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Concept

Sight picture

Proper sight alignment superimposed on the target: aligned sights plus the exact spot where you want the bullet to land.

A sight picture is what your eye sees when correctly aligned sights are placed onto a target. Sight alignment answers "are the sights lined up with each other", the sight picture answers "where is that alignment pointing". The two are trained in that order: geometry first, target second.

There are three classic sight pictures. Center hold - the top of the front sight cuts the center of the target, and hits arrive at that edge; most modern factory pistols are zeroed for it, and practical shooters treat it as the default. 6 o'clock hold - the front sight touches the target from below, "a pumpkin on a post", with hits arriving above the sight; a bullseye sport classic. Combat hold - the front sight covers the target, hits hide behind the post; fast up close, rough on precision.

With iron sights the eye keeps its focus on the front sight in every one of these pictures: the target stays slightly soft. In dry fire the sight picture is trained after alignment holds steady - first against a blank wall, then on a target with a defined aiming point.

Guides mentioning this concept

Как правильно целиться из пистолета: мушка, целик и прицельная картинка

Пули уходят не туда, куда целился? Разбираем прицеливание по частям: равная высота и равные просветы, фокус на мушке, center hold против 6 o'clock и combat, четыре ошибки совмещения и Wall Drill для дома.

8 min

拳銃の狙い方:サイトアライメントとサイトピクチャー

狙ったところに当たらない?照準を分解して解説:等高・等間隔の光、照星へのフォーカス、center holdと6 o'clockとcombat holdの違い、4つのアライメントミス、そして自宅で練習するWall Drill。

11 min

手枪如何瞄准:准星、照门与瞄准图像

子弹总是打不到瞄的地方?把瞄准拆开讲:等高等光、聚焦准星、center hold 与 6 o'clock、combat hold 的区别、四种对正错误,以及在家练习的 Wall Drill。

7 min

Cómo apuntar con una pistola: alineación de miras e imagen de puntería

¿Los tiros no van adonde apuntas? Desarmamos la puntería pieza por pieza: misma altura y misma luz, foco en el punto de mira, center hold contra 6 o'clock y combat, cuatro errores de alineación y el Wall Drill para entrenar en casa.

12 min

How to Aim a Pistol: Sight Alignment, Sight Picture, Mistakes

Shots landing where you didn't aim? Break aiming into parts: equal height and equal light, front sight focus, center vs 6 o'clock vs combat hold, four alignment errors, and the Wall Drill to train it all at home.

11 min