Tips & Techniques: Lose The Bullseye!

by
posted on July 3, 2019
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
focus.jpg

Somewhere up the learning curve of pistol marksmanship, a smart shooter comes to a stark realization. Much goes into delivering a consistent series of pistol bullets to a point on the target. His group of shots needs to be as small as possible and proper instruction helps him to do that. To accomplish this worthy goal, a newbie handgunner learns all about a steady stance, consistent grip, controlled breathing and precise trigger control. These factors are all important, but they have to be reduced to habits in order that the shooter does them for every shot—habitually, with no conscious effort. The big realization is where he must focus his effort. He had to keep the front sight perfectly aligned with the rear sight. This sight alignment edges sight picture a good bit and, since the human mind can only focus on one thing at a time, it has to be the alignment of those two blocks of steel.

Every range has a poster somewhere on the premises showing the two sights lined up perfectly with a crisp, round bullseye on top. That is sight picture and it’s physically impossible to see it in real life, because you cannot simultaneously focus on two points (sights and target) that far apart. As a matter of fact, you cannot simultaneously focus on the front and rear sight. You must focus on the front sight. There’s an ever-present temptation to bounce the focus of your eyes back and forth between the front sight and the target. This spells disaster, so concentrate on keeping the top edge of that front sight even with, and centered in, the rear sight notch.

As a means of really emphasizing this process, turn your target around so you’re looking at plain white or tan paper. Right—no bullseye or other aiming point. Using exactly the same stance, grip, breathing and trigger control, aim and fire five shots at the center of the plain target. Since you don’t have an aiming point, you can’t look at anything but the sights. Don’t cheat and start shooting at your own bullet holes. If you conscientiously apply this training procedure, you will be amazed at the results. The technique does two things for you—prohibits looking at the target, and simplifies aligning the sights. Try it.

Latest

Gotw Wilson Combat Divison 77 Project 1 Web
Gotw Wilson Combat Divison 77 Project 1 Web

Gun Of The Week: Wilson Combat Division 77 Project 1

Join American Rifleman staff on the range in this video to get a closer look at Wilson Combat’s somewhat cryptically named “Division 77 Project 1.” 

The Armed Citizen® July 18, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Review: POF-USA LMR BASE Rifle

The Patriot Ordnance Factory LMR Base offers a .308 Win. chambering in a lightweight, AR-15-size package, which makes it a capable platform for today's new gun owner. And it comes at a fair price.

2025 Accessory Of The Year: Wyoming Sight Drifter

For each of the past 23 years, the editors of American Rifleman have convened to select our top picks for the past year’s best and most innovative products. Here are the most recent winners.

Henry Donates Rifles To Support Young Leukemia Victim

Henry Repeating Arms has donated a limited run of 50 “Team Keane” Golden Boy .22 lever-action rifles to support 13-year-old Keane Rhodes of Universal City, Texas, who is currently undergoing aggressive treatment for ALL T-cell leukemia.

Rifleman Review: Springfield Armory Echelon

Springfield Armory introduced its Echelon in 2023, bringing a modernized, chassis-style, striker-fired handgun to the market that has since seen several notable line extensions.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.