Center Hold Vs 6 O’clock Hold

[DMW1116]

I am questioning this primarily in relation to bullseye pistol shooting but I think I saw a bit better groups with it in 50-yard Rimfire too.

I typically shoot using a 6 o’clock hold for both pistol and rifle. I think I might shoot a little better with a center hold, which seems to be the exception. What holds do people use and prefer for various competition shooting? The only other one I’ve heard of is a frame hold, but I’ve never tried it.

 

[Laphroaig]

Many people advocate a "sub-6" or line of white. Reason being if you want to focus on the front sight you're not distracted about trying to also precisely line-up at six or center mass on the target.

I keep telling myself that I should try it in rifle also, but I'm too set in my ways to change. Plus a rifle is easier to hold steady.

 

[bummer7]

My old eyes being what they are can't distinguish the front sight from the furry gray ball much of the time. Holding sub six is easier to see the front sight and not get distracted by the gray furry blob in the background.

A good way to see if this works for you is to shoot at a blank target. See if you find fhe front sight easier to see as well as calling your shots.

 

[Armored farmer]

I like o'clock on my handguns and my flintlock.
If the irons are fine enough, I will use center hold.

 

[Mike OTDP]

I have used just about everything...and settled on a deep sub-six. Not "line of white", but about 2-4 inches below the black. Unless you're shooting Olympic Rapid Fire, this works pretty well. Remember, the error budget is mostly in front/rear sight alignment.

 

[tominboise]

I use 6 O'clock when shooting handguns. When shooting my Garands at 200 yards, I hold to center of the bull. I try to use targets where the black bull is about the width of the front sight blade of the Garand, at 200 yds.

 

[Soupy44]

The 6oc and sub-6 holds also help you keep your focus on the front sight. If your focus shifts to the target instead of the front sight, grouping will be quite difficult.

 

[Random 8]

Not handgun, but in both Vintage and M1 Garand, as well as Swiss National shooting on both the 300M INT and the "B" silhouette Feldschiessen target, I universally prefer center hold. This is contrary to most conventional wisdom going back to the early days of the National Rifle Matches.

I've tried to learn and adapt to a 6 hold, because it is the "right way," and I cannot. I simply do not shoot as well. I cannot explain the physics or psychology of this, but it simply IS, at least in my case. I universally get much more vertical stringing with a 6 hold than with a center mass hold, and it is significantly more difficult to hold in offhand. I usually work for a 9 ring at 8 Oclock hold here to compensate for my normal pull.

In IHMSA silhouette iron classes, I prefer a 6 Oclock hold, as well as with my casual handgun shooting. Some of this is in deference to the zero of my iron sighted handguns. I can aim at the feet of the pigs and chickens with the zero and loads on both my .357s and the .41, low center on the Turkey, and back line of the Ram (the one outlier). I DO have more trouble with the ram than I should, and am contemplating running a lower zero and hold on the shorter targets to get me to belly line on the Ram.

 

[ms6852]

Depending on firearm either a 6 or 12 o'clock. Shot groups define the option for me. Reason I prefer this over center hold is that for me it is a point of aim that I can consistently reproduce over a center hold where I could be a little off and not know it.

 

[DMW1116]

I’ve got my 10/22 sighted in finally so I can do some side by side comparisons. This past sessions groups used a 6 o’clock hold at 50 yards on a 50 yard small bore target. The groups were basically as tight as the center hold, but only after some practice.