Sight Alignment vs Sight Picture

[Gwhite]

I've been working on some training material for the MIT collegiate team. I was digging around the internet, and found the idea that sight alignment is more critical than sight picture is not universally accepted. I'd been meaning to do the analysis for several years now, and this spurred me into doing up some drawings and working through the math.

I think the results are pretty convincing that sight alignment IS more important than sight picture.

Feel free to comment or quibble:

[william]

If memory serves (which it frequently doesn't) there is a fairly definitive discussion in the Russian book.

Your workup looks good.

[Gwhite]

I have a copy right here. I didn't think to look there.

Thanks!

[David M]

Correct sight alignment is a part of achieving a correct sight picture.
It is one of the steps of the whole process.
For me, sight alignment in a precision shot is achieved above the target
during the two step drop into the aiming area.
Sight picture is achieved lowering into the aiming area (which includes
maintaining sight alignment) and held during trigger break.
Sight alignment for rapidfire stage (duelling) is achieved during the lift
at the base of the target and then steered to the target aim area
(centre hold) with shot to break entering into aim area.

[tpambau]

Don't know if my problem is about this, but i noticed the following issue:

I'm not an experienced shooter, training with standard 10m air pistol target to make a group inside 8-ring.
Then tried to shoot not 6 cm black circle, but 4 cm, and found, that my groups were better (a repeatable result, of course).
Is it because of mental reasons or aiming technique?
Is there any way to improve my grouping on a proper 10m target?

[SlartyBartFast]

the Russian book.

Care to let us in on the secret? Which book is that?

[GOVTMODEL]

the Russian book.

Care to let us in on the secret? Which book is that?

Probably "Competitive Shooting" by A. A. Yur'yev

[Gwhite]

If memory serves (which it frequently doesn't) there is a fairly definitive discussion in the Russian book.

Your memory is just fine (at least on this point). Yur Yev does indeed have a discussion with pictures that make the same point (p. 174-175 in the English version), but without any real numbers to show the magnitude of the effect.

[dulcmr-man]

Correct sight alignment is a part of achieving a correct sight picture.
It is one of the steps of the whole process.
For me, sight alignment in a precision shot is achieved above the target
during the two step drop into the aiming area.
Sight picture is achieved lowering into the aiming area (which includes
maintaining sight alignment) and held during trigger break.
Sight alignment for rapidfire stage (duelling) is achieved during the lift
at the base of the target and then steered to the target aim area
(centre hold) with shot to break entering into aim area.

"...during the two step drop into the aiming area." ?? Please explain. As a novice I try to acquire perfect sight alignment with the pistol above the aiming area and then slowly lower the aligned sights in one slow motion into the aiming area. Is this incorrect or are there different approaches for different shooters?

Thanks in advance.

Dennis in the PRK

[Gwhite]

"...during the two step drop into the aiming area." ?? Please explain. As a novice I try to acquire perfect sight alignment with the pistol above the aiming area and then slowly lower the aligned sights in one slow motion into the aiming area. Is this incorrect or are there different approaches for different shooters?

Thanks in advance.

Dennis in the PRK

David M may have something else in mind, but many shooters pause on their way down to take a final (somewhat shallow) breath. That is what I interpreted his comment to mean. This is far from universal, and you have to find what works well for you. A lot may depend on how fit your cardiovascular system is & hold long you typically hold. If you are very fit & shoot fast, there may be no need to pause for a final breath.