Front sight focus or target focus?

[ruchik]

I have a question regarding where you should be focusing when you're aiming a gun. I hear many people saying you need to focus on the front sight. This makes sense, as the bullet is going to go where that front sight is pointing. But at the same time, because you're taking the focus off the target, wouldn't one also be breaking the rule that one should always know what the target is, what's behind it, and what it's doing? It's perfectly possible that in a defensive scenario, someone runs behind your target, the target changes behavior, etc. while you're looking at your front sight. Under stress, the natural reaction is to focus on the target as well. Is this a case of there is no right way or wrong way, but rather depends on what application you're using the gun for?

[AAShooter]

For precision shooting at distance, you need to focus on the Front Sight at the time you shoot. For close encounters, you can probably look at either and do fine.

[l8apex]

Both

[1JimMarch]

In order to do front-sight-focus, you need a red dot electronic sight of some sort (glass, batteries, wires) OR a low-power-magnification hunting scope for handguns (unsuitable for self defense) OR the only "iron sight" that is set up for front-sight-focus shooting:

http://www.goshen-hexsite.com/index2.htm

Read the June 2008 review, top-right corner. This sight is a genuine breakthrough.

Target-focus both-eyes-open combat shooting DOES work - with the right sights.

[RTE]

Lets just say you shoot at a target and not a front sight.
front sight should be in the picture...Target should be clear.

[Noxx]

Front sight, front sight, front sight.

The best advice I ever received that improved my accuracy dramatically with a pistol, an old man at the range told me "Son, look at that front sight like you was trying to read something off it".

When I keep my front sight crystal clear, I'm hell on wheels with the Sigs, regardless of caliber.

[eaglemike]

The focus should be on the front sight. What part do control, the sight or the target? All the precision shooters I know using iron sights have always focused on the front sight. You cannot focus on both..... Try shooting 50 yards bullseye with iron sights, and tell me which one works....

[voiceoftheright]

Agreed. In all my training I have never heard someone say "Look at your target" while shooting. In a defensive situation, all rules are off including sights in general depending on distance of aggressor. Your front sight should be clear during target shooting, your target blurred.

[l8apex]

Never understood why both schools of point shooting and sighted fire can't get along. The techniques are not exclusive to one standard, rather depending on your target objective distance, movement etc, one may use sights or point shoot. My use of sights highly depends on the accuracy required for the objective. Simply, the less accuracy needed the less I need to depend on my sights for verification that the muzzle is pointed correctly.

Couple of simple scenarios.

You can't verify/distinguish that something going bump in the night is not a family member/insurgent/perp/&*^hole by looking at your front sight at close distance - more than likely you will be threat focused and should be a this distance. And you also may not be able to point shoot with a family member/team/unit member taken hostage - more than likely you will use precise aimed fire.

Of course everyones need for the sights to verify, depend on training and familiarity with shooting your personal gun. Mostly those who are new to shooting will need the sights to verify muzzle direction more than those who have shot 30K rounds through one gun or have formal training. YMMV, but I use both depending on the context and need.

[FUBAR]

front sight bud. thats how we train.

[DaveFJ80]

It really depends on how you hold the gun. I've trained using the center axis relock system and you're taught to hold the gun closer to your face than say using the isosceles-weaver stance with your arms extended further out. When you hold the gun that close, it's easier to focus on your background and to scan around while the front sight is clear and in the picture. Easier to assess & target the badguy for those situations.

For range/target shooting, I focus on the front sight... but my depth perception is pretty good so anything 50 yards or closer is pretty well focused for me.

[Mute]

Front sight, front sight, front sight. This is your key to hitting your target. They will tell you this whether your at Gunsite, Thunder Ranch or any number of firearms training school. Crystal clear front sight.

[BamBam-31]

Usually, you need to focus on the front sight for accuracy. In close, however, "metal on meat" is more than sufficient. High level pistol competitors switch their focus back and forth depending on the situation and distance to target.

[Gryff]

At self-defense fighting distances, your target should not be so blurred by your front-sight focus that you can't see it. It's not like focusing on the front sight makes the target nearly invisible to you.

I shoot IDPA and USPSA, and use front-sight focus on targets all the way out to 35 yards. You loose some fine accuracy doing this, but you gain faster sight/target acquisition.

[eaglemike]

Look for the fly's footprints on the front sight.

As others noted above, all the training I've ever had emphasized front sight focus - and follow through during the shot on the front sight. Picking up your head to look at the impact too soon will cause a miss - at shot not hitting where intended.

If one practices partially obscured small targets, such as a friendly partially obscuring a hostile, front sight focus is critical. As is proper training and practice...
all the best,
Mike