Increasing target acquisition speed with irons sights

Training Training and Tactics
1

Now that I have an AR that I’ll be running for a while with only iron sights, I want train to reduce the time it takes to get on target with them. I will be attending formal basic carbine training next year, but I want to improve on my own in the meantime in order to help maximize my training time during the class.

My first AR has an EoTech 512 and I’ve found that I can acquire and place a good shot on target much quicker with the RDS (as expected). What I didn’t expect is how much slower I am with the irons.

For this discussion, assume that I am starting from a low or high ready position. When shooting with the RDS, I have my focus on the target, move the rifle from ready position to get the RDS on the target while my focus remains on the target, and when the dot is steady over it, fire.

With irons, since your focus is supposed to be on the front sight, somewhere between when you see/identify the target and when you get the irons sights aligned with it, I assume that your focus transitions to the FSP. How do you transition your focus between the target and the FSP?

I assume that I’m slower with irons primarily because of the change in focus. Well, that and I have align more reference points with irons than with RDS. Maybe I am just over thinking things.

I’ve found that if I work on getting aconsistent cheek weld, that I can get the FSP centered in the rear aperture fairly quickly after transitioning from a ready position. Do you just count on a consistent cheek weld to get the front and rear sights in alignment such that you can just focus on the FSP? And not consciously align the front and rear sights?

I’ve run some searches and couldn’t find a topic or discussion that quite covered what I am wondering about. I came across discussion for CQB ranges (50 m max) where you can use the flanges/ears of the FSP to bracket the target and not have to get the front sight post directly on target. Are there drills or methods to increase speed in target acquisition with irons sights, other than a lot or reps at the range? I will try to get reps in at the range, but any drills that I can do at home or other methods in between range sessions would help.

I understand that current RDS/optics are more dependable/durable than previous generations and I will likely train more with RDS than with irons. However, I also want to be proficient with irons as well.

Thanks in advance for your feedback/suggestions/help!

2

I may have been using improper technique with my irons for close in, but I am fast. Almost as fast as RDS users (not as needle point accurate though) at close ranges (30 yards and closer).

At those close ranges I keep my focus on the target and bring a fuzy front post with fuzzy rear sight and press. I generally speaking hit within a 10" disk of where my focus on the target is out to roughly 30 yards. Anything past that I have to start slowing down considerably and get that front sight post back in focus and fuzz out the target. But I figure at those ranges I can afford to take a little more time with my shots.

How to train? repetition. Work on presentations, slow at first and repeat, repeat and repeat. Do this dry fire, or do it without pulling the trigger at all. Just keep doing it until your muscles remember pretty closely where the rifle needs to go to get the sights close to aligned.

That is the best guidance I have to give on the subject. Good luck, and I am looking forward to hearing more replies on the subject.

3

There are eye exercises you can do that will speed up focus transition. Wide receivers in the NFL use them to improve their skills. First, you need to understand the difference between hard focus vs. soft focus.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Getting-Soft-Focus?&id=245475

You should only hard focus on the front sight, using soft focus on everything else. However, training your eyes will require hard focus to hard focus at various distances. One of my favorite ways to exercise my eyes is in light traffic while driving. Focus on a license plate number or letter of a nearby car , then rapidly cut your eyes to your instrument cluster and focus on the tip of the speedometer or tach needle, then back out to a distant object (this is for pistol, for rifle, you might want to focus on the rivet in the windshield wiper arm for correct distance). Always focus on a specific object feature, not the entire object. Focusing on a car for instance will not work. You need to focus on a wheel centercap, fuel door, one number in a plate, etc. If you work at a computer terminal much, make a habit of looking away for a few seconds every few minutes to readjust your eyes. This country is suffering an epidemic of eye strain, headaches and required eye prescriptions, due to long term gazing at computer monitors.

At the range, set up multiple targets when practicing. Work on transitioning from target to target with one shot each. Set them up at a distance where you’re forced to focus on the front sight to get acceptable hits. Many make the mistake of setting targets up too close, which will eventually cause you to cheat the eyes for the sake of speed.

When you break a shot, your eye should be hard focused on the front sight, just long enough to verify that the sight lifts from the intended point of impact. They should then immediately cut to the point of aim on the next target. The gun will transition slower than the eye. Soft focus on the target until the front sight comes into view at the edge of the target. cut the eyes to the front sight at the same time the front sight moves to the point of aim. Break the shot as soon as the eye has hard focus on the sight and it’s lined up with the intended point of impact. Your mind will resist breaking the shot this quickly, wanting to verify the sight picture before firing. Don’t let it.

As you do this drill, set your speed slightly faster than your eyes can perform. Force your eyes to “reach” for the speed objective. When they can match the speed repeatedly, increase the speed again and repeat. All hits should always be on the target, but you’ll have to set your accuracy objectives based on the desired results. Don’t make it too hard or you’ll again tempt yourself to cheat your eyes.

This is a slow, continual improvement process. Keep in mind that your eyes will have varying performance capabilities based on your immediate physical condition, environmental conditions, etc. Nothing stays the same from day to day. The key is recognizing what your capability is at the moment, rather than focusing on what your “best” is. Remember to dial it back slightly at a match or in a class. Let your eyes win the race there and save the hard push for practice.

Good Luck!

4

Any time you are forced to shoot at a blur your ability to precisely place shots to specific ares within that blur (other than center) will suffer.

One of the biggest advantages with RDSs is that they permit a target focus with precise shot placement at all applicable ranges.

5

F2S is absolutely correct. I know that well thought of folks (Vickers comes to mind) stress precision over all else - and I understand that. The question you have to answer for yourself is what kind of precision do you want to have. For snap shot engagements I am perfectly comfortable with dinner plate sized impact area on targets out to 30 ish yards. If I am shooting some one with an AR at 30 yards or less then it is time for them to stop whatever it is they are doing FAST! If you are on a Hostage Rescue Team, then your acceptable speed vs accuracy is going to change a bit. But the two are inversely proportional. If you want more speed, at some point you will have to sacrifice some precision - if you want more precision then at some point you will have to sacrifice some speed.

You can have quite a bit of both, but you will reach a point where one has to be sacrificed for another.

6

The range that I normally go to only have target stands at 50 and 100 yards. I guess I could build my own stand and stake it in my lane when I shoot. I would love to get more repetition, particularly on steel in the 30-50 yard range.

Sometimes when I’m bored at home, I practice coming down the hall that leads into my living room with my AR, unloaded of course. When I turn the corner, I try to target something on the TV or something else in the room with the iron sights. Unfortunately, my living room isn’t very large and no feedback on whether or not the shot would’ve been on target.

I try for accuracy at a reasonable pace and I am trying to increase the pace to an “effective” pace. I do totally buy into the “speed is fine, accuracy is final” theory/mentality/thinking. But accuracy at a snail’s pace isn’t quite effective either, hence the need to train and get better.

Thanks for the input!

7

Thank you for the link to the article and feedback. Yeah, I can see how receivers have to change their focus very quickly. Watch a pass coming into their hands after a break in their pattern and then look for defenders trying to take their head off.

I’ll try two target stands, with one at 50 yards and one at 100 yards (where the range has the target supports). I tried the shifting focus on my drive home from work this afternoon. I think I do that anyways, just not conscious of it. I’ll definitely try the eye/rifle transition drills that you described above.

I have some USPSA events planned for early next year for both pistol and carbine, so hopefully that will help gauge my progress from now until then.

Thanks!!!

8

Definitely noticed that. I shoot MUCH better with the RDS where I can keep my focus on the target and the dot just “gets in the way”. With irons out past a certain distance, unless my target is colored distinctly different than it’s background, I have a tough time keeping my focus on the front sight and getting it on target, let along a specific section/area of the target.

I’d say I am comfortable with hitting a plate around 16" x 16" out to around 250 yards (probably a little more) with my EoTech fairly quickly and consistently. I mean I can make the similar shots with irons, but it takes me MUCH longer to get on target and to get back on target after each shot. I understand that the effective range of the AR is at least 200 yards and probably out a little further. But I would say that my effective range with irons, with a reasonable time constraint, is much less than that.