View Full Version : Question
Mikerod22
02-05-2010, 09:06 PM
Alright so i have never had an firearms training and just sort of pick things up as i go along. Since i cant own a handgun the only time i get to shoot is with a friend but my aiming is horrible. So i started to wonder why this was. Besides the fact that i am still learning how to stand and hold the gun properly as well as trigger pull, i also realize that i have no idea how to use the sights.
So my question is when looking down the sights of a handgun, am i using one eye/Both eyes? i have been shooting one eyed but now im curious as to if this is right. also if it is with one eye which i should i be using?
I feel so ignorant asking these questions but you wont find out till you ask, right?
you have to find your dominant eye. check with one eye at the time, which one close at the time, compare the image that you see, with the image that you see with both eyes open. in one of the cases, you should see the image not to move. the open eye, is the dominant eye. mine is the left one.
when you watch thru the sights, keep in focus the target, while keeping the sights aligned (kind of blured)...
there is a nice pdf to read... let me find where i put that..
check this post:
http://tacticaladv.com/showthread.php?p=20443#post20443
JaxChris
02-05-2010, 11:59 PM
Each weapon is either a "Point of Aim" or "6 o'clock" shooter. Research to find out which type the weapon you are getting has and then follow the picture below to understand how to aim.
After that remember to opposite foot forward, feet at 45 degree angle, keep the wrists stiff, elbows loose, and actuate just your trigger finger without tightening your grip any further.
http://www.sightm1911.com/lib/review/pix/6oclock.jpg
The one eye is fine for target shooting but self defense both eyes will be open and never use the sights. You have to start somewhere though, using one eye will teach muscle memory to learn where to shoot to hit kill zones.
JaxChris
02-06-2010, 12:04 AM
Once I finally got 2-eye pistol shooting down I just looked at the target, got muscle memory to bring the pistol up to eye level, and the pistols front sight gets shadowed equally by the left and right rear dove tails. You can also see down the top edge on both sides of the slide at the same angle.
If you see the front sight, your aiming is cocked to one side.
Mikerod22
02-06-2010, 12:50 AM
awesome this is all useful information. Never really though about it until now. yeah i figured for self defense both eyes are open i meant for target shooting although being that i want to get into law enforcement i want to train myself as much as possible to simulate the training i will receive as a LEO.My guess is that they train with both eyes open but i could be wrong. Anyone have any input on this?
My Goal is to gain as much knowledge as i can that closely resembles that of a LEO. I Figure going in knowing more then others has to be good for me in some way.
Btw, GK26 awesome article i just gave it a quick read through, will go through it thoroughly tomorrow
Thanks again
You can buy a used handgun at 18 years old via private sale.
Slowbra01
02-06-2010, 02:03 AM
it's quite the opposite from what i've learned, it's to keep the front sight I focus against the blurry target. which ever works for you I suppose.
Andy B
02-06-2010, 05:46 AM
The one eye is fine for target shooting but self defense both eyes will be open and never use the sights. You have to start somewhere though, using one eye will teach muscle memory to learn where to shoot to hit kill zones.
Cris,
Never let the judge or prosecutor hear you say that and never put that in writing. Telling a new student that you are not using your sight is not a good idea even though this may be your point. This is why we went from "point shooting" to "flash sight picture" terms. As trainers we must be vary careful what we say. Also what I have learned over the years and several court cases later that the "kill" zone is a term that in self defense does not exist. Stopping the threat (high center mass/ocular eyesight cavity) is the main point. These are areas on the human body that will stop activity quickly.
All is fine when talking to professionals in the field, but don't put it in writing. This is from my experience.
I am going to teach carbine now.
Andy
Mikerod22
02-06-2010, 12:56 PM
You can buy a used handgun at 18 years old via private sale.
Is that so, How exactly does that work i mean can i simply go to the range and shoot it or what? Last i heard it could be purchased as a gift for me through someone else. More information regarding this would be appreciated
:D
Secpro
02-09-2010, 07:37 AM
Cris,
Never let the judge or prosecutor hear you say that and never put that in writing. Telling a new student that you are not using your sight is not a good idea even though this may be your point. This is why we went from "point shooting" to "flash sight picture" terms. As trainers we must be vary careful what we say. Also what I have learned over the years and several court cases later that the "kill" zone is a term that in self defense does not exist. Stopping the threat (high center mass/ocular eyesight cavity) is the main point. These are areas on the human body that will stop activity quickly.
All is fine when talking to professionals in the field, but don't put it in writing. This is from my experience.
I am going to teach carbine now.
Andy
Point well taken Andy! I will also have to keep this in mind.
I shoot pistol, both eyes open looking at the front sight and the target... odly enough I close an eye (my left one) when shooting rifle..
I got to get some training done in the future..would love to do the carbine class and the pistol class.
Mikerod22
02-09-2010, 02:27 PM
I shoot pistol, both eyes open looking at the front sight and the target... odly enough I close an eye (my left one) when shooting rifle..
I got to get some training done in the future..would love to do the carbine class and the pistol class.
yeah i want to do both classes as well...as soon as i have the money to do some
Cris,
Never let the judge or prosecutor hear you say that and never put that in writing. Telling a new student that you are not using your sight is not a good idea even though this may be your point. This is why we went from "point shooting" to "flash sight picture" terms. As trainers we must be vary careful what we say. Also what I have learned over the years and several court cases later that the "kill" zone is a term that in self defense does not exist. Stopping the threat (high center mass/ocular eyesight cavity) is the main point. These are areas on the human body that will stop activity quickly.
All is fine when talking to professionals in the field, but don't put it in writing. This is from my experience.
I am going to teach carbine now.
Andy
Very good point actually. When I do explain this in person I tell it better, I just don't feel like typing that all out. Unfortunately the justice system is hardly ever on your side. Terminology is always a killer in stuff like this. Stopping the threat is the term I never forget though. Thanks for the pointers, I will try to burn these in.
Is that so, How exactly does that work i mean can i simply go to the range and shoot it or what? Last i heard it could be purchased as a gift for me through someone else. More information regarding this would be appreciated
:D
Yes you can buy privately from an individual or have a family member gift the firearm to you also. This would obviously be for range use only. I actually had someone tell me they couldn't buy 22lr today because they weren't 21 today. I never heard of that before as I know plenty of 18 year old people who have purchased it.
Mikerod22
02-10-2010, 01:06 AM
Yes you can buy privately from an individual or have a family member gift the firearm to you also. This would obviously be for range use only. I actually had someone tell me they couldn't buy 22lr today because they weren't 21 today. I never heard of that before as I know plenty of 18 year old people who have purchased it.
That is awesome to hear. The reason i ask is i figure that a range might not let me in to shoot a handgun being that im under 21. As long as i have no problem with that then i might be in for a new handgun being that my mom is asking me what i want for my birthday and all :)
JaxChris
02-10-2010, 12:08 PM
I actually had someone tell me they couldn't buy 22lr today because they weren't 21 today. I never heard of that before as I know plenty of 18 year old people who have purchased it.
That is weird (and wrong as you know). Any round primarily developed for and used as a rifle round can be purchased at the age of 18, anything with a primary development/use in pistols is 21+. Rimfire is all considered 18 and up as they are all rifle cartridges.
Mikerod22
02-10-2010, 12:47 PM
That is weird (and wrong as you know). Any round primarily developed for and used as a rifle round can be purchased at the age of 18, anything with a primary development/use in pistols is 21+. Rimfire is all considered 18 and up as they are all rifle cartridges.
so will i have problems purchasing ammo if i do acquire a handgun privately?
JaxChris
02-10-2010, 01:37 PM
Yes, someone will have to purchase the ammo for you. So if you get 9mm, 357Sig, 40SW, 45ACP, etc you will need assistance.
Mikerod22
02-10-2010, 02:18 PM
That shouldnt be too much of a problem though i have plenty of people that can purchase for me. The struggles of being under 21 =(
Mikerod22
02-26-2010, 01:31 AM
Alright so i went to the range again today. Applied most of the stuff in that pdf as well as other information gathered on the net. Shooting at a silhouette target (b-27 to be exact) and i kept it within the 9 ring at 7 yard i believe. so there was definitely an improvement. I just need more practice and work on my trigger pull and hopefully i will narrow that down. I just wanted to thank everyone for their contribution.