Sight focus before pulling the trigger - front sight or target?

R

rock_jock

New member
This is another of a long line of fundamental shooting questions I have for the learned folk here at TFL. It concerns the use of open sights on a rifle.

Basically, I am wondering what is the last thing your eyes focus on before firing? Is it the front sight or the target? As I see it, you have three different objects that need to come into focus at some point while linig up to shoot - the rear sight, the front sight, and the target. I typically focus first on the front sight, then on the rear sight to make sure I am correct in my windage and elevation (i.e., my sight picture is correct), then on the target, then check my sight picture one more time, then finally the target, and then fire. For handguns, I do the opposite, i.e., I focus on the front sight last simply because the target is usually much closer and accuracy is not as important as precision.

What are the various schools od thought on this?
 
Front sight,Front sight, Front sight.

You have only one thing to look at. It is the front sight. Because you have practiced and have correctly sighted in your firearm, you will know that where ever you place your Front sight is where your bullet will strike.You are simply teaching yourself habits that you will have to overcome later. Not to mention needlessly tiring out your eyes. Open sights are designed to utilize natural funtions and tendencies of your eyes to work correctly without you looking at them. Some forms might work better for you, but all work with you looking through them at you front sight.
 
"you will know that where ever you place your Front sight is where your bullet will strike"

Yes, I agree, BUT how do I make sure your front sight is still "on target" before I pull the trigger?. I am talking about those situations where I am trying to make accurate shots at a 2" target at 50-75 yds, and the slightest movement of the front sight away from the bulleye will drastically change the shot placement. You can't focus on the both objects at the same time.
 
I don't understand your use of accuracy vs. precision? I know what each word means, but I am not sure I follow the distinction you are making. (by the way, focus on the front sight. The target, although blurry, should be visible enough to allow you to position the front sight where you want it- it is not perfect, of course, but if you want them all in the same plane, you have to use some type of optics).
 
The other important element is follow-through.

Front sight - trigger press - front sight.

Don't be tempted to immediately look at the target after the shot. Always regain your front sight focus immediately after taking the shot - as though you are about to take a second one. Otherwise you risk dropping the front sight to look over the top even as you take the shot. Result - hits are low.
 
All good information. I think I understand what you guys are saying. My naivete on this subject probably comes from being spoiled with scopes, which allow you to focus on one object, that being the target, and align your reticle to the center. Iron, or open sights, on a rifle are not something I practice with very often.

hickman,

All I meant by accuracy not being as important with a handgun is that your target is much closer (usually) and it is much easier to maintain a pretty good sight picture of a typical defensive silhouette handgun target, even when blurry, when it is only 10-15 yds away than when you have a 2" target at 50 yds.
 
I was having problems at the pistol range when I first started with the team with my groups looked like 000 buck at 25 yards. The coach, noticing this and wanting to 'test' my application of the fundamentals, did this...

He took a repair center, and put it onto the target frame backwards - leaving a completely blank target downrange. He then told me to load two magazines and fire both of them down there centering my sights on the target.

At first I though, "This is stupid, I have nothing to aim at!" and I was starting to get frustrated. But then he explained that I was to just try to center the sights on the target to get a group. I figured, "Well, he's the coach for a reason" and I proceded to fire a series of groups.

After the third time, he showed me the target, and all the shots were in the black - even though I was shooting at the back side of the repair center. The point that he was trying to make was that before, I was focusing on the target, and ignoring the (alignment of) the sights. By removing the object that I was obsessing on, it made me actually start to concentrate on the sights, and that was the start of my education as a pistol shooter.

As one of the other posters said, there is little difference between rifle and pistol, what is most important is the alignment of the sights, and to do this you must focus on the front sight!

Good Luck!

Unkel Gilbey
 
Unkel Gilbey, That kinda reminds me of my first time firing a pistol. The USAF instructors had beat it into our hard heads that you have to look at the sights and focus on the front sight at all times. Well I said "OK", but the first time to actually fire one was at 15 yards at a silhouette target with no markings on it. I lined up the way they said to line up, then said to myself, "self there is no POSSIBLE way to miss at this range". So I looked at the target and fired. Damn near missed the whole thing off to the left! I learned quick. After firing 20 rounds of 38 wadcutter I had a real nice group right in the center of the target with 19 holes in it, and one "flyer" way out to the left of the target. Damn if the instructor did not ask me what happened too! I forget what lame-brain excuse I made up but he said "yea right"!
Many hundred thousand of rounds later I still think "front sight" each time I fire. I am classified master in outdoor pistol but still have to remind myself of that simple fact now and then.
Thank you, United States Air Force Marksmanship Program. Its a pity it is not now what it was then in 1963!
 
Wow, this stuff really helps. I guess once you focus on the front sight, your mind automatically will bring you on target, even if that target is slightly fuzzy.
 
when I was young and healthy and could see, I could see the rear sight, the front sight, and the target. Young eyes can do dat.

Now I wear tri-focals. Scopes are Good Things!

(For pistols, I have an extra little lens-gizzie in the upper-inner corner of my right lens. It's the same grind as the middle part of my tri-focal. With the Weaver stance, it aligns with the sights such that they're razor sharp--and the targets at pistol distances are very slightly blurred.

"Better living through technology!"

:), Art
 
Yes Front Sight.

Anyone ever hear of the Front Sight Firearms Institute? I wonder why they would name it Front Sight?

The rangemaster that made me into a gun fighter must have said the words "front sight" about a 1000 times. Now when ever I shoot my Glock, I am saying to myself, "front sight". "Did you see your front sight?" I have heard that a couple of times too. ;)
 
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