Definition Series - Part 10: "Aiming"
by Kirk Lawson
Expanding upon the details of Fundamentals, let's be more specific about "Aiming."
Aiming is the process of achieving the proper relationship between the target, the Front Sight, and the Rear Sight.
[The Front Sight, farthest away from the user, and Rear Sight, closest to the user.]
Aiming consists of two components:
[The Front Sight properly aligned with the Rear Sight]
With Post-and-Notch sights:
Proper Sight Picture is obtained when the aligned sights are put into the correct relationship with the target.
Firearms are often sighted in using either a Six O'Clock Hold or a Center Hold. The Six O'Clock Hold will have the properly aligned sights lined up with the bottom edge of the Bulls Eye (6 o'clock on an analog clock face). The Center Hold will have the top edge of the properly aligned sights lined up with the very center-line of the Bulls Eye.
[Six O'Clock Hold]
[Center Hold]
Sight Alignment is usually considered more critical because a misalignment of the sights will usually throw shots more off target than a slightly out of line Sight Picture.
[Sighting Errors]
In the above image:
[Front Sight Focus]
by Kirk Lawson
Expanding upon the details of Fundamentals, let's be more specific about "Aiming."
Aiming is the process of achieving the proper relationship between the target, the Front Sight, and the Rear Sight.
[The Front Sight, farthest away from the user, and Rear Sight, closest to the user.]
Aiming consists of two components:
- Sight Alignment
- Sight Picture
[The Front Sight properly aligned with the Rear Sight]
With Post-and-Notch sights:
- The TOPS of the Front Sights and Rear Sights are even
- The front post is centered in the rear notch
Proper Sight Picture is obtained when the aligned sights are put into the correct relationship with the target.
Firearms are often sighted in using either a Six O'Clock Hold or a Center Hold. The Six O'Clock Hold will have the properly aligned sights lined up with the bottom edge of the Bulls Eye (6 o'clock on an analog clock face). The Center Hold will have the top edge of the properly aligned sights lined up with the very center-line of the Bulls Eye.
[Six O'Clock Hold]
[Center Hold]
Sight Alignment is usually considered more critical because a misalignment of the sights will usually throw shots more off target than a slightly out of line Sight Picture.
[Sighting Errors]
In the above image:
- "B" has both correct Sight Alignment and Sight Picture so all the shots land where intended.
- "A" has correct Sight Alignment but misaligned Sight Picture so the shots are slightly off.
- "C" has Sight Picture with the target properly centered in the Rear Sight but misaligned Sight Alignment so shots land farther off.
[Front Sight Focus]