Tirod said:
I will add that the exercises to use "point" shooting with no sight acquisition at all were downright shocking the first time I tried it.
I wasn't aiming anywhere near where I thought I was.
I would heartily recommend the low light or even blindfolded exercises to discover just how far off your body alignment and coordination really are. Extensive practice is very much needed - we simply aren't the skilled aimers we might think we are.
Thanks for the post and sharing your experience.
Point shooting requires practice but certainly doesn't require years to master. With deliberate training, most shooters I worked with got the hang of it with the first range session.
I first have the shooters point at 3 yards at COM with their eyes closed to give them a reality lesson of what their body will actually do with a pistol. Once they actualize what their "natural point of aim" is and see that they tend to aim low or "push" to anticipate recoil, I have them conduct this deliberate exercise.
1. Most of us have trained our body to point all of our lives and we can utilize this for point shooting. From where you are sitting or standing, point at the light switch or door knob with your index finger. Unless you have some physical issues, most of us will point right at the light switch or door knob. This is fine motor skill we have mastered our entire lives. If you imagine a laser line extending from the finger tip, you should visualize that line hitting the target.
2. With this visualization and index finger pointing, imagine a pistol in your hand with the barrel parallel with your index finger. Now imagine two parallel laser lines and point at various targets around the room.
3. At the range, place 4-6 dots (bingo dauber works well for this) evenly spaced on the target and set at 3 yards. While focusing at one of the dots, draw the pistol and point at the dot while visualizing two laser lines extending from the index finger and barrel to the dot.
5. After several practice draws, while focusing at the dot and not looking at the sights, draw and fire. Make vertical/horizontal adjustments at the shoulders (vertical) and waist (horizontal) while maintaining the same grip/stance. Walk the bullet holes to the dot with subsequent shots.
6. Once you can consistently shoot at the dot, next point and shoot at other dots on the target.
7. When you can consistently shoot at all the dots on the target, move the target to 5 yards, then to 7 yards. Pass criteria used is 4"-6" shot groups around each dot.
If you shoot matches, try double tapping while point shooting and practice until you can place two bullet holes anywhere on the target at will.
This is the deliberate training I use for this version of point shooting. Most shooters I have worked with will get the hang of it on the first range session and I tell them to keep practicing until they reach a comfortable level proficiency of being able to call the shots on the target. I also have them run the same drill with their eyes closed so they can further master this technique and build confidence to use in low light conditions.
Besides, this exercise gives you another fun thing to do at the range.