Sight Alignment Quiz - Prize Included

[Rumbler]

I want to learn how you index the pistol on target too...in that dumbed down fashion I was talking about.

Tangent time. I would like to address this because it is something I deal with frequently in taking "bullseye" shooters to "combat" shooters. And it seems to work quite well.

Lawrence I know you know "keep the finger off the trigger until the sights are on the target". Where does that naturally tend to place the pointing, trigger, finger? Just above the trigger guard running parallel to the bore. Where are the thumbs when one has a correct (for control) grip on the pistol? Both thumbs pointing forward parallel to the bore.

Now here is the magic: To "index" simply do what you have been doing all your life. Point. It doesn't matter if you have the handgun "high" or "low" or anywhere inbetween. It doesn't even matter if you are looking at what you index to. Just point your finger.

Try this; Keep your full visual focus on the computer screen. WITHOUT LOOKING point your finger at a lamp, or a TV, or a chair, or a cat (you get the idea) in the room. Now, look where you are pointing. Betcha a nickle you either pointed dead center, or pretty dang close.

"Indexing".

Now repeat that exercise using a thumb. I'll bet you are at least pretty dang close.

Now, think about your grip on the handgun again. You are indexing naturally with three fingers! Two thumbs and a pointing finger.

How in the heck could you miss ?!?!

[north-fl-trader]

Tangent time. I would like to address this because it is something I deal with frequently in taking "bullseye" shooters to "combat" shooters. And it seems to work quite well.

Lawrence I know you know "keep the finger off the trigger until the sights are on the target". Where does that naturally tend to place the pointing, trigger, finger? Just above the trigger guard running parallel to the bore. Where are the thumbs when one has a correct (for control) grip on the pistol? Both thumbs pointing forward parallel to the bore.

Now here is the magic: To "index" simply do what you have been doing all your life. Point. It doesn't matter if you have the handgun "high" or "low" or anywhere inbetween. It doesn't even matter if you are looking at what you index to. Just point your finger.

Try this; Keep your full visual focus on the computer screen. WITHOUT LOOKING point your finger at a lamp, or a TV, or a chair, or a cat (you get the idea) in the room. Now, look where you are pointing. Betcha a nickle you either pointed dead center, or pretty dang close.

"Indexing".

Now repeat that exercise using a thumb. I'll bet you are at least pretty dang close.

Now, think about your grip on the handgun again. You are indexing naturally with three fingers! Two thumbs and a pointing finger.

How in the heck could you miss ?!?!

Now, all you have to do is find a firearm that aligns with your natural point of aim, and you are golden.

This is the first thing I talk about when student ask about buying a new firearm.

Pick a spot on the wall or item in the room, close your eyes, draw your cleared and unloaded firearm, point it at that spot and open your eyes. If your firearm "points" well for you, the sights should be really close to properly aligned with that point/item.

[TheJewban]

Tangent time. I would like to address this because it is something I deal with frequently in taking "bullseye" shooters to "combat" shooters. And it seems to work quite well.

Sorry, rules strictly dictate that we adhere to the precise definition of PROPER SIGHT ALIGNMENT and how to attain it quickly. The word combat shouldn't even appear in this thread. Now "bullseye" is a different story but that has to do with Aiming (perfect Sight Picture & Sight Alignment).

Now here is the magic: To "index" simply do what you have been doing all your life. Point. It doesn't matter if you have the handgun "high" or "low" or anywhere inbetween. It doesn't even matter if you are looking at what you index to. Just point your finger.

I'm sorry molary, I don't mean to be thick, but if "it doesn't matter if you have the handgun "high" or "low" or anywhere in between" and"it doesn't even matter if you are looking at what you index to", then how can the the front sight be perfectly centered in the rear sight notch (light bars being equal on both sides) with the tops precisely even, level, and horizontally aligned?

I'm just not following - I'm sorry.

Are you telling me that when I thrust my gun out, thumbs and trigger finger pointed forward and parallel to the bore, I will have Sight Alignment...without having to make any adjustments?

Do not read any sarcasm into that question. It's asked in all sincerity.

[Rumbler]

Lawrence, I think that it may bear explaining that there is a big - HUGE - difference in concepts between "bullseye" shooting and "combat shooting".

I do the later. The former is nothing if not deadly to the shooter should it be applied in a combat (or self defense) scenario. The later, is clearly inferior to the former in a "bulleseye" scenario.

At the risk of stating the obvious; in the bullseye scenario stacking bullets one on top of another on the target (proverbially) is a good thing. Finite accuracy is the goal after all. In a self defense or combat scenario fractions of a second can and often DO make the difference between winning and becoming compost. Further, 'stacking' bullets is counter productive if your goal is to end the threat.

These days, well over 80% of people shot with handguns survive. In many cases, they never even lose consciousness. A conscious person, who has the will to fight, is still a threat.

Handguns, generally speaking, SUCK as fight stoppers. The best we can hope for it to poke so many holes in the threat that they leak so much so fast that they stop being capable of fighting no matter how committed they are to continuing their aggression.

THAT is why finite accuracy - will get you killed. Imagine a handgun bullet as an ice pick. Whether stabbed once or 30 times in the same spot you just get one leak. Now imagine being stabbed 15 times all over the torso (or anywhere else). You now have 15 separate leaks. Much more effective than one leak!

And here is the relevance in all this; We train for finite accuracy on the first shot. Subsequent shots, somewhat less.

It is my absolute belief this is necessary but we must not allow ourselves to be lulled into thinking - believing - we will have time for that.

We train for situational awareness, we train for threat assessment. But we do not train for blind corners, a bag of groceries in each hand, being in a hurry to get home to watch the game on TV, on being distracted because we just learned our wife of 50 years is 'into' donkey sex.

That means that in the real world, chances are indeed very slim that we will have the time to get 'set' to engage the threat. It will be more like; "ohcrapbangbang', than "oh crap. Draw, sight alignment, sight picture, careful - FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL SIGHTS ON TARGET!, now smooth trigger press until the bang".

Train for the worst case scenario. Than anything else is easy.

I don't know how many folks do this, I'm guessing not many, but when I "practice", I keep to an absolute minimum the drills I am good at. I practice what I am bad at.

. . . that is how I can spend countless hours, endless days on the range, and never run out of stuff to do.