What's wrong?

[gsx1138]

Ok, I had the same issues the first time I took my new XD45 out. It may be my imagination but my rear site doesn't look centered. I'm really hoping that once I get my Truglo's put in the issue will be fixed.

This is the first target of the evening. 15 feet freehand.




This next one is 20 feet using the benchrest. I fired 3, 13 round magazines at this target.





This is 20 feet without the rest and 3, 13 round magazines.





It's constantly down and to the left. I will admit that the last magazine I went through tonight was rapid fire.

[Modificationvt]

asuming your right handed it seems you are putting too much of your finger on the trigger, and squeezing the gun too much with your trigger hand.

I had the same problem when I first got my XD, and when I changed my grip so that I was doing most of the gripping with my left hand and only putting the pad of my finger on the trigger I started shooting a lot better instantly.

[DoubleAction]

I was shooting like that and tried shooting one handed and realized that I was anticipating the recoil to much. I also noticed that I stared too long at the sight.

I would then draw, aim, shoot. Instead of aim....shoot. I also noticed my posture was bad. I would droop my head too low.

[mhillsing23]

It is common for a lot of right handers to shoot low and left at first. I know that I did that quite a bit until I learned a couple of things. I was using too much trigger finger, and tensing my grip up right before the shot because I was anticipating the recoil and noise. That said, it could be possible that your sights are off from the factory. There have been some cases of that.

[Dave Starr]

This isn't much help, but it's good to know I'm n ot the only one with that problem. I went to the range yesterday and had the same result. At 7 yards, I shot good groups, about 2", with everything 2" left & 2" low. I'm a newbie; first handgun, about 350 rounds through it, so far. XD 45 Tac, BTW. I have to admit, it's better than the other 2 times I've been out.

[gsx1138]

Well, I'm pretty positive my grip is spot on. Recoil anticipation is a real possibility. Oh, I am right handed. Even at a glance though my rear sights look a few .mm to the left. The rear pin does not line up with the center of the rear sight. I don't know if that's relevent or not but there ya go.

I do plan on attending some USPSA classes so hopefully that'll help. And even though I hate excuses, I do have a hard time focusing on the factory sights.

Thanks for the advice guys.

[zac07]

I will have to go with it being the shooter, I have had one gun that the sights really were off and it still grouped nicely just to the left. I had several other experienced shooters shoot it and it did the same thing. But yours is spread out across the left side of the target.

[Broadside]

It's a very common problem for new shooters and new to XD or Glock. I swore up and down my XD was off for quite a while. I agree with zac07 it's still probably something you are doing because it's not one hole. Only shooting it from a ransom rest will it take out the human factor.

In addition to everything that has already been posted. Make sure you are pressing the trigger to the rear in one smooth motion and that it's straight back. If you put too much finger on the trigger you tend to pull the firearm to one side and over compensate for it with grip and not know it. Shooting low is usually anticipating recoil pushing the firearm forward and down.

The 45 caliber can be a little intimidating for your first handgun. One seceret is to keep your eyes open and as you fire watch the barrel rise and fall. Once you get that mastered the recoil issue goes away. When the handgun fires it should be a little like a suprise but not a surpise like jumpie.

A trigger job help out a lot but I recommend before you spend the money on one mastering the XD w/o it. The XD's trigger almost feels like it has two stages with the slack you take out. Make sure you are pressing in one constant motion don't stop or pause when you feel the trigger mech engage.

You can dry fire the XD's all day long. Set up a target with all the ammo locked away and snap away. My friend setup a video camera when he was learning to shoot his Glock 23 and it did wonders. Pretty funny to see how bad he flinched when I dropped in a few snap caps into his mag.

You are not that far off and the groupings are very good so it's just tweeking your grip, pull ect....

[Charlesdht]

Get some XS 24/7 Big Dots. So fast you cant miss. I shoot better with them than i did the factory ones

[Jester8]

I noticed that I was also doing this when I first shot. I have a 9mm. Low and to the left, low and to the left. What I did, was dry fired alot! I can't stress that enough, dry fire. Practice makes perfect. (I am by no means anywhere near perfect) But the next few times I went out to the range I noticed that my groups tighten up.

I colored in a 2" black circle, and tacked it to my reloading room wall. Give me a target and aids with dryfiring. Helps to work on my fundamentals. Just an idea. Happy shooting.

Jester