What causes Vertical Dispersion in shooting?

Vertical dispersion in shooting primarily occurs due to inconsistent sight picture. This means that when a shooter aligns their sights with the target, there can be variations in how this alignment is executed shot to shot. An inconsistent sight picture may arise from several factors, such as improper aiming techniques or differences in how the shooter presents the firearm to the target each time. As a result, these variations can manifest as vertical movements in the point of impact, leading to shots landing higher or lower than the intended target area.

For instance, if a shooter doesn't maintain the same eye alignment or sight focus on each shot, the outcome can be a series of shots straying vertically from where they should land. This inconsistency represents a fundamental aspect of marksmanship that focuses on developing a stable and repeatable aiming process.

While other factors like environmental conditions, equipment failures, or muscle fatigue can influence overall shooting performance and may cause horizontal or erratic dispersions, they are typically less directly linked to vertical dispersion compared to how well a shooter is able to maintain a consistent sight picture throughout their shooting sequence.