SIGHT ALIGNMENT AND THE "SIGHT PICTURE"

The traditional "sight picture" is a notch, either square or vee bottom, whicH is bisected by a vertical blade front sight. Traditionally the top of the front sight is held level with the top of the rear, and the aimpoint is set at the top of the front sight. On a rifle, with a long sighting radius, a slight misalignment of the blate in the notch is far less critical than on a pistol with a much shorter sighting radius.

However the sight picture is to be established for a particular pistol, understand that the slightest misalignment of the front and rear sights is disastrous to accuracy. The error in the short radius of only a few inches is increased by the multiple in the ratio of the distance to the target.

The shooter must concentrate on holding the correct alignment regardless of the ability to hold steady on target. The error caused by inability to hold on target will be far less than the error caused by allowing the sights to slip even slightly out of alignment and losing the correct sight picture.

This point bears repeating until you understand it thoroughly. The error caused by the correct sight picture drifting slightly off target IS ALWAYS MUCH LESS than the error caused by an incorrect sight picture. Even if you are not able to hold the sights steady on target you can become a fair shooter if you can hold a correct sight picture, with the front sight level with and bisecting the rear notch. Wild shots are caused by an incorrect sight picture.

Training by dry firing is an excellent way to develop the ability to quickly align the sights and hold the correct picture, and follow through with it while pulling the trigger. Once this most critical ability is developed, the next step is to put this picture on the target.

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