Aiming

A gun is sorta like a camera, point and shoot. However, there are things that have to be done to get a picture to turn out.

There are a few methods to aiming. Sighted, point, and snap.

Snap shooting is when you are firing on instinct alone. This is the least accurate, but can be improved with perfect training of sighted aiming. The concept that improves this ability is “muscle memory”. When you are experienced in delivering aimed fire, your instinctually aimed fire will improve. But this isn’t the movies. Generally ineffective past 3 yards or so.

Point shooting is when you hold your finger along the side of the weapon and point it toward your target. This is mostly done with shotgun or weapons with a spreading group of projectiles. This technique can be useful for getting off quicker shots and in low light situations that make acquiring the sights difficult.

Sighted shooting is when you take the time to line up the sights on the weapon with your eye and the target. You’ll want to use your dominant eye, which generally coincides with your handedness.

The process of aiming should use these three aiming techniques as steps in the aiming process. As you present your weapon to engage, you should adjust your body so it’s natural point of aim will more efficiently snap aim. Once your body is positioned correctly, you should consider your hands (and finger if it is along side of the weapon, it SHOULD be along side the trigger guard according to the 4 weapon safety rules) and move them to align your weapon with the target. When your hands move the weapon to be in a position of alignment with your eye, you begin getting proper sight alignment, and sight picture.

Training Tip:

Focus your mind on each individual step when training. Take it very slow to start. Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast. You want to build muscle memory of the process so that when you need to do it fast, you will do it perfect naturally. Only perfect practice makes perfect.