Know-How: Float the Dot

by
posted on November 24, 2017
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
floatthedot_lead.jpg

Hunting with an iron-sighted handgun is similar to bowhunting in that the range for ethically taking game is significantly reduced from what we normally expect with a rifle. The marksmanship skill of the hunter is one factor that determines that range, and iron sights add an extra dimension to forming a good sight picture before pulling the trigger.

With an optic, all we have to do is superimpose the crosshair or dot on the target area of the animal and execute an acceptable trigger pull to achieve success. Iron sights first require aligning the front and rear sights in a specific and consistent manner. Then the challenge is to find a suitable sight picture, or the position of the sights relative to the target area on the animal, and perform a trigger pull that does not interfere with either sight alignment or placement.

Most handgun manufacturers factory-set iron sights for a sight picture that requires a 6 o’clock hold. In order to hit the center of a standard 25-yard bullseye target, the top of the front sight has to be positioned roughly 3 inches low at the bottom of the black center, hence 6 o’clock. Applying that to an animal adds stress and difficulty when time is at a premium.

A better option for hunting is a point-of-aim, point-of-impact sight picture. This is called a center hold in bullseye shooting lingo. To a hunter this means that with proper sight alignment and a good trigger pull, the bullet will impact the animal at the spot where the top of the front sight is positioned.

Another option, which I prefer, is called floating the dot. If the front sight has a dot (or colored insert) embedded in it, superimpose (float) the dot on the target area while keeping your aiming eye focused hard on the dot as viewed through the notch of the rear sight. The eye will automatically center the dot in the notch and on the target area of the animal. This method attenuates apparent sight movement on the target and reduces reluctance to pull the trigger because of perceived motion. “Float the dot, shoot the shot” is a phrase that will add new meaning to the definition of sight picture once you try it.

Latest

Lead Photo 02
Lead Photo 02

Head to Head: 7x57mm Mauser vs. .30-06 Springfield

I’ve had more than a few requests for this Head to Head, so I figured it was high time to pit two of the early 20th century’s most popular military cartridges against one another. Let's dive into the 7x57mm Mauser vs. the .30-06 Springfield.

NRA Hunter Education FREE Online Course Now Available in Louisiana

The National Rifle Association of America’s award-winning free Hunter Education online course is now available in the State of Louisiana, the latest addition as NRA works to make the course available to hunters in all 50 states.

Moultrie Updates Line of Game Feeders

Moultrie has expanded the capacity of its line of feeders, and bettered the cameras' integration with the company's connected technology to streamline the feeding process.

Building the Ultimate Elk Bow

Elk are remarkable creatures that dwell in some of the most hellish landscapes on earth. An elk bow needs to be tough, light, and ultra-accurate. Here's how to build the right one for you.

First Look: Spandau S2 20-Gauge

Spandau Arms, a brand of SDS Arms, has announced that the  Spandau S2 Shotgun is now available in a 20-gauge model in both a Mossy Oak Bottomland and a traditional wood finish.

Count Some Quail, Tally Some Turkeys

The Arkansas turkey season ended in May, but there’s still good reason for hunters and outdoor enthusiasts to keep the birds in mind when they head out to their favorite hiking trail or drive the backroads of The Natural State. Outdoorsmen who scare up coveys of quail are welcome in the survey as well.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.