Marksmanship training starts with gun safety, then sight alignment and sight picture. Trigger control and natural point of aim follow closely behind. In simple terms, shooting is about pulling the trigger without disturbing the sights. There are a number of factors that play into all of this, this applies to rifles and handguns, iron sights, and optics.
What if you do everything right, and you still can’t hit the center of a target? It’s time to check your natural point of aim (NPA). Natural point of aim is where the gun naturally wants to go. This isn’t pre-determined but depends on how you are holding the gun and the physics at play.
It is incredibly simple to check and change. To check your NPA, line up your sights on the target, close your eyes, and then open them. If your sights have drifted, that’s where your shots will naturally go. Instead of forcing the gun back on target, adjust your stance until your gun naturally aligns with the target center.
Precision shooters, or those favoring accuracy over speed, set their NPA multiple times during a string. It is important to note that NPA will change over time as your body settles into your shooting position. In some disciplines, there is no time to get a perfect natural point of aim, but it’s still important to understand what it is and how to adjust it. Want to improve your shooting? Start by checking your natural point of aim.
