6 o'clock hold
08-07-2008, 02:30 PM
#11
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Too close to Chicago
Posts: 3,337
RE: 6 o'clock hold
Using the 6 o'clock hold, you align your front and rear sight with each other as you would with any other method - tops even and front centered on the rear. You simply use a different part of the target as your point of aim.
This works well for targets at known distances, withsolid black bull's eyes of known size. Aiming at the lowest edge of the big black circle can give a more precise aiming point than trying to find the center of it with your black front sight post. For a 6" bull at 100 yards, you're essentially sighting in 3" high at 100 yards, so that if you aim at the bottom edge, your bulletpops into the center, 3" above it.
For any shooting other than formal targetpunching using iron sights, I recommendsighting in sothe point of impact is right on the top of your front post, not above it as in the case of the 6hold. What range you zero at would depend on the intended use of the gun, the effective range of the cartridge you're using, and the trajectory curve across the distances you expect to shoot.
This works well for targets at known distances, withsolid black bull's eyes of known size. Aiming at the lowest edge of the big black circle can give a more precise aiming point than trying to find the center of it with your black front sight post. For a 6" bull at 100 yards, you're essentially sighting in 3" high at 100 yards, so that if you aim at the bottom edge, your bulletpops into the center, 3" above it.
For any shooting other than formal targetpunching using iron sights, I recommendsighting in sothe point of impact is right on the top of your front post, not above it as in the case of the 6hold. What range you zero at would depend on the intended use of the gun, the effective range of the cartridge you're using, and the trajectory curve across the distances you expect to shoot.
08-08-2008, 11:50 AM
#12
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Body in SE WI, mind in U.P.
Posts: 4,781
RE: 6 o'clock hold
http://accurateshooter.wordpress.com/2007/09/09/usamu-article-explains-sight-pictures/
^from the above article, the representation of the 'center hold' is what you want with a pistol, unless you are shooting a bullseye match gun where you'd want the 6'o clock hold.
If you were to sight in on a typical pistol bullseye target using a 6 o clock hold, your pistol will be shooting about 10 MOA high which is ok for shooting the same target, but not so good if you want to aim at larger, smaller, or targets of a different shape. Lets say you just sighted in your .44 magnum at 50 yards using a pistol target and a 6 hold. You then use the gun for hunting deer and are given a shot at 50 yards at a broadside deer- where are you going to hold? 5" down the leg? If you sighted in using a center hold, the shot at the deer would not present any kind of problem- bullet goes where the sight goes.
Same thing applies to plinking .22s, self defense guns, or IDPA/IPSC guns.
^from the above article, the representation of the 'center hold' is what you want with a pistol, unless you are shooting a bullseye match gun where you'd want the 6'o clock hold.
If you were to sight in on a typical pistol bullseye target using a 6 o clock hold, your pistol will be shooting about 10 MOA high which is ok for shooting the same target, but not so good if you want to aim at larger, smaller, or targets of a different shape. Lets say you just sighted in your .44 magnum at 50 yards using a pistol target and a 6 hold. You then use the gun for hunting deer and are given a shot at 50 yards at a broadside deer- where are you going to hold? 5" down the leg? If you sighted in using a center hold, the shot at the deer would not present any kind of problem- bullet goes where the sight goes.
Same thing applies to plinking .22s, self defense guns, or IDPA/IPSC guns.
08-08-2008, 06:23 PM
#13
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Columbia, Md.
Posts: 1,211
RE: 6 o'clock hold
A couple of people have already nailed it. The 6 O"clock hold is really for target shooting only. If you are shooting at different distances, you need to shoot some sighters to find out how to adjust your elevation on the sights.
The method of leveling the front post and rear blade and holding in the center of the target is called the "Navy Hold".
The method of leveling the front post and rear blade and holding in the center of the target is called the "Navy Hold".
