Sight Alignment

Sight alignment is the most important contribution to firing an accurate shot.
In order for the bullet to hit the center of the target, the shooter must aim the pistol and give the barrel a
definite direction relative to the target.
In theory, accurate aiming is achieved when the shooter places In exact alignment the rear sight with the
top and sides of the front sight and holds them In alignment In the aiming area.
A requisite for correct aiming is the ability to maintain the relationship between the front and rear sights.
When aiming the front sight is positioned in the middle of the rear sight notch with an equal light space on
each side. The horizontal top surface of the front sight is on the same level as the top horizontal surface
of the rear sight notch.

A. RELATIONSHIP OF SIGHTS.
It is necessary to be acutely aware of the relationship of the rear sight to the clearly defined front sight.
Normal vision is such that the rear sight of the pistol will be as nearly In focus as the front sight. Some
shooters may be able to see only the notch of the rear sight In sharp focus; the outer extremities may
become slightly blurred.

1. Angular Shift Error: If the shooter does not observe correct aiming (maintaining the top surface of the
centered front sight on a level with the top of the rear sight and equal light space on each side of the
front sight) there will be few accurate shots. Most often, he locates the front sight in a different
position In the rear notch. This accounts for a greater dispersion of shots on the target, since the
bullets will deviate In the direction In which the front sight is positioned In the notch.This aiming error is known as angular shift error.

2. Parallel Shift Error: If the hold (arc of movement) is deviating In near parallel error from the center of
the aiming area, the shooter should know that these deflections will not lower the score to the extent
of angular shift error. Therefore, sight alignment is the most critical of the two. Thus, the accuracy of a
shot depends mainly upon the shooter's ability to consistently maintain correct sight alignment. The
main effort should be toward keeping your sights aligned, Holding the pistol perfectly still is desirable
but It is not mandatory.

B. POINT OF FOCUS.
Correct sight alignment must be thoroughly understood and practiced. It appears on the surface as a
simple thing - this lining up of two objects, front and rear sights. The problem lies in the difficulty in
maintaining these two sights in precise alignment while the shooter is maintaining a minimum arc of
movement and pressing the trigger to cause the hammer to fall without disturbing sight alignment.
The solution is partly in focusing the eye on the front sight during the delivery of the shot.

1. It is imperative to maintain 'front slight point of focus" throughout the sighting and aiming of the
pistol. The shooter must concentrate on maintaining the correct relationship between front and
rear sight, and the point of focus must be on the front sight during the short period required to
deliver the shot. If the focus is displaced forward, and the target is momentarily in clear focus, the
ability of shooter to achieve correct sight alignment is jeopardized for that moment. Frequently,
this is the moment that the pistol fires. A controlled, accurate shot is impossible under these
conditions.
2. When the eye is focused on the target the relatively small movement of the arm appears
magnified. However, when the eye is correctly focuses on the front sight this movement appears
to have been reduced.

C. CONCENTRATION.
1. If the sights are incorrectly aligned, the net result is an inaccurate shot. Carelessness in obtaining
correct sight alignment can usually be traced to the shooter's failure to realize its importance. Many
shooters will, in the initial phase of holding, line up the sights in a perfect manner. However, as the
firing progresses, and the shooter is concentrating on delivering the shot, he often loses correct sight alignment which he attained in the initial phase of his hold. Usually, when the shooter is unable to
maintain a pln-point hold, his concentration on sight alignment wavers. An accurate shot is lost
because the shooter is thinking of his arc of movement and not the perfection of sight alignment.
2. Another factor which contributes to the deterioration of sight alignment, is the feeling of anxiety which
arises over the apparently stationery pressure on the trigger when attempting to fire. An impulse is
generated to got more pressure on the trigger, so that the shot will be delivered. When the shooter
thinks about increasing the trigger pressure, a degree of the intense concentration required to
maintain correct sight alignment is lost. Even if trigger control and the hold are good, the net result will
be a poor shot. Sight alignment must remain uppermost in the shooter's mind throughout the firing of
the shot. Positive trigger pressure must be applied involuntarily. Consistently accurate shots are
produced when the shooter maintains intense concentration on sight alignment during the application
of trigger pressure, while experiencing a minimum arc of movement. Control of the shot is lessened in
direct proportion to the loss of concentration on sight alignment.
3. The average, advanced shooter is probably limited in sustained concentration to a period of 3 to 6
seconds. This short space of time is the optimum period in which a controlled shot can be delivered.
This concentration interval should be attained simultaneously with acquiring a minimum arc of
movement, a point of focus, satisfactory sight alignment, and the involuntary starting of positive
trigger pressure. If exact sight alignment is maintained, and the trigger pressure remains positive, the
shot will break during the limited time the shooter is able to control his uninterrupted concentration.
Result! A dead center hit on the target.

D. THE EYE.
The principal difficulties which confront the shooter during aiming are determined to a great extent by the
inherent characteristics of the eye and its work as an optical apparatus. All shooters should familiarize
themselves with the optical properties of the human eye as explained in Annex II, entitled "Optical
Properties of the Human Eye Relevant to Sight Alignment".