Tips On How To Find Your Natural Aiming Area

by
posted on November 4, 2019
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
bz-aiming-4.jpg

All effective firing positions in pistol shooting incorporate the shooter's natural aiming area (NAA). NAA refers to the natural alignment of the shooter and the gun in any position.

To determine your NAA, first assume your position, with your eyes open and your gun aimed at a target. Next, close your eyes. With your eyes still closed, make a circle with the pistol, and then settle into the position that feels most stable and comfortable, and take several breaths. Then, open your eyes and observe where your gun's sights are pointed in relation to the target. Ideally, the sight picture will be aligned with the target. If the sight picture is aligned to the right or left or slightly high or low, you will have to modify your foot position or some other aspect of your stance to achieve the proper natural alignment.

Of course, the sight picture does not stay perfectly still, as it is impossible to hold a pistol without some movement. When proper NAA is achieved, the "wobble area" of the sights will be centered on target.

Repeat the NAA exercise until your stance is adjusted for the proper natural alignment. You should make every effort to adopt this same alignment each time the stance is assumed in order to take advantage of your NAA. Also, periodically repeat the NAA exercise, as changes in shooting experience, posture, age and so forth can affect the body's natural alignment.


See more: Bullseye Pistol Aiming with Brian Zins

Latest

S W Bodyguard2 1
S W Bodyguard2 1

New: Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 38 2.0 Revolver

Smith & Wesson’s Bodyguard 38 2.0: A snubbie refresh with a laser option.

Powell and Sharpe Take Main Event Titles at Browning Briley

Team Remington’s Brandon Powell and Madison Sharpe capture Main Event championships at the 2026 Browning Briley sporting clays tournament.

USA Clay Target League Tops 40,000 Student-Athletes This Spring

USA Clay Target League launches spring 2026 with 40,100 student-athletes on 2,094 teams, extending a record streak built on 55,832 annual participants in 2025.

3D-Printed Rimfire Can Tops 2025 TBAC Sound Summit

Off Grid Suppressors’ 3D-printed titanium Scorpius posted the quietest .22 LR numbers at the 2025 TBAC Silencer Summit in Cheyenne.

Tandemkross TKX22 Light Rifle: 3 Pounds, 6 Ounces of Competition-Ready Rimfire

Tandemkross enters the rifle business with the TKX22 Light Rifle, a 3-pound, 6-ounce semi-automatic .22 LR wonder built for steel shooting.

SK Customs Resurrects Al Capone’s ‘Sweetheart’ Colt 1911 with Limited Run

SK Customs recreates Al Capone’s engraved “Sweetheart” Colt 1911 in a 200-unit limited edition chambered in .45 ACP, shipping July 2026.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Sports USA delivered to your inbox.