Know Your Master Eye

 

 

 

Do you know which is your "Master Eye?" In shooting, that is the eye you will depend on for sighting your firearm. Here is a simple way to identify your Master Eye. Point your finger (it doesn't matter which hand you use) at an object with both eyes open. Then alternately close one eye, then the other. Your finger will be "lined up" with your Master Eye only. This way you can tell if you are "right eye" dominant or "left eye" dominant.

 

 Sight Alignment

 

      

 

Proper alignment places the front sight exactly in the center of the rear sight's opening. The top of the front sight should be exactly level with the top of the rear sight. The same principle applies to other variations. With the Front Post/Rear Aperture, the Front Post must appear in the absolute center of the circular aperture of the rear sight. Equal amounts of "daylight" should be seen to either side of the front sight.

 

Watch Your Thumbs

 

 This is wrong!

 

Do not cross your thumbs behind the handgun. If you shoot a semi-automatic handgun with crisscrossed thumbs, you will notice too late that the slide of the semi-automatic traveling rearward to cycle out the spent cartridge case and chamber a fresh cartridge will have taken with it a chunk from the base of your thumb.

 

This is Correct!

 

 

 

 Trigger Control

 

 

Proper Trigger Control is another key ingredient in the accurate and safe shot.

 

For rifle and pistol shooting, the trigger must be squeezed slowly and steadily. As the sight picture takes shape, increase pressure on the trigger in a motion drawing the finger and trigger straight to the rear. The instant the trigger disengages the sear and the shot is fired should come as a surprise, because your concentration is focused on the sight picture. (You NEVER know when your firearm will go BANG!)

 

Follow Through

 

Even though you've pulled the trigger and sent the bullet on its way, it is important that you regain your sight picture after the rearward movement of the shot has caused you to move the muzzle of the gun. Bring your firearm back in line with the target by again acquiring your sight picture after the shot has been fired. This is called follow-through. Once learned, it will improve your ability to shoot accurately.