• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Loadout Room

The Loadout Room

Professional Gear Reviews

Hardcore Gear and Adventure

Menu
  • Shooting
        • Pistol
        • Pistol Accessories
        • Rifle
        • Rifle Accessories
        • Shotgun
        • Machine Guns
        • Air Guns
        • Ammunition
        • Optics and Sights
        • Weapon Lights
        • Tips & How-To
        • Concealed Carry
        • Holsters
        • Suppressors
        • Precision Rifle Shooting
        • Firearms Training
        • m243The M24: America’s Headhunter
        • skorpFull-Auto Fun — Shooting the full-Auto vz. 61 Škorpion
        • p320-full-leftSIG Sauer M17/M18/P320 Pistol Just Can’t Seem to Escape Safety Controversies
        • TISAS_10100520_1__98179Tisas 1911A1 U.S. Army Review: Best Budget .45 ACP WW2 1911 Clone?
    • Close
  • Gear Reviews
      • Mission Gear
      • Camping Gear
      • Survival Gear
      • Medical Gear
      • Adventure & Travel
      • Knives & Tools
      • Overland
      • Disaster Preparedness
      • Footwear
      • Womens Gear & Clothing
        • Viking-Bags Logo 2Pic of the Day, Viking Motorcycle Bags 45L Tactical XL Bag
        • Hunting in TexasThese 5 ATV Dealers Will Get You Ready For Hunting Season in Texas
        • ac65a540-2ef3-4598-8d11-afdf53f46e94.__CR0,0,970,600_PT0_SX970_V1___Streamlight ProTac Rail Mount HL-X: A Thoroughly Bright Review
        • Bluetti 2 handsfree power backpackBluetti Handsfree 2 Review: The Ultimate Power Backpack for Off-Grid Adventurers
    • Close
  • Men’s Lifestyle
      • Fitness
      • EDC
      • Eyewear
      • Watches
      • Electronics & Technology
      • Downtime
      • Mens Clothing & Accessories
      • Manly Skills
      • Style & Grooming
      • Gentleman Drinks
      • Crate Club
        • Viking-Bags Logo 2Pic of the Day, Viking Motorcycle Bags 45L Tactical XL Bag
        • Tom and Blake Sell TeaHow Sasquatch Tea Is Revitalizing a Stagnant Tea Market With Veterans and Outdoorsmen in Mind
        • redcat-blackwidow-articleheaderWar of Words: In the Ultra-Competitive Defense Tech Industry, Storytelling is a Secret Weapon
        • Photoroom_20250525_074933Juggernaut Tactical Frame Review: The Best Upgrade for Your 365
    • Close
  • News
  • Video Demo
  • Buying Guides
  • Shop
  • Advertise
Shooting Tips & How-To

Front Sight Focus. Is it what it seems?

December 13, 2014 by Nick Irving 19 Comments

Front Sight Focus Shooting Drill

During a combative pistol call, I noticed that a few of the students kept saying to themselves quietly, “front sight, front sight, front sight…”  I understood what they were trying to instill into their minds, but I had to keep reminding them that at a distance of 5-10 feet, what does the front sight really mean, especially when your life may be on the line?

I think some may get too caught up with becoming the “precision sniper pistol shooter,” making sure that all the rounds are touching in the 10-ring.

Taking a step back and looking at why most of us law-abiding citizens carry a pistol, we can start to put things into perspective and reevaluate our training regimen.  Most of us carry a pistol for personal protection and the protection of others in everyday living.

We never know when the time may come that we have to use it. It may be leaving the store, walking to your car, at the ATM machine, at the gas station, etc., whatever the case may be, odds are you won’t be expecting it.

The Police Marksman Association conducted a study of 180 cases where the LEOs won the confrontation. The results:

  • average distance was 4-12 feet
  • average number of rounds fired: 3.5. This was dependent on caliber; .357 Mag the average was 2.3 rounds and 9 mm it was 5.5 rounds, and other calibers fell in between these two figures
  • the officers hit [their assailants] 61.5% of time (compared to FBI, where the figure is only 14% hit percentage)

Being that most of my courses revolve around combat shooting, I typically train to fight at a practical distance. This doesn’t mean the students won’t engage targets 100 yards and beyond to show what the weapon system is capable of doing, but how often do you hear stories of victims engaging a threat at 120 yards. At that point you have time and distance to get an AR, or flee.

To get the students time up to par, and get them into a combat mindset where time is key, we conducted a simple drill that anyone at any range can conduct. There is nothing wrong with saying “front sight” repeatedly for a beginner shooter, or someone who is competing, or making a precise shot at distance, don’t get me wrong, but this is about training to fight. I can guarantee with almost 100% certainty that, if you have to use your weapon as a defensive tool, you won’t remember ever seeing your sights because it’s an almost instinctive shoot.

The Front Sight Focus Shooting Drill

  1. At a typical defensive shooting range, place a target in front of you.
  2. Aim your pistol at the “X” and fire, placing one round as close to center as you can get.
  3. For the next round, place the front sight so that it is obscured by the left rear sight and fire.
  4. Next, place the front sight so that it is obscured by the right rear sight.
  5. For the fourth round, place the front sight so that the top portion can barely be seen just below the top portion of the slide and fire.
  6. Finally, place the front sight so that the base of it becomes level with the top portion of the rear sights and fire.

At the end of the drill, you should have a nice cross-looking group around the ‘X’, but they will all be center mass hits with a 3-5 inch spread.

The point of this front sight focus shooting drill is to show you, the shooter, that there can be some leeway in regards to the front sight. It’s not a sniper rifle, it’s a pistol, and odds are you won’t just shoot one round center mass at a threat and call it a day.

Give it a try!

Share This

About the Author

Nick Irving is a former U.S. Army Ranger with multiple combat deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan. During his service within the 75th Ranger Regiment, Nicholas served as an Assaulter, Heavy and Light Machine Gunner, and Designated Marksman.

See All Nick Irving Articles

More From The Loadout Room

Comments

About Nick Irving

is a former U.S. Army Ranger with multiple combat deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan. During his service within the 75th Ranger Regiment, Nicholas served as an Assaulter, Heavy and Light Machine Gunner, and Designated Marksman.

Primary Sidebar

Most Read

  • DHS and ICE Call For Patriots to Join the Fight
    DHS and ICE Call For Patriots to Join the Fight
  • Pic of the Day, Viking Motorcycle Bags 45L Tactical XL Bag
    Pic of the Day, Viking Motorcycle Bags 45L Tactical XL Bag
  • The Winchester .30-30 Lever Action: America’s Classic Deer Rifle with a Legacy That Won’t Die
    The Winchester .30-30 Lever Action: America’s Classic Deer Rifle with a Legacy That Won’t Die
  • The M24: America's Headhunter
    The M24: America's Headhunter
  • What Would Alvin York Carry Today? - Modern Marksman Loadout
    What Would Alvin York Carry Today? - Modern Marksman Loadout

Find Us on Facebook

Recent Comments

  • Stepvenlau on Honoring John Taffin and Mike “Duke” Venturino with Some Big-Bore Magnum Revolver Blastin’
  • Military Update on M4A1 Block I: The Special Operations Origins of an American Icon
  • Ajita Sherer on Streamlight ProTac Rail Mount HL-X: A Thoroughly Bright Review

Latest From SOFREP

Firearms

Why My Favorite Gun Wasn’t a Sniper Rifle — It Was a Belt-Fed Beast That Made Grown Men Cry

News

Morning Brief: China Travel Crackdown, Russia Not Impressed with Trump’s Submarine Moves

Op-Ed

The Bolduc Brief: Navigating Future Leadership Appointments

Expert Analysis

The VA’s Chemical Straitjacket: How Polypharmacy Is Drugging Veterans into Silence and Suicide

Military Content Group

© Copyright 2025 Military Content Group · All Rights Reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Advertisers