Natural point of aim vs. grip

[Guest]

Do you modify your natural point of aim to your grip/ sight alignment? or do you modify your grip/ sight alignment to your natural point of aim?

[Steve Swartz]

"Natural Point of Aim" is a variable.

You can train your NPA to be pretty much anywhere along a wide spectrum of directions (up/down, left/right).

[Steve Swartz]

Oh and since we have about three threads on this same topic going on simultaneosuly right now, it should be pointed out that stance, grip, NPA, head position, shoulder/arm rotation, address line to target, etc. etc. are all related to one another . . . basically your "body position" or "shooting platform" consists of many variables that relate to one another.

Asking about only one element is kinda like (analogy alert!) asking "what's the best speed for gas mileage?" The answer depends on a lot of related factors . . .

[Misny]

You are building a shooting platform with your body. You want to start with a good foundation. Start with the foot position, usually shoulder width apart or thereabouts. Face away from the target line about 45 degrees. Turn your head towards the target, but not to the point where it is uncomfortably overextended. When your head is turned so that you are looking down the length of your arm, you are just about right. Check your foot position with your eyes closed and pointing your trigger finger naturally towards the target. Open your eyes and move your trailing foot until the time when you open your eye and you are pointed in line with the target. If you are pointing way above the target each time, close your stance a little. If you are pointing way below the target each time, open your stance a little. Your knees shouldn't be locked, but not bent either. Your leg and butt muscles should be relaxed. You should keep your hips and torso in their natural alignment, in other words not twisted.

Grip is something that we always seem to be working on. First, you must have a set of "stocks" on your pistol which reasonably fit your hand. The top shooters make a lot of changes to their "stocks" by removing and adding material over time. At the beginning you don't really have to worry about this, as long as your stocks reasonably fit your hand. You will have to decide which position on the trigger suits your trigger finger. Some find that they shoot best with the tip of the trigger finger and others find that they need to get their trigger well onto the trigger. I like to get my finger placed so that the first joint (crease) is just touching the outside of the trigger, but this may not be the best for you. The "stock" must not put pressure on your trigger finger, so once you find where you like the trigger finger placed on the trigger, you may or may not have to remove some wood so that the trigger finger can activate the trigger without interference.

Grip pressure is very individual. I have to grip the gun very firmly to get the independent trigger finger actuation that I want. Too light a grip pressure and I will move the other fingers of my shooting hand while increasing pressure with the trigger finger. This is not a good thing!

With the gun in your hand with your good grip, you must make sure that the wrist is straight. The gun, hand and arm must work as cohesive unit. There should be no flexing of muscles, or joints in this part of the platform while shooting. The only thing that should move is the trigger finger.

Now that you have the platform built, you must go back the the eyes open/ eyes closed routine explained above. Shift the base of your platform (your feet) so that the gun points consistently at an aiming area on your target. As your muscles gain tone and strength improves, your platform base (your feet) may have to be adjusted, but the rest of your structure should remain rigid.

You must build your shooting platform each and every time you step up to the line to shoot. After a while it will become easier and a habit.

[jackh]

Do you modify your natural point of aim to your grip/ sight alignment? or do you modify your grip/ sight alignment to your natural point of aim?

There are many inter-relationships to all the variables. Simply put you align the gun (sights) to your eye, then adjust your body to the target while keeping that alignment. Naturally :)

[2650 Plus]

Good discription Mysney. This is a fine job of covering the basics with enough advanced thought to be of benefit to many shooters. Please dont stop here. You have obviously done considerable thinking about our comon issues and more exoposier to your ideas would be most appreciated. Sorry about getting your name wrong, I am a better shooter than I am typist. Good Shooting Bill Horton

[Guest]

Excellent crispy explanation, Misny.

Two thumbs up.

Not pompous and pedantic as some young professor.

[Guest]

Excellent crispy explanation, Misny.

Two thumbs up.

Not pompous and pedantic as some young professor.

[Steve Swartz]

"Young?!?"

*Now* I'm offended!

Looks like we can narrow down Mr. Guest to someone over the age of 60 . . .

(also by inappropriate word choice e.g. "crispy" vs. "crisp" hmmmm I wonder who it could be?)

[Guest]

Steve, I have to apologize for my words. I realize I have gone too far as soon as I typed.

I may not be as erudite as you are. But crispy is better than crisp in that description. Just an old fart with thirteen years of post secondary education would dictate as such.

[Misny]

I haven't posted anything really new. Maybe it is presented a little differently. I hope it helps.

I forgot to mention that a shooter may want to point his or her toes inward slightly for some extra stability at times. It also helps keep the legs from becoming fatigued from using the same leg and feet muscles for an extended period.

It is usually considered to be advantageous to put the non-shooting hand in a front pocket or hooked over the front of the pants. One should use whatever uses no muscle effort, gives the body the most stability and at the same time is the most comfortable.