HIC Marksmanship Fundamentals & Ballistics 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following BEST describes 'sight alignment' in handgun marksmanship?
- Aligning the target with the shooter's dominant eye only
- Centering the front sight blade in the rear sight notch with equal light on both sides and equal height (Correct answer)
- Positioning the rear sight at the same height as the target
- Keeping both eyes closed during the trigger press
Correct 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.
Question 2: What is the difference between 'sight alignment' and 'sight picture' in handgun shooting?
- They are interchangeable terms for the same concept
- Sight alignment is the relationship between front and rear sights; sight picture adds the correctly aligned sights onto the target (Correct answer)
- Sight picture refers only to the target, ignoring the sights
- Sight alignment applies only to rifle shooting
Correct 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.
Question 3: When teaching trigger control, which error do instructors most commonly observe that causes shots to go low and left (for right-handed shooters)?
- Limp-wristing the grip
- Anticipating recoil by flinching or pushing the muzzle down before the shot breaks (Correct answer)
- Using the wrong ammunition
- Standing too far from the target
Correct 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.
Question 4: The term 'trigger reset' refers to which fundamental of handgun shooting?
- Replacing the trigger after it breaks
- Allowing the trigger to move forward only far enough to reset the sear before taking the next shot (Correct answer)
- Pulling the trigger completely to the rear and holding it there between shots
- Releasing the trigger all the way forward between each shot
Correct 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.
Question 5: Which grip technique is considered the most effective for controlling recoil in a two-handed handgun hold?
- Cup-and-saucer grip with the support hand underneath
- High thumbs forward grip with approximately 60–70% of grip pressure from the support hand (Correct answer)
- Thumbs-crossed grip for maximum power
- Loose grip to allow natural movement during recoil
Correct 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.
Question 6: What does the term 'follow-through' mean in the context of handgun marksmanship instruction?
- Cleaning the firearm after the shooting session
- Maintaining sight alignment, trigger control, and shooting position through and after the shot fires (Correct answer)
- Filing a report after completing a qualification course
- Ensuring each student gets adequate range time
Correct 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.
HIC Marksmanship Fundamentals & Ballistics 1
Which of the following BEST describes 'sight alignment' in handgun marksmanship?