I see two ways to line up a target.

#1 you can try to push your nose around to follow the target until you have the right sight picture with lead

or

#2 you can set your path to smoothly point ahead of where the target is moving and let the target move into the desired sight picture then wait to shoot when he will cross the sight at the same time your shots do.

The thing about #1 way is that aiming by stick correction involves not only your prop gyro precession (yaw movement results in some pitch movement and vice versa, if you lower your prop rpms the strength lessens) but slip/roll coupling to make your plane want to bank when you yaw. And then when the pilot corrects for the effects, quite often the pilot ends up making it worse. All that jiggling slows you down and then if you were too busy 'aiming' to keep up with the trim, you stick movements will be a ways off center and not so precise, depending on your stick sliders.

I don't much like method #1. I like method #2.

I have noticed before when trying to shoot #1 way that the nose would bob and weave just as I was getting decently on target. Okay, that was long ago but it still works the same basic way still. And I thought then that the nose didn't bob and weave as I was just flying along and -not trying to aim-, nose come around nice, sweet and steady. So that's when I worked on the #2 method above. It's good in all crossing attacks, yoyos and like as well as pure Hartmann BnZ.

If you can fly smooth, without the nose wobbling then you should be able to make the #2 method work.

Watch on BnZ if you're closing at 50+ m/s (180+ kph faster), shots will go high with relation to the target and do more of that the longer the shot is.

It's because in that gunsight view, the target appears to approach you. By the time the bullet reaches the point you aimed for the target has gotten maybe 10-50m closer, the shot will appear to have gone high or wide viewed in relation to the target.

Zooming in fast lets you shoot longer as if it isn't. When closing really fast, aim as if the target is closer, use less lead, because he will be closer when the shots get to him or pass him by. Shoot from a little early to a little late and it might be 1/2 second burst. All the bullets don't have to hit, only enough do.

Interesting breakdown of gunnery. Very informative. I've found that although I have a basic grasp of the theory that when I'm doing shooting it's mostly by intuition and experience.

In fact I find it's best for me not to think when shooting... sounds weird but I find that the best way for me to hit the target is to prepare for the shot and then I wait just a little bit longer and then fire.

The wait time gives my brain a chance to work through the details and line up the shot. If I try and do it too quickly my estimation is more likely to be off.

I only go on full switch servers so no icons or distance markers. I tend to fly mainly Brit fighters with convergence at 200ft and use the gunsight ring to establish distance. I also prefer to use separate triggers for cannons and Machine guns. I think you have to find what suits you best and what works with the weapons loadout you have.

Freetrack: Very personal regards setting movement but I set my axis curves with a small deadzone with slow initial movement then rapid acceleration to 6. I use the 4 way POV to toggle WIDE VIEW (page down) and 'Toggle gunsight' which drops you into 2 DOF (if using 6DOF) and also brings you closer to the gunsight without zooming in (which I cant get on with due to the 'headshake' effect and is very similar to CoD even though this command is mainly for fighters that have off-set gunsights).

I found MP a steep learning curve and low altitude Dogfights a waste of time - many of the better flyers use altitude and just bounce you as a sitting duck

Yep. Its not so much about learning the best or "optimal" way of doing things, but finding out what works to you and developing from that.

After all there arent many questions you can ask about this game and have a clear yes/no answer.

Personal pref

MG:250
Cannons:150

I have not read this whole thread, so forgive me if I'm repeating whats been said already... but, I have found that people who have good rudder pedals, and know how to use them, will get much better results then people who use a twisty joystick. Also, learn about keeping the "ball centered", as you line up your shot...your bullets will drift off target, even if you seem to be aiming dead on, if you don't keep the ball centered.