing wrong? Generally when I shoot the sight picture that I get when focused on the target, I have decent results. Not great, but decent. There's obviously room for improvement. Any help you can provide would be much appreciated.

joe

[KYDoc]

Originally Posted by thejoe

I just watched a good video on pistol shooting by Todd Jarrett. I liked what he had to say. I'm striving to do most of it already and will incorporate the things I'm not doing into my range time.

But, there is one thing I cannot seem to do. I cannot get the sights to be "chrystal clear." No matter how hard I try, the target is clear and in focus and the sights are just a little bit fuzzy (I am seeing the front sight, though). Do you guys have any good advice on how to train around this shortcoming? What am I doing wrong? Generally when I shoot the sight picture that I get when focused on the target, I have decent results. Not great, but decent. There's obviously room for improvement. Any help you can provide would be much appreciated.

joe

Try shooting without concentrating on where the shots hit. Just aim at a point on the backstop/berm and look directly at your front sight. Squeeze the trigger slowly while trying to maintain focus on the front sight. Watch the front sight while the shot breaks and try to watch it settle back into the notch after the shot. Don't check the target at all.

Once you get used to it, add a target, but still watch the front sight and let the target stay blurry.

[Loves2Shoot]

The post above was good.

The "trick" to fast acurate shooting is focusing on a spot on the target and then bringing the front sight into crystal clear focus.

Removing targets and just looking for the sights is a good way to learn to watch the sights, and this is the first step in learning to call your shots, which is critical in shooting well.

[thejoe]

Originally Posted by Loves2Shoot

The post above was good.

The "trick" to fast acurate shooting is focusing on a spot on the target and then bringing the front sight into crystal clear focus.

Removing targets and just looking for the sights is a good way to learn to watch the sights, and this is the first step in learning to call your shots, which is critical in shooting well.

Thanks for the advice, both of you. But, I want to make sure I have it straight.

I should keep the target in focus, place my sights over where I want the bullet to go, then shift my focus to the front sight, make it chrystal clear, and then pull the trigger. Is that about how it should go? It seems that the shifting of focus each time would slow me down, but maybe I just need to do it over and over so I get fast at it.

Am I tracking with you guys, or am I off base? Let me know. I want to be good at this.

joe

[Loves2Shoot]

You have it exactly right. It is not slow because the eyes are so incredibly fast. It just takes practice. It may feel slow, because our perception of speed comes from not being able to process the information coming at us, when you understand the input coming at you, it will feel like slow motion almost.

The sight will just "appear" where they should be after awhile.

[thejoe]

Now I need to hit the range. I appreciate the advice. I don't think I've ever heard it quite that way before. Again, thanks.

joe

[propellerhead]

There's a natural tendency to focus on the target and not the front sight. Try this... stand inside your walk-in closet. Have the lights on in the closet but not in the room. You should be able to focus on the sights easier. The larger the difference in lighting, the easier it will be.

Another trick I use is to hold the pistol down low as if you were aiming at the ground in front of you. Focusing on the front sight is a little more natural down low. Keep the focus and slowly raise the pistol to shooting height.

If none of those help, try holding the pistol about an inch away from a wall. Get your sight picture and hold it.

If you do all those regularly, your eyes will eventually focus on the front sight and stay there when you tell them to.

[thejoe]

Nice. I'll give that a try during my next dryfire practice.

joe

[bscman]

I never was really serious about handguns until L.E Academy...I'll tell you what, I've never heard the words "Front sight, front sight, front sight" so many times in my life!

It's against your instincts to watch that front sight, but it will surely help you out! Focus entirely on the front sight...your mind will automatically figure out to adjust the rear in accordance. The target will appear a little fuzzy--but don't look at it...continue staring at that front sight.

DO NOT look at the target after each shot to see where it hit. It doesn't matter. FRONT SIGHT FRONT SIGHT FRONT SIGHT! If you take the time to glance up at the target, you break your concentration and it takes longer to re-gain your sight picture.

[Reno82]

Keep both eyes open. It's not target shooting when you have to defend yourself.