Marksmanship Fundamentals & Ballistics Flashcards

Which of the following BEST describes 'sight alignment' in handgun marksmanship?

Answer: Centering the front sight blade in the rear sight notch with equal light on both sides and equal height

Proper sight alignment requires the front sight to be centered horizontally and at equal height within the rear sight notch before focusing on the front sight.

What is the difference between 'sight alignment' and 'sight picture' in handgun shooting?

Answer: Sight alignment is the relationship between front and rear sights; sight picture adds the correctly aligned sights onto the target

Sight alignment is the front-to-rear sight relationship, while sight picture combines that alignment with proper placement on the target.

When teaching trigger control, which error do instructors most commonly observe that causes shots to go low and left (for right-handed shooters)?

Answer: Anticipating recoil by flinching or pushing the muzzle down before the shot breaks

Anticipating recoil causes right-handed shooters to push the muzzle down and left just before firing, resulting in impacts low and left of the intended point of aim.

The term 'trigger reset' refers to which fundamental of handgun shooting?

Answer: Allowing the trigger to move forward only far enough to reset the sear before taking the next shot

Trigger reset is the technique of releasing the trigger only until the sear resets, enabling faster and more controlled follow-up shots.

Which grip technique is considered the most effective for controlling recoil in a two-handed handgun hold?

Answer: High thumbs forward grip with approximately 60–70% of grip pressure from the support hand

The high thumbs forward grip with the support hand providing the majority of grip pressure maximizes recoil control and supports rapid, accurate follow-up shots.

What does the term 'follow-through' mean in the context of handgun marksmanship instruction?

Answer: Maintaining sight alignment, trigger control, and shooting position through and after the shot fires

Follow-through means sustaining proper technique — sight alignment, grip, and stance — through the moment of firing and into the recovery, preventing disruption of the shot.