HOW TO GET AN AUTOMATIC AND CORRECT FLASH SIGHT PICTURE PLUS AN AUTOMATIC AND CORRECT SIGHT PICTURE by John Veit
The US Army's FM 23-35 - Combat Training with Pistols and Revolvers (2003), states that: "The soldier should use his sights when engaging the enemy unless this would place the weapon within arm's reach of the enemy."
The field manual also states that: "Usually, when engaging an enemy at pistol range, the firer has little time to ensure a correct sight picture...."
"As the soldier raises the weapon to eye level, his point of focus switches from the enemy to the front sight, ensuring that the front and rear sights are in proper alignment left and right, but not necessarily up and down.�?BR>
"Pressure is applied to the trigger as the front sight is being acquired, and the hammer falls as the "Flash Sight Picture" is confirmed.
"... This method should be practiced slowly, with speed gained as proficiency increases."
Now, obtaining and utilizing a correct Flash Sight Picture sounds doable and plausible, but assuming that you will be able to obtain and utilize a Flash Sight Picture in a real life threat situation, is open to serious question.
That is because:
1. It is dependant on achieving and maintaining Basic Marksmanship fundamentals such as the grip with the thumb resting alongside the weapon without pressure, and with the trigger finger placed on the trigger between the tip and second joint so that it can be squeezed to the rear independently of the remaining fingers; and
2. it also is dependant upon meeting the specific requirements of the Flash Sight Picture technique (the bolded text above); and further,
3. because of what we know about real gunfights such as: lighting conditions that are likely to be poor, a mottled or dark target that makes the target and sights indistinguishable from one another, or target movement, and
4. because of the affects of our instinctive Fight or Flight response, which is triggered in close quarters life threat situations, and its results such as: tunnel vision, loss of fine motor skills, and focusing only on the threat.
Obviously, if you can't see or focus on the sights, or if you lose your fine motor skills, or if you are threat focused, your ability to use the method will be moot, and that could be fatal for you.
Aiming involves Sight Alignment and Sight Placement.
Sight Alignment is the centering of the front blade in the rear sight notch, and the raising or lowering the top of the front sight so it is level with the top of the rear sight.
Sight Placement is the positioning of the weapon's sights in relation to the target.
A correct Sight Picture consists of correct Sight Alignment with the front sight placed center mass of the target.
Sight Alignment is the more important of the two, because if the Sight Alignment is correct, then even if the sight picture is partly off center, the target will be hit.
There is a natural, fast, and accurate shooting method that can be used to get an automatic and correct Flash Sight Picture for each shot, and regardless of whether or not you can see the sights.
Details on it and rationales for its use are in the 1835 book: Helps and Hints - How To - Protect Life and Property, by: Lt. Col. Baron De Berenger. (The book was recently digitalized as part of Google's book project. For more info on the book see: www.pointshooting.com/1835.htm.)
The author states that the method is best used with dueling pistols, and in self defense situations against highway robbers, housebreakers, and etc., who will not allow you to take the time to deliberately aim with the sights.
Basically, the method calls for placing your index finger along the side of the gun, pointing it at a target and pulling the trigger with the middle finger.
When the index finger is extended along the side of a gun, the barrel will be in parallel with it, and the sights will be in alignment. And they will stay in alignment for each shot, as long as the index finger stays along the side of the gun.
There will be no need to take the time to find and focus on the sights, and then check and adjust as needed for a correct Flash Sight Picture, and then shoot, because you already will have a correct Flash Sight Picture.
And if by some happy chance, you can see and focus on the sights, you can still use them if you wish to, and have the time to do that.
Also, extending the index finger along the side of the gun helps to naturally "lock up" the wrist, strengthen the grip, and improve recoil control.
I call this natural, fast, and accurate method of shooting, AIMED Point Shooting or P&S. I only recently became aware of its use way back in 1835.
The Army's combat pistol manual states that "everyone has the ability to point at an object. Since pointing the forefinger at an object and extending the weapon toward a target are much the same, the combination of the two is natural."
"Making the soldier aware of this ability and teaching him how to apply it results in success when engaging enemy targets in combat."
"When a soldier points, he instinctively points at the feature on the object on which his eyes are focused. An impulse from the brain causes the arm and hand to stop when the finger reaches the proper position."
"When the eyes are shifted to a new object or feature, the finger, hand, and arm also shift to this point. It is this inherent trait that can be used by the soldier to engage targets rapidly and accurately."
With P&S, your index finger will be extended along the side of a gun, the barrel and sights will be in parallel with it, and the sights will be in proper alignment. And when you point at a target you will have both an automatic and Correct Flash Sight Picture plus an automatic and Correct Sight Picture. Just point-n-pull, point-n-pull, point-n-pull. No more, no less.
Your gun will be held in the natural, strong, and level shooting platform made up of your thumb, the web of your hand, and your index finger. Your ring and little fingers also help in gripping the gun, and they also add tenacity to the grip. And your thumb and index finger DO NOT have to be held aloof from the gun. You can squeeze the begeebers out of the gun if you wish. And all the increased pressure will do, is strengthen your grip on the gun.
P&S is the simplest of shooting methods. It can be learned with little or no training and maintained with minimal practice.
But, it won't happen by magic. It's like riding a bike or tying your shoes. Both are seemingly impossible tasks until attempted and done. And once done, they become almost automatic.
Finally, after reading what is in the Army's Combat Pistol Manual, I think it is reasonable to ask: Why doesn't the US Army recommend the use of P&S? That's a good question and one I don't have a clear answer too.
A plausible explanation has to do with a design flaw of the slide stop of the 1911. The 1911 was adopted by the US Military in 1911, and was the standard-issue side arm from 1911 to 1985.
The design flaw excludes the use of the index finger along the side of the 1911 for aiming. And cautionary language against doing so is in several military manuals published around the time of its adoption.
Here is text from a 1912 publication:
..."(3) The trigger should be pulled with the forefinger. If the trigger is pulled with the second finger, the forefinger extending along the side of the receiver is apt to press against the projecting pin of the slide stop and cause a jam when the slide recoils."
To me, prohibiting the use of a real and effective shooting method, to accommodate a weapon, rather than making a minor modification to a weapon to accommodate those who go in harms way, makes no sense. More info on the design flaw of the 1911, can be found at www.pointshooting.com/1911.htm
Finally, the US Army's 2003 combat pistol manual recommends the use of Quick-Fire Point Shooting ..."for engaging an enemy at less than 5 yards...and for night firing."
"Using a two-handed grip, the firer brings the weapon up close to the body until it reaches chin level. He then thrusts it forward until both arms are straight... the trigger is smoothly squeezed to the rear as the elbows straighten."
And Quick-Fire Sighting is recommended "for engaging an enemy at 5 to 10 yards away and only when there is no time to get a full picture. The firing position is the same as for quick-fire point shooting. The sights are aligned left and right to save time, but not up and down."
Again as stated above, with P&S, you get both an automatic and correct Flash Sight Picture plus an automatic and correct Sight Picture, even if you can't see the sights, even if you are using only one hand and even when moving. This author also has used it to shoot aerials (pop cans) with an air-soft pistol.
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