What Are “Iron Sights” on a Handgun?

Iron sights are a mechanical aiming system: a rear sight (notch) and a front sight (post/blade). You align them to create a consistent line of sight, then place that aligned system on the target.

That’s the hardware. The performance comes down to two things shooters constantly confuse:

• Sight alignment: the relationship between front and rear sights.
• Sight picture: where those aligned sights sit on the target.

POA vs POI: The Only Language That Matters

Point of Aim (POA) is where you aim your sights. Point of Impact (POI) is where the bullet lands.

Here’s the part that causes misses when changing firearms: most pistols are effectively “regulated” for a specific sight picture at a specific distance with a specific ammo profile. Change any of those variables and your POI shifts.

If you use the wrong sight picture for that handgun, you can be perfectly “aligned” and still hit the wrong place.

Sight Alignment vs Sight Picture (Stop Mixing These Up)

1) Sight Alignment (Rear + Front Relationship)

• Equal height: top of the front sight level with the top of the rear sight.
• Equal light: equal gap on both sides of the front post inside the rear notch.

2) Sight Picture (Aligned Sights + Target Relationship)

Once alignment is correct, sight picture is simply where you place that front sight on the target. This is where “combat hold vs 6 o’clock hold” lives.

The Science Behind Why Iron Sights Work (and Why You Miss)

Your eye can’t focus on everything

Human vision can sharply focus on one plane at a time. With iron sights, the priority is the front sight. The target and rear sight will appear less sharp—this is normal and correct for consistent alignment.

Small errors become big misses

Iron sight error is angular. A tiny misalignment at the sights becomes inches downrange. The effect gets worse as:

• Distance increases (more time/distance for the angle to open up)
• Sight radius decreases (shorter pistols punish small alignment errors)

That’s why shooters often “fall apart” moving from a duty-size pistol to a compact/subcompact—same shooter, less forgiveness.

Combat Hold vs 6 O’Clock Hold vs Center Hold (The 3 Most Common Sight Pictures)

Different handguns (and different sight sets) may be regulated for different sight pictures. If you assume your hold is universal, you will miss—consistently.

1) Center Hold (POA ≈ POI)

What it is: aligned sights placed so the top edge of the front sight is held at the center of the intended impact zone.

Why it’s popular: intuitive—aim where you want the bullet to land.

2) Combat Hold (Fast, Repeatable, Often Target-Occluding)

What it is: the aligned front sight covers the intended impact zone (commonly the center of the target).

Why it exists: speed and decisiveness—many shooters prefer a sight picture that drives fast indexing for defensive distances.

Important: “Combat hold” is used inconsistently in the industry. What matters is the real-world result: what POI you get with that sight picture on paper.

3) Target Hold (6 O’Clock Hold / “Lollipop” Hold)

What it is: the aligned front sight sits just under the bullseye, like the bull is balanced on top of the front sight.

Why it exists: precision and visibility—you see the entire aiming black instead of covering it with the front post.

POA vs POI behavior: POA is below the bull; POI lands in the bull (when regulated for that hold at that distance).

Why People Miss When They Change Handguns

Most shooters don’t “lose skill” when they switch pistols. They lose calibration.

• Different sight regulation: one pistol may behave like a combat hold gun, another closer to center hold, another may favor a 6 o’clock hold for bullseye-style work.
• Different sight geometry: front sight height, notch width, and blade thickness change how your eye centers the post and how much target you cover.
• Different sight radius: shorter pistols amplify alignment error.
• Different ammo: bullet weight and velocity can shift POI, especially as distance increases.

Bottom line: if you don’t know your pistol’s hold, you’re gambling.

The No-Guess Diagnostic: Confirm Your Pistol’s True POA/POI

This is how you stop arguing with your handgun and start running it correctly:

1. Pick a practical distance (start at 10–15 yards).
2. Use a stable position (bench/rest if available).
3. Fire three 5-round groups, each with a different sight picture:
   • Center hold
   • Combat hold
   • 6 o’clock (target) hold
4. Compare the center of each group to the POA.

Whichever sight picture produces the most consistent relationship between POA and POI is the hold your handgun/ammo combo is “speaking.”

Choosing Iron Sights for the Job (Performance, Not Fashion)

• Plain black sights: clean edges for precision; slower acquisition under speed.
• High-visibility fronts (paint/fiber): fast front sight pickup in daylight.
• Tritium night sights: low-light reference; dot size/spacing matters.
• Fixed vs adjustable: fixed is rugged; adjustable helps fine-tune POI for specific loads or target use.

Don’t choose sights based on hype. Choose based on your mission: speed, precision, low light, or a balanced blend.

FAQ: Combat Hold vs 6 O’Clock Hold, POA vs POI

Is combat hold the same as center hold?

Not always. People use these terms inconsistently. What matters is the actual sight picture and where your rounds impact on paper. Run the three-group test and let the data decide.

Why does my compact pistol shoot worse than my full-size?

Often it’s not the gun—it’s geometry. Shorter sight radius amplifies small alignment errors.

What hold should I use for defensive shooting?

Use the sight picture that produces predictable POI at realistic distances with your carry ammo—then confirm it with structured testing.