Please settle an argument about Iron Sights

[Kelster1574]

Thanks folks, Looks like we were both right in a way.

[Dr Rockso]

Different people like them set up differently. Type 1 is pretty much only used by competition shooters. Type 2 is the most common, at least in this country. I've seen some foreign handguns set up to use type 3.

[Tank 57]

I personally prefer a 6 o clock hold.It's just that,preference.Key is consistency.Same way every time.

[Laythor]

i close my eyes when i shoot, the loud noises are scary

[dieselpower]

Both are true depending on firearm.

[the86d]

Different people like them set up differently. Type 1 is pretty much only used by competition shooters. Type 2 is the most common, at least in this country. I've seen some foreign handguns set up to use type 3.

Image 1 would not work with different sized targets at the same distance.

Say your sights were dead on adjusted for a 6" target to bulls-eye, which would mean you are shooting 3" higher than point of aim (for image 1).

If your target were say 3" then you would be shooting high (above target) at the same distance as a 6" target...

Center-mass... is more logical to me, as all sized targets at the zero'ed distance should be kosher.

[ke6guj]

This would not work with different sized targets at the same distance.

Say your sights were dead on adjusted for a 6" target to bulls-eye, which would mean you are shooting 3" higher than point of aim.

If your target were say 3" then you would be shooting high (above target) at the same distance as a 6" target...

Center-mass... is more logical to me, as all targets at the zero'ed distance should be kosher.

it all depends on what you are shooting at. As it was mentioned, the 6-o-clock hold is often used by competition shooters. And as such, they are usually shooting at a single size of target during a competition.

and if one day you are shooting at 12" targets and another day it is 18" targets, you just adjust for that during sight in.

[Dr Rockso]

Image 1 would not work with different sized targets at the same distance.

Say your sights were dead on adjusted for a 6" target to bulls-eye, which would mean you are shooting 3" higher than point of aim (for image 1).

If your target were say 3" then you would be shooting high (above target) at the same distance as a 6" target...

It trades that disadvantage (not really a disadvantage, provided you're just shooting at targets of a known size and distance) for the additional precision the eye has when localizing the edge of a circle rather than its center. If you have a dark, circular bullseye it's easier to see when the tip of the front sight is tangent to that circle rather than estimating when you're bisecting its center.

[windrunner]

Doesn't matter -- just do the same thing every time. A lot depends on your eyes and the target, but consistency is the only trick.

this

[xrMike]

My own preference:

If shooting round bullseye-style targets, like for competition or tiny groups:
6 o'clock hold preferred

If for self-defense or IDPA-style shooting (again, defensive):
center hold preferred

[howbobert]

They all should work as long as you are consistent.

My preference is 6 o'clock hold for long guns, and center hold for handguns.

[the86d]

I guess I always assume that EVERY firearm should ALWAYS be ready for a defensive situation, and I do not take into consideration competitions...

I AM a bit off... my rocker.

[A-J]

Aside from how you prefer to shoot / setup your sights, some guns with fixed sights are setup differently. My Mosquito consistently shoots low if I use the same sight picture as my other guns.