XD Talk

Jcobb · 10-03-2007, 09:47 PM

I didnt know where else to post this so here goes......

I have always been taught that a proper sight alignment was with egual light on both sides of the front sight, and the top of the front and rear sights level....such as this:

When my sight picture is like the above, I shoot 2-3 inches low. Always.

I shoot my XD, and most other handguns with a sight picture such as this:

By aligning the sights such as above, my POI is closer to where I want it to be...the problem being that since the front and rear sights tops are not level, I have to "guess" at which is right, which prevents my sight alignment from being consistant and affects group size. I would assume that I need a shorter front sight in order to get the proper sight picture, but how would I know how short of a sight to get? Any other suggestions as how to correct this issue?

Reeek · 10-03-2007, 10:00 PM

Are you shooting a 6 oclock or POA with the front dot?

**Old School** · 10-03-2007, 10:01 PM

What distance? Is it just low or low & left? I too am a fan of the Etch-a-sketch.

**XDAndMe** · 10-03-2007, 10:08 PM

Correct me if I'm wrong, but bullet trajectory is parabolic and bullets continue to climb until a certain distance after leaving the barrel. If the distance between the gun and the target is short, the bullet will hit low just as it would if the target were very far away.

I think the sights are designed to hit POA at a specific distance, depending on your load. Otherwise you might need to be familiar with where your loads hit at various distances.

Just speculation though. I don't know for sure.

Jcobb · 10-03-2007, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reeek

Are you shooting a 6 oclock or POA with the front dot?

I've always been a "pumpkin on a post" rather than "cover the target" kind of shooter. That is something has been ingrained in me for 20 + years.

Jcobb · 10-03-2007, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old School

What distance? Is it just low or low & left? I too am a fan of the Etch-a-sketch.

Distances from 15-25 yards. I had a problem with low left that was corrected by not putting so much finger on the trigger and using some dummy rounds.

**Old School** · 10-03-2007, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jcobb

Distances from 15-25 yards. I had a problem with low left that was corrected by not putting so much finger on the trigger and using some dummy rounds.

Your gun may be a cover/hold setup, as it currently stands.

I would do one last test. Get a bench and a sand bag and shoot from the rest; taking any potential movement out of the mix. Pull the trigger as slow as you can until the gun fires. Repeat. If you are still low, call SA and ask them to test and switch the rear sight if required.

This happens from time to time, but it is getting more rare.

OS

tomfoolery · 10-03-2007, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old School

Your gun may be a cover/hold setup, as it currently stands.

I would do one last test. Get a bench and a sand bag and shoot from the rest; taking any potential movement out of the mix. Pull the trigger as slow as you can until the gun fires. Repeat. If you are still low, call SA and ask them to test and switch the rear sight if required.

This happens from time to time, but it is getting more rare.

OS

a cover/hold? i just replaced my factory rear sight to go along with a dawson front fiber sight...and im shooting consistently low and ive never had that problem. i mean consistently low....like 3 shots in the same low place.

**Old School** · 10-03-2007, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomfoolery

a cover/hold?

That is what I call it- that is what folks have always called it around here...

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomfoolery

i just replaced my factory rear sight to go along with a dawson front fiber sight...and im shooting consistently low and ive never had that problem. i mean consistently low....like 3 shots in the same low place.

What rear sight did you go to? The Dawson front is intended to go with the factory rear. The sight picture is to be a 6:00 hold but can vary a bit.

OS

Jcobb · 10-03-2007, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old School

Your gun may be a cover/hold setup, as it currently stands.

I would do one last test. Get a bench and a sand bag and shoot from the rest; taking any potential movement out of the mix. Pull the trigger as slow as you can until the gun fires. Repeat. If you are still low, call SA and ask them to test and switch the rear sight if required.

This happens from time to time, but it is getting more rare.

OS

Thanks...I will try this saturday at the range and let you know what happens.

**Just thought of something...

The outdoor range I visit is set up much like a very large fish pond, with the target area where the bottom of the pond would be, and the shooting bench area up top where the bank would be. The opposite bank creates the berm backstop. I would say that the drop down is maybe 5-10 feet, which means that shooting towards the target, you are shooting at a downward angle. Could this be what is causing the shots to go low? Should I shoot level at the target to determine if I really am shooting low or does it not matter?