Sight Alignment vs Trigger Control: Which One is Required to Hit Where You Aim?

[@ChrisSajnogs]

In 2009, I came home from a deployment and my oldest son, who was 3 or 4 at the time, wouldn’t eat for almost 2 weeks... Being a father I was obviously concerned, so I asked him about it and his answer really hit me hard… He said, “Dad, if I eat I’ll grow up and if I grow up I’ll become a daddy. And if I become a daddy, I’ll have to leave my family.” My boys barely knew who I was and I couldn’t let them grow up without a father... I realized at that moment my family needed me a lot more than the Navy needed another SEAL. So I put in for retirement the next day… Back then I knew I wanted to be with my family more than anything, so I made changes in my life that allowed me to be at home. We all want more time to spend with the people we love or doing the things we love. That’s why I’m here to help! That's why I am giving you my top 3 training videos (for FREE) to help you learn how you can stay at home, and save time and money while you improve your shooting! I really want you to watch them so you can see how it is helping thousands of people just like you! So click the link now and go see what all the fuss is about: chrissajnog.com/freevideos/

[@dokktekk]

I've heard both arguments, both valid. Tried both techniques by itself without the other and I was not successful in hitting my target. That's because both, sight alignment and trigger control , are equally important as they work with each other in order to successfully hit the target. You can have a stable smooth trigger control but with bad sight alignment, you will miss. Also, you can have the perfect sight alignment but with bad trigger control, you will also miss. Have a stable smooth trigger control AND perfect sight alignment and you are good to go. The rest is practice and repetition. I did benefit from your older video regarding focusing on the front sight more for fast target acquisition and that helped me compete in USPSA.

[@russdennis7026]

I agree with you. I think both are important but if you shoot under stress and need an effective hit, sight alignment is more important. Trigger control is very important if you want to get those A zone hits for competition. But if you need to put a round into your assailant that is trying to kill you, dose it matter so much if you're hitting center mass and maybe off a couple of inches to save your life. Combat accuracy works just fine with me in that circumstance.

[@lynnie0526]

First let me say I watch all your videos. I've bought both your shoot like a Navy Seal books and you have helped me improve my shooting . With that said I am from the school of sight alignment and trigger control are almost equally important with trigger control being slightly more important. If you jerk your trigger, slap your trigger your sights do go off-line but that is because you jerk or slept your trigger. Now if you put your gun in a Vise with perfect sight alignment you can do anything to the trigger because the gun will not move , it is in a vise. I see what you are trying to say if your sights are not aligned you will not hit your target and that is true. But something that knocks your sight alignment off like jerking and slapping the trigger is equally important.

[@johnhalpin1847]

I agree that sight alignment is more important but as you stated it's the art of keeping the sights aligned while press the trigger to the rear and again you do that without disturbing the sights. If sights are not aligned at trigger press then you delay the trigger press until sights are properly aligned again.

[@paraAA82]

God bless you SENSEI Chris Sajnog. I am saying it with utmost respect. I have all of your books and check all of your videos. My shooting has improved tremendously thanks to your teachings. I like the term "Sight Refining" from your first book. Again, thank you so much Chris.

[@thomaswagner1761]

Good stuff. Excellent presentation. For nearly two decades I have stressed the importance of trigger control by explaining that it can disrupt your sight picture. I also hunt birds and shoot a lot of trap. We slap the trigger and still hit the mark - but you need a great sight picture to do it.

[@banette36]

Chris I can’t thank you enough I’ve been watching your videos don’t comment much but I’ve tried everything that you say and over the past year and a half or more you have corrected all my mistakes you have made me a better marksman thank you very much ..!

[@edwinharvie6174]

Chris is the best firearms instructor by light years. Let go of your preconceptions and listen to the master

[@MannyScoot]

I focus on my front Trijicon HD Tritium Front Sight (Rear is blacked out) and practice to squeeze (5) fast rounds in a 3" to 4" inch circle using my Glock 27 ...... and yes your focus on the front sight like you showed me is a must....... and it can be done with Practice Practice !

[@johnroseman9087]

What is your target distance you practice at when shooting?

[@1scottburns]

"Pull the Trigget with your eyes... " Chris use the FORCE! Thanks for all you do. You have helped me push foreard!

[@mitubogoogle]

Getting close to 100k subscribers,,, You deserve 1M...

[@FirstSuiGeneris]

_Agree, sight is the most important, the trigger control will follow with practics._

[@adamsb306]

I went from a shot gun pattern to a close group by focusing on improved trigger pull , made a huge difference on the range for me

[@johnhalpin1847]

That is correct as an improper trigger control pull can change your sights alignment, however regardless the sights still need to stay aligned during trigger pull. If you slam the trigger the sights will become misaligned, if you push or pull trigger sight alignment will change so by correcting your trigger pull you were able to keep your sights aligned

[@johnroseman9087]

@John Halpin "Press" might be the better word, versus "Pull" or "Push".

[@lazer8384]

best argument for sight alignment ever!

[@brandonfisher4436]

Absolutely 110% correct

[@kostavsheoran1530]

I think both are equally important ! At first we have to settle down to our aiming area with proper sight alignment, once we have done that we should start pulling trigger , at the last moments of trigger our eyes are on the front sight and mind should be pulling the trigger subconsciously not thinking about target and just making sure the sights don't move at the release. So it's kind of both !( I am an Air pistol shooter, I do this all the time!)

[@FUNTIME-ht9re]

Really informative ❤❤ just subscribed

[@mbah8011]

Thanks Chris great advice as always.

[@oliviergorlier8135]

perfect video for me ... thanks a lot Chris

[@MDpolo]

Thank your for making these videos and sharing your knowledge with us. I always look forward to them.

[@MDpolo]

+Chris Sajnog - Sir, if you go to my channel, you will see a video that I recently posted. It features my 6 year old son singing his tribute and thank you to Veterans. By the way, Thank You for your service.

[@georgefloresca168]

Great lesson I learned from this video. Thank you sir.

[@TheBartowBoy]

I get it ! However it seems to me trigger control is a learned skill that is a bit more difficult to master over site alignment as we all use our eyes in some type alignment most every day, I.e. keeping a car in the proper lane. Just a thought, Chris and bye the way you have taught me so much

[@mitubogoogle]

Trigger control vs sight alignment argument. Who are u going to believe, a KZbin "Rambo" or a Navy Seal sniper instructor? 🤔

[@mmcgillis]

I would say, that depends on the situation. If you're in a situation requiring you to shoot immediately from the holster at a close range. Attempted mugging or assault type thing.

[@michaelgonzalez8863]

Shot anticipation is the number one reason I see the new shooter missing the target .

[@4realhombre]

Agree. Anticipating the recoil is REAL.

[@xxxtincho]

Agree 100%, i'm fighting against it beeing a newbie. Good grouping but always below the center.

[@autoluxusklasse832]

Thank you so much.

[@stanhall1978]

Thanks for the review in knowledge Chris. Love the book, drastically improved my shooting.

[@96stealth]

I think the bigger question is what’s harder to do? Pro shooters dry fire practice more than anything. Transitioning target to target can be difficult to learn, but that to me is still more natural.

[@Quality_Guru]

Always entertaining but most importantly extremely educational. Always walk away smarter than when I came to this site.

[@davidtulipane9139]

It has been my experience regarding sight alignment versus trigger control that both are equally important. If you are a senior and have difficulty aligning sites, you must work on sight alignment. But if you break the shot and pull the gun off Target you will miss your shot and if you have problems with trigger control you need to work on trigger control. Both are equally as important and the issue you have the most trouble with is the issue that should be practiced the most. I'm curious to hear what you have to say about this. As I have gotten older, I have found it Big Dot sights or an optic assist me what sight alignment but the days when my arthritis are kicking up I have to work more on my trigger control.

[@MyMd1111]

Great how you have refined your explanation! Love your book.

[@caseyrunner8951]

Very good!

[@jeffreypinili2221]

Well said! great video!

[@kanakanorcal2565]

Your technique is the same my father taught me.

[@ashischaturvedi5407]

Very helpful Sir . Regards

[@Bklynpimpstress]

My main issue is im right hand dominant but for some reason in left eye dominant and i wear glasses for vision but even using both of my eyes to try to sight my left eye takes over and i gotta try to favor that side more.

[@100tenx]

Great job👍 but I can think of a bunch of bullseye shooters whose heads just exploded. Keep up the great work. Very helpful.

[@jasonbyrd5150]

I don't know how this is even a debate if somebody actually knows what they're talking about. Of course you have to have the sights aligned no matter how you pull the trigger if the sights are misaligned you're not going to hit your target... Duh!

[@paulanthony7268]

I agree..it's a no brainer..lol

[@djkz71]

Another great video. Thank you, Chris! I have been shooting MUCH better since watching your videos and ordering your book. Not to sound contrary to your video, because I agree 100%, but how do you pull the trigger? Or, don’t you even realize because you’re focused on the sights? Curious because I find my trigger pull changing between subcompact and full size handguns.

[@GregHarlow1]

I'm curious what the device is on the front pic rail of the NLT SIRT. Looks like the MantisX but those don't function on a NLT SIRT.

[@sparrottehead]

I shoot right handed but left eye dominant. Bow, shotgun, rifle fine...pistol different story....suggestions?

[@johnroseman9087]

Become an artist and illustrate for Chris' books!

[@j.rogercavanaugh3971]

I have a Glock 48 with factory sights. I line up the sights just as you showed. Pretty much 9 out of 10 shots hit way low under the target with the sights aligned.. I am new to shooting, but, I can’t hit anything 10-12 feet away. I practice dry firing a lot and my muzzle doesn’t move down. What do you think? Am I handling the gun differently when shooting live ammo? Thank you sir for any tips or insights you can give!

[@SilveradoShootingAcademy]

Rob Leatham says aiming is useless. I see a cyber-slugfest brewing here.

[@MP-tf7cc]

How did this even become a debatable issue?

[@bradh6185]

Why aren't both equally important? If you have one without the other, either way, you're going to have a problem hitting the target, right?

[@tunnelrabbit4293]

I just won this as a prize in writing contest, and have no interest in it and hope sell or trade it way: A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,

[@selfworthy]

That analogy was wrong because you added cranking down the pistol. Reality though is, you loose sight alignment with bad trigger control. Both are to be trained.

[@brainwashingdetergent4322]

“Trigger Warning”!

[@frankm81m82]

You can align the sight for 20 minutes until perfect, but without trigger control it’s a waste of time, I.e. they are equally important

[@jacobharrod6912]

3 terrorists disliked this video. Almost there Chris!!! Cant wait to see you hit 100 K!!! Love this video and shared!!! Sight alignment is a continual process. Jist like you say in your book, "sight video".

[@ljwilliams755]

I need you in my head every time I pick up my pistol

[@eddieohearn17]

I thought this was simple logic

[@zapster2412111]

Guess what? The sites are always aligned. Your eyes or eye on the other hand is a different story.

[@pathos1988]

You can hit a target with no sights. You hit the target with no trigger. 🤷🏿‍♂️

[@Leon-td9sw]

Very false, as Rob Leatham (6x IPSC champion), Lucas Botkin, Costa Ludus and probably many more have have pointed out: It doesnt matter how super awesome your sight aligment is, if you jerk your trigger and thus move the gun, the bullet will anywhere BUT where you intend. Of course this is just as true if you didnt have correct sight alligmnent in the first place. The catch here is that shooters generally have a much bigger dificulty controlling their trigger compared to aliging teir sights. Thus most people should focuse on trigger control

[@ChrisSajnogs]

As you say yourself..."and move the gun" which = sight alignment. A great shooter does not mean it's a great instructor. Check out my video testimonial playlist. Then go to any of those great shooters channels and checkout their testimonials... I'll wait...

[@Leon-td9sw]

You're not understanding a basic concept here. Sights directly aligned at target = sight alignment. Not moving the gun (thus sights) when pulling trigger = trigger controll Thats besides my main argument youre avoiding though, most people miss their target because they jerk the gun when shooting, initial sight alingment is rarely ever the reason. You think they are bad instructors? Fair enough, but proving this by pointing out a lack of "testimonials"?... Thats just illogical

[@vitoandolini2050]

Blind people can have great trigger control, but none sight alignment. I rest my case.

[@fiftydabs5114]

If you don’t know this, you don’t need to own a firearm lol

[@bagoglass1]

You're framing the argument out of context. It's about beginner shooters who don't know what's happening during the trigger press and about how to teach them the worthy skill of pressing the trigger BEFORE wasting a lot of their time on aiming. Otherwise, yes. Everything you say is true. Shame on you for setting up a straw man (Rob Leatham?) to make the point.