What Does a Dead Hold in Shooting a Gun Mean?

A "dead hold" means holding your sights or the sighting device of a gun directly onto the target you intend to hit. Not pertaining to all shooters, the strategy is used in specific shooting scenarios.

  1. Other Holds

    • A six o'clock hold, used by experienced shooters, is an alternative to the dead hold.

      Most shooters do not use a dead hold. With many pistols, shooters are taught to hold their sights at the base of the target--called a six o'clock hold--rather than using a dead hold, where you aim right at the bulls-eye.

    Rifles

    • With rifles, a marksman would likely miss the target if he used a dead hold.

      In many old "buck horn" hunting rifles, the sights were to be held just below the animal, so the shooter could keep it in full view during trigger squeeze. According to ElkHunter2, a shooter aiming dead center--or using a dead hold--would likely miss the target from most distances.

    Considerations

    • A dead hold can be used for speed or if the target is so close that there is little purpose in aiming. By contrast, experienced shooters routinely vary the hold, aiming high or low to compensate for distance, rather than using a dead hold, where you plant sights right in the middle of what you want to hit.