pistol sight picture acquisition

[mr.72]

Hey folks-

I have been kind of struggling with sight picture acquisition and looking for some additional insight. I am trying to shoot with both eyes open, and here's my [inconsistent] experience so far:

- I am right-handed and right-eye dominant
- shooting with my left eye closed is easy
- "point shooting", that is, shooting without the sights at all and focusing on the target, works remarkably well for me (hit 6" plate at 15 yards most of the time)
- with two eyes open:
- trying to focus on the front sight is difficult, sometimes impossible if the target is closer than about 15 ft. away
- if I first focus on the target, then move my focus on the front sight, then it seems to work better
- I cannot effectively align the front sight into the notch of the rear sight shooting left-handed and with both eyes open
- with both eyes open it seems difficult and sometimes impossible for me to get the front sight aligned with the rear sight notch without closing my left eye at least for a second, long enough to get the sights in the "ballpark"
- it takes me a long time to get the sights lined up. Like 3 seconds or more with both eyes open.

My gun has the normal three-dot sights. BTW I scored a 244 on my CHL shooting qual with both eyes open, had one flier and most everything else was on target or grouping low-left the further I was from the target.

Any suggestions?

[The Annoyed Man]

Any suggestions?

Glasses?

Seriously though, as my eyes have aged, I've begun having more and more difficulty picking up the sights. My plan is to invest in some Tru-glo combination fiber optic/tritium sights, with green for the rear, and red for the front sights. I tried them on a friend's pistol, and even in bright daylight, they were quite bright. The color differentiation made it easier to line up the front to rears. And even at night, the tritium light source shows the colors up quite nicely.

[Pinkycatcher]

At least you're not like me and right handed left eye dominant, it's not bad for a pistol, but with rifles it screws me up, I shoot as good left handed as right handed because I see better with my left eye, but I hold the rifle more steady with my right hand

[mr.72]

Any suggestions?

Glasses?

well, now. I have 20/20 vision. However when I have been out shooting it has been with a quality pair of sunglasses with amber lenses. But I have these same problems just dry-firing at the house (practicing dry-firing for trigger control and sight acquisition).

[agbullet2k1]

I've had the same problem before. "Point shooting" works extremely well for me, and sight acquisition is very slow for me. I've just learned to exploit my strengths and continue to work on weaknesses. I practice almost exclusively using point shooting, but it took me some time to train my eyes to focus on the target first instead of wasting time on fumbling with the sights. I guess all those years of video games just taught me to put the target in the middle of the screen, instead of bringing the center of the screen to the target, if that makes sense. I'd say do whatever you need to do to shoot accurately and quickly. There's really no set rule for what works best for everyone in my opinion. There are subtle differences in everyone's technique, but as long as you can hit a target consistently with your method, it should do you well.

[flintknapper]

I've had the same problem before. "Point shooting" works extremely well for me, and sight acquisition is very slow for me. I've just learned to exploit my strengths and continue to work on weaknesses. I practice almost exclusively using point shooting, but it took me some time to train my eyes to focus on the target first instead of wasting time on fumbling with the sights. I guess all those years of video games just taught me to put the target in the middle of the screen, instead of bringing the center of the screen to the target, if that makes sense. I'd say do whatever you need to do to shoot accurately and quickly. There's really no set rule for what works best for everyone in my opinion. There are subtle differences in everyone's technique, but as long as you can hit a target consistently with your method, it should do you well.

Excellent advice Sir!

[mr.72]

That sounds like advice I can easily agree with... of course as you know practicing point shooting can get kind of unnerving. It's hard to diagnose a problem.

I do think that in the "heat of battle" many of us will resort to point shooting, particularly inside of about 25 feet. Outside that distance, I may have time to acquire the sights and then if the threat is advancing eventually they will get into my point shooting range of accuracy if I don't have sights up yet.

Still looking for tips to improve on my weakness, which is shooting with sights.

[Wildscar]

Any suggestions?

Glasses?
My plan is to invest in some Tru-glo combination fiber optic/tritium sights, with green for the rear, and red for the front sights.

So you don't have to drop a lot on fairly expensive night sites you can use model paint and just dab a spot in each sight dot. That way you can see if this will work for you any only be out about 5 bucks for the model paint. If it doesn’t work you can just rub it off the site.

The only other advice I can say is to practice. If you start practicing slow movements and getting accurate like that the speed with come with time. When you find something that works for you try to do it the same way every time. That will build muscle memory and in the heat of a situation that can make the difference.

[KaiserB]

Any suggestions?

Glasses?

well, now. I have 20/20 vision. However when I have been out shooting it has been with a quality pair of sunglasses with amber lenses. But I have these same problems just dry-firing at the house (practicing dry-firing for trigger control and sight acquisition).

There are a couple of things to try:

1. Make sure you are gripping your firearm correctly. When you point at something with your firearm, it should be the same as pointing at something with your finger. Video of Gripping a pistol: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 6867071363

2. Look at the center of the target, then bring the firearm up (think "point finger at target").

3. Put tape over your rear sight (render it unusable) and shoot 50 rounds at a target without sights. This may help center you up and give you a feel for the gun, by taking the focus off of aiming.

4. Check out the Brian Enos' website, buy a copy of his book it may help you greatly. He has a very instinctual shooting method and several good drills to get a sight picture quickly.

[The Annoyed Man]

So you don't have to drop a lot on fairly expensive night sites you can use model paint and just dab a spot in each sight dot. That way you can see if this will work for you any only be out about 5 bucks for the model paint. If it doesn’t work you can just rub it off the site.

Normally, pretty good advice, but it won't work for me. It's not that I can't see the dots, its that I can't focus on the front sight, and both are blurry enough that it's hard for me to line them up. They are too close to my eyes. I have really bright tritium night sights, but during the day I can't see them too well. For me, the contrasting colors in the Tru-glo sights helps me to get them properly aligned in daylight, and they work well at night too.

[Wildscar]

So you don't have to drop a lot on fairly expensive night sites you can use model paint and just dab a spot in each sight dot. That way you can see if this will work for you any only be out about 5 bucks for the model paint. If it doesn’t work you can just rub it off the site.

Normally, pretty good advice, but it won't work for me. It's not that I can't see the dots, its that I can't focus on the front sight, and both are blurry enough that it's hard for me to line them up. They are too close to my eyes. I have really bright tritium night sights, but during the day I can't see them too well. For me, the contrasting colors in the Tru-glo sights helps me to get them properly aligned in daylight, and they work well at night too.

I guess i should have specified about using 2 diffrent colors. Say Bright red for the front and Bright Green for the back. I know they are not going to be as bright as tru glows. They would mainly be a cheap test to see if dropping the cash on a longer lasting system for a weapon that might not be around for too long.

Also shooting USA has a few pro vids that might help.
http://www.shootingusa.com/PRO_TIPS/pro_tips.html

[BigDan]

If you're having trouble seeing the front sights, you should consider the XS Sights.

The Big Dots really are just that. BIG!

I just installed mine earlier this evening and it wasn't until I reassembled the pistol and pointed it in a safe direction that I realized JUST HOW BIG it was! Sight picture now will be cake...


As for sight picture of ANY sights, you really need to make sure you follow through. Don't worry about where each shot has gone. Focus on the front sight, begin moving the trigger, once it fires, keep looking at the front sight, reset the trigger. Only then concern yourself with where it went. Follow through on every shot, even if you string them together. If you focus on the sight and not the target, you are following through.

[flintknapper]

I like the “big dot� as well. I’ve been using them since they first came out.

Even if your focus is primarily on the target (like it will be with a real live threat)…you still see a ghost image of the front sight, you just can’t miss it.





I use them on nearly everything I own.

[tboesche]

I have the same problem. But I am right handed left eye dominant. I used to just tilt my head over and pull my arms left across my body a bit to sight with the left eye. My current prescription has the left eye focused for distance and the right eye focused in close. Really screws up sight picture. My left eye can not focus on the front sight. I am having to train my right eye to take over. I shoot IDPA a couple times a month and except for the long shot- over 25 ft. I point shoot. My thoughts to practice this way are that if I am in a situation where I have to draw and shoot quickly, I won't be using precise aim anyway. Which is what I use IDPA for anyway- PRACTICE> If I have time to gain a good sight picture, then I have time to adjust my stance and vision to get a good sight picture.

[Skiprr]

Glasses?

well, now. I have 20/20 vision.

Not to sound facetious, but are you absolutely sure? If this is a recent situation, I'd suggest visiting your optometrist or ophthalmologist. If it's been a year or more since you were there, I'd recommend it anyway.

Rapid changes in eyesight are not uncommon in adults out of their 20s, and become even more common after you cross that miracle 40 mark. In fact, as presbyopia sets in--as it does for most of us--frequent eyesight changes between the ages of 40 and 55 are not only common, but expected.

As a young man, you shouldn't be having that kind of difficulty getting a quick, crisp sight picture. I'd go visit your friendly eye doctor, just to make sure.