What is your favorite type of defensive sight picture for POA/POI regulation?

I got very accustomed to the sights on my Colt Government which were Trijicon HD 3 dot tritium with white outlines. The poi was exactly in the center of the dot and I never had much trouble hitting a soda can or such sized target from a reasonable distance.

Fast forward ten years and while I can absolutely still make hits with that setup, I would say I’ve definitely come to prefer the system of a slight six o’clock hold as the ability to still see the target is simply a superior way to shoot. The firearm I have that best exemplifies this is probably my Steyr L9A1 which prints very consistently with just about any ammunition just on top of it’s very pointy “trapezoidal” front sight.

Even others who have shot the pistol and didn’t feel very strongly about it in most aspects have praised the sights as being noticeably easier to make precise hits with.

I detest 6 o'clock hold, sight image 2 or 3 is acceptable.

Six O'clock for me. as a defensive sight picture but I don't usually change it and most pistols I have a re standard or combat sight pictures.

CDW4ME---At what distance are the guns sighted in to use these sight pictures.

CDW4ME said:

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I detest 6 o'clock hold, sight image 2 or 3 is acceptable.

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Sight Image 2 is my preference.

Sight picture #2 is my preference as well.

Same as OP, basically. For me - handgun open sights, 22 LR, 380, 45 ACP, 357, 45 Colt

Aim at the bottom of a golf ball at 25 yards. Hit said golf ball dead center.

Aim at bottom of clay pigeon 50 yards. Hit said clay pigeon and it breaks.

I cannot “half split” either of those 2 targets at those two distances shooting offhand.

Once upon a time, I liked #2, as shown in post #3, but that was with younger eyes.

CDW4ME said:

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I detest 6 o'clock hold, sight image 2 or 3 is acceptable.

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I start with #1 and adjust from there.

Six o’clock my whole life.

6 o'clock. Every day, all day.
I want to have a clear picture of what I'm shooting at

nofendertom said:

CDW4ME---At what distance are the guns sighted in to use these sight pictures.

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Overwhelming majority of my practice is quick shooting at 6-7 yards, target is a 6 inch circle.
I prefer to aim on / hit on.
6-7 yards because most defensive shootings occur at that distance or closer.
Example of circle.

Would the bullet then shoot low at say 25yds ?

CDW4ME said:

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I detest 6 o'clock hold, sight image 2 or 3 is acceptable.

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Another vote for #2.

CDW4ME said:

View attachment 961530
I detest 6 o'clock hold, sight image 2 or 3 is acceptable.

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I agree.

I don't look at sight in as being for Self Defense or Combat shooting VS any other use. I point shoot for SD distances, and always shoot with both eyes open. If I pay attention to a sight it is only the front sight that gets that attention for short range quick attribution. I sight in the gun at just below POI at 6 o'clock.

I agree with the original Poster...I use sight picture #2, where the impact point is the very tip of the front sight...at 10 yds. That'll put the impact point about an inch high at 25 yds, for 9mm, .357, and .40. For .45, the same hold puts the impact point dead on at 25 and an inch or two low at 50.

One add'l thought here is: In a speed encounter, (a defensive shoot), those of us that pull that front sight down precisely and level with the 'ears' of the rear sight notch will find that they are hitting somewhat higher, at speed, as they're not quite pulling the front sight down and level. At distances out to 15 yds, this is not a factor for center of mass holds, but may be problematic for cranial vault aiming points.

YMMv Rod

I like image #2, either dead zero or 1" high using that sight picture at 25 yards.

Unfortunately, when buying a sight set, you kinda get what you get. If I know where it hits at 25 yards, I can work with, from image #1 to image #3.

I shoot at cheap 3X5 cards with sharpie dots around 3/4" in diameter. This pic is how all my handguns are sighted in. Puts it minute of coke can out to 50 yds.