It’s possible that you are familiar with the words sight alignment and sight image if you have ever spent any time at a range listening to others discuss shooting techniques. Furthermore, there’s a very good chance that the person who used those phrases explained them in a way that made you think they were the same thing.
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They are not the same thing, my friends.
For example, consider an automobile. Are the steering wheel and accelerator pedal interchangeable? Not at all? Those things, are they not what “make the car move”? We are now approaching it.
Sight Picture: What Is It?
A sight picture is when your sights are properly aligned and pointed at the object you want to fire. That is all. Aside from trigger control, grip, posture, and other aspects, the fundamentals of marksmanship include aligning the sights to ensure that the weapon will strike where it is targeted and aiming those sights at the target. Sight image is equivalent to sight alignment while directed at your desired target.
Let’s take a quick look at sight alignment to make sure everyone is using the correct terminology for this conversation.
Iron sights were the only way to aim a handgun before red dot sights and laser pointers were invented. The fundamental design of these sights consists of a single post placed over the top of the muzzle and a rear aperture installed at the other end of the weapon from this post. However, the actual physical characteristics may vary according on the manufacturer and kind of handgun.
Although the shape of the rear aperture varies, it usually has a blade with a notch in the middle. This notch can be practically any shape, although it is typically a “V” or a square-shaped “U.”
When a shooter takes a correct hold on the handgun and points downrange, sight alignment happens. The front sight post will show up in the notch when the shooter’s eye aligns with the rear sight aperture. When the shooter lines up the front sight post within the rear sight aperture, with equal room (or light) on either side of the post and the top of the front sight post even with the rear aperture’s “shoulders,” they have accomplished proper sight alignment. The shooter’s only point of attention will be the front sight post just before they fire.
Now that we know, sight alignment refers to the arrangement of the front and rear sights. The shooter can use this connection to aim the barrel and predict where the bullet will land. As a concept, a sight image is achieved when the sights are correctly positioned and directed toward a certain location on a specific target. The fuzzy back sight, focused front sight, and fuzzy target are what the shooter’s eye will perceive when using a pistol sight image.
These appear to be the same thing, isn’t that right? Let us attempt to elucidate it.
A Closer Examining of Sight Picture
WHOOSH! You are now Annie Oakley, the renowned exhibition shooter of the Wild West. You can shoot a penny tossed up in the air or a playing card held on its edge based just on reputation. “Your sight alignment is perfect” is where we’ll stop.
Annie Oakley, you make the decision to take a stab at an exhibition shot at a typical circular bullseye target. Assume that you are aiming to strike a quarter that has been taped to the target’s center. The grip is flawless, and the draw is good. When your eyes detect your sights, the front sight post and rear sight aperture are precisely lined up; this is known as dead-on sight alignment.
Even if you wish to strike dead center, Annie Oakely, you do not quite realize that the sights are properly placed at the very bottom of the target in this imaginary reality.
When the trigger is perfectly controlled, the shot fires. The bullet exits the barrel and hits the target precisely where the sights said it would—the bottom. The throng quivers with shock. The quarter avoids devastation, unlike your fictitious reputation. Annie Oakley, all you can think of is “how”?
Dominance of the Eye
Just as each of us has a dominant hand, each person will also have a dominant eye. Your dominant eye and dominant hand will often correspond to one another. With the exception of those fortunate individuals who are cross-eye dominant—that is, both left- and right-handed—or vice versa.
Because a shooter who aligns the sights with their non-dominant eye (both eyes open) would typically strike the target well to the side of where they intended, understanding eye dominance is a crucial component of pistol marksmanship. Before we continue, a quick test can determine which eye is your dominant eye if there is any doubt.
Stretch your hands out in front of you, forming a triangle with your fingers pointing up and your palms facing away. Make a little window-like aperture with your uplifted hands. Put your hands out in front of you, stare out the window, and concentrate on anything far away.
Bring your hands closer to you until the backs of them contact your face, all the while maintaining your attention on the faraway item. The window will be in front of your dominant eye if you are still fixating on the distant item.
Let’s use this test to validate it. Point your index finger at a far-off object while keeping both eyes open and using your dominant hand—the one you write with. Change your attention to your raised finger as you continue to have the finger aimed at the faraway item. Close one eye at a time, then the other. Your dominant eye is the one for which the finger will cover the selected item.
Your marksmanship will need additional practice if you’ve suddenly discovered that you are cross-eye dominant—that is, that you write with your right hand but your left eye dominates, or vice versa. However, initially…
Whole or closed eyes?
Should we shoot with both eyes open or closed? Excellent query! I advise you to practice while keeping an open mind. Because of my experience in the military and law enforcement, I am mostly handling a pistol in environments where having the utmost situational awareness is necessary. Closing one eye completely eliminates peripheral vision in addition to reducing depth perception to an intolerable level. My requirements might not be the same as yours.
You might wish to start by closing your non-dominant eye if, as a novice, you practice with both eyes open but notice some double vision when focusing on your objective.
Eye dominance won’t be as important if you practice with your non-dominant eye closed. The gun functions as an autonomous object in your hand as long as the sights are aimed and positioned correctly.
It could be simpler for shooters who are cross-eye dominant to cock your head slightly off-center so your dominant eye can see your sights clearly. For instance, if you fire with your right hand but your dominant eye is on your left, tilt your head slightly to the right so that the dominant eye is more “directly behind” the gun.