XD site frustration x2 - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

todddr · 05-06-2006, 09:50 PM

OK, several months ago I buy my first XD, a service .40. Heard they were all the rage...so though for years I'd been a Glock and Sig man, and also own 2 Wilson Combats, I thought I'd try one out. The only frustration with that .40 was that it shot low and left...yes, I know...I too thought I must be floppin' out or something, or oddly compensating for the slightly different 'feel' of the gun compared to others I've been more used to shooting. But, I had two buddies shoot it also...and keep in mind we all shoot frequently and either 'have been' or currently still are law enforcement folk, one of us being a certified LE firearms trainer. Well, the consensus was, "hell, this gun shoots rather lowleft; about 7" off at only 20 feet."
Mmm. So, I chalked it up to just that gun and went on with life. Eventually I'll put new sites on it; 'till then, I know where to aim at bad guys. Well, a few days ago I got crazy and HAD to have an XD .45 acp. Though the thought of the site issue was still in my head, I didn't let that stop me. I do like the feel of the XD, and felt that a .45 would be a nice companion to my other various .45ers. So I go to the range...good grief! Same deal! Low and left, not as bad as the .40, but still about 5-6" at 20 ft. So now, I'm doing a little research. Anyone else had this go on consistently with the XD's? Is it, in fact an ergonomics thing perhaps, that something about the form of the guns is causing all 3 of us rather experienced shooters to pull out shots? I mean at 20 feet with any of my other handguns I can shoot out a 4" bullseye, and maybe have 1 flyer out of a magazine. Rapid fire on silhouettes my patterns are 8", dead center. With the XDs I'm taking out the dudes appendix. Anyone have any thoughts?

jednp · 05-06-2006, 09:54 PM

To be honest with you, LOTS of us shot low and left to begin with, or low and right if you're a lefty. My dad's pistol I shot dead on from the start. The only thing I can say is it's just the difference in feel of the gun, and trigger. It must be something you just have to learn with this gun, even if you're a good shot with others. I shot like pooh for a while when I first got mine. 2000 rounds and a few months later, I'm a pretty straight on shot now. Do a search on here for low left, and see some of the stuff we've talked about with this. Most have been able to cure the dreaded low left problem by just paying attention to a few simple things.

Here's one of the discussions about it. Like I said, I think this gun just needs to be learned a bit. It must be something about the grip or trigger or something, i don't know.. but a lot of people seem to shoot low left with it when they are right handed. But most of us have cured that by trying out all the tips, working on finger placement on the trigger, proper grip and proper grip strength. Main thing for me is staring at the front sight with it in clear focus. That helped my accuracy improve so much. Anyway read through that, and in the meantime I'm sure others will find other discussions and provide more tips. And remember, even though the XD is an excellent gun and accurate, if in the end you just can't get good shots with it, maybe it's not the gun for you personally.. there is no single perfect all around gun for everyone.

http://www.hs2000talk.com/viewtopic....ow+left#360715

Figgy1682 · 05-06-2006, 11:50 PM

i had problems at first to but i love it now . i wasnt use to the grip angle but now its hard to use a pistol that doesnt have that grip angle. my suggestion is get it bore sighted or let a complete stranger that seems to be shooting godd shoot it and see what happens. but me personally if you know its not shooter error send them both right back and have them tested by springfield.

leeindy · 05-07-2006, 03:56 AM

mine was low and left to begin with. but i was shooting an idpa match and couldnt hit the freakin steals to save my life. stopped trying to compensate and presto magico every plate dropped. since then ive been trying it out at the range and its dead on. im putting 3'' groups at 20 yards with out a bench. its just a feal thing. you might want to try some heavier ammo too. my buddies nine shoots all over the place with light bullets.

abarth · 05-07-2006, 06:20 AM

I had the same problem with my 9mm SC. Low and to the left, i thought it was me and not the gun. Not until I rented a Kimber ultra carry, and a CZ 9mm i was shooting both very accurately at 15ft and 30 ft. I even shot the CZ and XD one after another with the same ammo for comparsion. Then I realized it was the XD and not me. I now have a Metpro? adjustable sight on my XD. I cannot be happier. After sighting the thing in, I can now empty all 16rds. in the 9 circle at 15ft all day long, if i try real hard all 16rds in the 10 circle. Now I love my XD and we live happily ever after.

ParaMil · 05-07-2006, 06:56 AM

Seems this is not an unusual event. Just took my .40 service out for the first time and though i love the pistol and really have no complaints, I knew my sight picture had problems. While cleaning it i noticed my rear dovetail is about a 1/16th of an inch from the notch on the left side of where it should be. 1/16th of an inch at 25yrds can turn into about 6 inches and low to the right when shooting left handed, and i do. Taking it back to the shop i bought it at to have this corrected and have them make sure it is aligned as it should be. However, this is the only gripe I do have with the XD. I will try what others are saying here but shouldnt that rear sight be over towards that line/notch at the left? The front sight is right on the line/notch. Curious.

Pac4Life · 05-07-2006, 07:33 AM

I just purchased a xd sc .40 and it also shot low and left with about 400 rounds through it and I was compensating right just about 2 inches at 7 yds and began hitting bulls almost every shot.
I took it in to have the site adjusted and the Gun Smith agreed that it was shooting left about 2 inches. Now for the drop has to do with my trigger pull and I am working on it along with my grip and I am considering getting houge grips to try.

jednp · 05-07-2006, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pac4Life

I just purchased a xd sc .40 and it also shot low and left with about 400 rounds through it and I was compensating right just about 2 inches at 7 yds and began hitting bulls almost every shot.
I took it in to have the site adjusted and the Gun Smith agreed that it was shooting left about 2 inches. Now for the drop has to do with my trigger pull and I am working on it along with my grip and I am considering getting houge grips to try.

Left or right shots also have to do with trigger pull too. Low shots generally are from flinching. It's possible your sights weren't even off and you were jerking the trigger and pulling the shots left. Hopefully you were right that your sights were off, otherwise if they weren't you just reinforced bad trigger control and made it so you can shoot accurate with it.

**agalindo** · 05-07-2006, 11:12 AM

Id been shooting a smith and wesson for a long time when I changed to my XD I was also shooting low and right (im left handed) I took me a few range trips to get used to the grip and trigger. Now I'm shooting dead on without and changed to my sights.

**Frenchy** · 05-07-2006, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agalindo

Id been shooting a smith and wesson for a long time when I changed to my XD I was also shooting low and right (im left handed) I took me a few range trips to get used to the grip and trigger. How I'm shooting dead on without and changed to my sights.

Same here originally.

05-06-2006, 09:50 PM	#1
todddr XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 20	XD site frustration x2 OK, several months ago I buy my first XD, a service .40. Heard they were all the rage...so though for years I'd been a Glock and Sig man, and also own 2 Wilson Combats, I thought I'd try one out. The only frustration with that .40 was that it shot low and left...yes, I know...I too thought I must be floppin' out or something, or oddly compensating for the slightly different 'feel' of the gun compared to others I've been more used to shooting. But, I had two buddies shoot it also...and keep in mind we all shoot frequently and either 'have been' or currently still are law enforcement folk, one of us being a certified LE firearms trainer. Well, the consensus was, "hell, this gun shoots rather lowleft; about 7" off at only 20 feet." Mmm. So, I chalked it up to just that gun and went on with life. Eventually I'll put new sites on it; 'till then, I know where to aim at bad guys. Well, a few days ago I got crazy and HAD to have an XD .45 acp. Though the thought of the site issue was still in my head, I didn't let that stop me. I do like the feel of the XD, and felt that a .45 would be a nice companion to my other various .45ers. So I go to the range...good grief! Same deal! Low and left, not as bad as the .40, but still about 5-6" at 20 ft. So now, I'm doing a little research. Anyone else had this go on consistently with the XD's? Is it, in fact an ergonomics thing perhaps, that something about the form of the guns is causing all 3 of us rather experienced shooters to pull out shots? I mean at 20 feet with any of my other handguns I can shoot out a 4" bullseye, and maybe have 1 flyer out of a magazine. Rapid fire on silhouettes my patterns are 8", dead center. With the XDs I'm taking out the dudes appendix. Anyone have any thoughts?

05-07-2006, 03:56 AM	#4
leeindy XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: montana Posts: 2,892	mine was low and left to begin with. but i was shooting an idpa match and couldnt hit the freakin steals to save my life. stopped trying to compensate and presto magico every plate dropped. since then ive been trying it out at the range and its dead on. im putting 3'' groups at 20 yards with out a bench. its just a feal thing. you might want to try some heavier ammo too. my buddies nine shoots all over the place with light bullets. __________________ USAF F-15 Attack Control Specialist / Range Officer / Defensive Pistol Instructor "A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity" Sigmund Freud Anchorage Practical Shooters Club aka ANPRACS ANPRACS Match Videos click here and here USPSA # A-58756 IDPA # A28338 Co-Founder of the OFFICIAL XDtalk Competition League Another good gun forum http://www.nationalgunforum.com

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

05-06-2006, 09:54 PM	#2
jednp XDTalk 4K Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 4,691	To be honest with you, LOTS of us shot low and left to begin with, or low and right if you're a lefty. My dad's pistol I shot dead on from the start. The only thing I can say is it's just the difference in feel of the gun, and trigger. It must be something you just have to learn with this gun, even if you're a good shot with others. I shot like pooh for a while when I first got mine. 2000 rounds and a few months later, I'm a pretty straight on shot now. Do a search on here for low left, and see some of the stuff we've talked about with this. Most have been able to cure the dreaded low left problem by just paying attention to a few simple things. Here's one of the discussions about it. Like I said, I think this gun just needs to be learned a bit. It must be something about the grip or trigger or something, i don't know.. but a lot of people seem to shoot low left with it when they are right handed. But most of us have cured that by trying out all the tips, working on finger placement on the trigger, proper grip and proper grip strength. Main thing for me is staring at the front sight with it in clear focus. That helped my accuracy improve so much. Anyway read through that, and in the meantime I'm sure others will find other discussions and provide more tips. And remember, even though the XD is an excellent gun and accurate, if in the end you just can't get good shots with it, maybe it's not the gun for you personally.. there is no single perfect all around gun for everyone. http://www.hs2000talk.com/viewtopic....ow+left#360715

05-06-2006, 11:50 PM	#3
Figgy1682 XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 340	i had problems at first to but i love it now . i wasnt use to the grip angle but now its hard to use a pistol that doesnt have that grip angle. my suggestion is get it bore sighted or let a complete stranger that seems to be shooting godd shoot it and see what happens. but me personally if you know its not shooter error send them both right back and have them tested by springfield. __________________ Figgy

05-07-2006, 06:20 AM	#5
abarth XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 13	I had the same problem with my 9mm SC. Low and to the left, i thought it was me and not the gun. Not until I rented a Kimber ultra carry, and a CZ 9mm i was shooting both very accurately at 15ft and 30 ft. I even shot the CZ and XD one after another with the same ammo for comparsion. Then I realized it was the XD and not me. I now have a Metpro? adjustable sight on my XD. I cannot be happier. After sighting the thing in, I can now empty all 16rds. in the 9 circle at 15ft all day long, if i try real hard all 16rds in the 10 circle. Now I love my XD and we live happily ever after.

05-07-2006, 06:56 AM	#6
ParaMil XDTalk Newbie Join Date: May 2006 Location: Collin County, TX Posts: 22	Seems this is not an unusual event. Just took my .40 service out for the first time and though i love the pistol and really have no complaints, I knew my sight picture had problems. While cleaning it i noticed my rear dovetail is about a 1/16th of an inch from the notch on the left side of where it should be. 1/16th of an inch at 25yrds can turn into about 6 inches and low to the right when shooting left handed, and i do. Taking it back to the shop i bought it at to have this corrected and have them make sure it is aligned as it should be. However, this is the only gripe I do have with the XD. I will try what others are saying here but shouldnt that rear sight be over towards that line/notch at the left? The front sight is right on the line/notch. Curious.

05-07-2006, 07:33 AM	#7
Pac4Life XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 8	I just purchased a xd sc .40 and it also shot low and left with about 400 rounds through it and I was compensating right just about 2 inches at 7 yds and began hitting bulls almost every shot. I took it in to have the site adjusted and the Gun Smith agreed that it was shooting left about 2 inches. Now for the drop has to do with my trigger pull and I am working on it along with my grip and I am considering getting houge grips to try.