What is your secret method of sight alignment and sight picture?
Its no secret, its something Elmer Keith wrote about generations ago. Just seems to be something few people today think of doing.
Its simply a variation of the 6 o'clock hold.
With the usual 6 o'clock hold, you align the sights so the top of the front sight is level with the top edge of the rear sight, and centered in the notch, with your target on the top of the front sight.
Now, for long range shooting, you just raise the front sight above the rear sight, keeping your target on top of the front sight.
How much front sight you need to hold up is something you have to experiment to determine, for the range and load you are shooting. This method works with everything, and does not cover the target with either the sight or the muzzle of the gun the way aiming normally but above the target does.
You get a constant picture of where your front sight is, in relation to the target (and so can keep it centered) and the elevated front sight compensates for bullet drop.
Think of your sight picture forming an upside down "T" with the crossbar being the top edge of the rear sight and the upright is your front sight, with the target on the top.
Elmer went so far as to have King's Gunworks install gold bars on the front sight to give him consistent reference points on how much sight to hold up.
This method works, but takes trial and error to determine exactly how much sight to hold up, and be able to do it repeatedly. Some guns make this easier than others.
Shooting my 7.5" Ruger Blackhawk .45 Colt, with the load I use, at 200 yards, its not hard, because the amount I need to hold up (for that gun, load and range) is right at the bottom of the slope of the front sight, where the blade goes from being vertical to sloping upwards.
I have used this method with numerous guns, it works. With a Browning Hi Power 9mm, the amount of front "sight" I had to use to get on at 200 was a point on the slide about 1/2 inch behind the front sight. But I still had a full and complete view of the target and the top of the front sight right under it.
The exact amount you will need to hold up to get hits at the 80yd range you are shooting, will be different, with each different load, and each different gun, but the process works for everything.
Its not secret, its not magic, anyone can do it with some practice. I read Keith telling about how to do it over 50 years ago, and tried it. It works. After some practice, I got better at it, and have been using it for long range pistol shooting ever since.
Next time you go shooting steel at long range, try this, start with your normal sight picture, sights level, target on top, shoot and see how far below the target the bullet hits. Then, raise the front sight so about half of it is above the top of the rear sight with your target on top. Shoot and see how much closer to the target your bullet hits. If its still below the target, raise the front sight up a little more and shoot again. Repeat this until you walk your hits onto the target.
It is a better method for getting hits at long range (with iron sights) than aiming above your target and covering it with the muzzle.
Works with fixed sights, too. If you are shooting with adjustable sights, DON'T change your usual sight setting (unless you want to dedicate the gun to long range shooting) just raise the front sight and learn how much to use.
Kind of the elevation version of "Kentucky windage".
Try it, you'll see.