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

Making Keltec Pr57 1
Making Keltec Pr57 1

Making The KelTec PR57 In Wyoming

To make its PR57 handgun, KelTec invested in an entirely new manufacturing facility located in Rock Springs, Wyo. "American Rifleman Television" headed out for an inside look at the company's efficient production process.

Taurus 66 Combat: A New "Fighting Revolver"

First introduced in the 1970s, the Taurus 66 Combat is a medium-frame revolver that has seen several evolutions in its lifetime, and the latest update creates what the company considers "the final word in fighting revolvers."

Review: Taurus GX2

From cars to cellphones, as a product gets more sophisticated, it usually also gets more expensive. And, as modern handguns get more modular and optic-ready, their prices tend to go up.

Rifleman Q&A: A Garand Puzzlement

"We are a father-and-son NRA member tandem in search of an answer regarding the branding of an M1 Garand rifle. We own an M1 rifle that has markings indicating it was a “lend lease to England,” and it also has a .308 barrel/sleeve."

$160K Raised For HAVA At SIG Sauer Event

SIG Sauer hosted its 9th Annual Honored American Veterans Afield (HAVA) Charity Golf event early last month and raised more than $160,000 to support disabled veterans.

Scout The Trail To A General Purpose Rifle

The search for a universal longarm—one suitable for both hunting and defensive scenarios—is a trek that involves a bit of doubling back.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.