Sighting In - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

**Rustynuts** · 06-08-2007, 06:14 PM

What does everyone use for sighting in on a new gun, or one that's been worked on?
1 - don't bother, just shoot
2 - Rest it on the bench at the range
3 - use some cheapo sandbags
4 - Buy a nice benchrest (MTM Predator or similar)

Verk · 06-08-2007, 07:44 PM

You did say what kind of gun. I think it depends on what it is and what you are using it for. If its a simple "service" pistol with fixed sights then there isn't much sight alignment you can do other than drift the rear sight one way or the other or experiment with different loads. If you are talking about a target gun with adjustable sights or optics then I would think a good quality rest would be your best bet. Failing that, sandbags could be made to work.

Obviously, you want to take as much of the human error factor as you can out of the equation so you can focus on sight adjustment or determining how individual loadings group. Something like the Ransom Rest would be the best for this but they are expensive. There are however, a few new rest on the market that operate on the same principal that are more reasonably priced.

Tard · 06-08-2007, 07:48 PM

Whenever I tried to sight-in a pistol by resting it on sandbags, the point of aim shifted quite a bit because my body, hand and head positions are different then my normal hold.

I've never figured out how to avoid this, but now I shoot accurately enough to just SHOOT and see where the groups are.

With my XD .40 Service, the gun shoots high with 165 gr. bullets and correctly with 180 gr. bullets so I shoot.... 180gr. bullets.

My XD .45ACP Tactical isn't nearly as sensitive to bullet weight and shoots 200 gr. bullets dead-on. I don't know why.

**Rustynuts** · 06-09-2007, 04:54 AM

This is for my 40 subC and my 45C service. So if different weights float around, it's tough then?

These guns are primarily for self defense and range fun. I would probably settle on a few makes & weights of cartridges, so I could zero in with them (I have a sight tool, so I can drift them) Until I decide on getting the latest ammo and doing it again!

I've got the sights pretty well centered on the slide down to within a mm or so. Is that all that's required as long as you can hit paper?

Guess I really just want to try a rest to see how bad my normal aim is!

rgeliske · 06-09-2007, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tard

Whenever I tried to sight-in a pistol by resting it on sandbags, the point of aim shifted quite a bit because my body, hand and head positions are different then my normal hold.

I've never figured out how to avoid this, but now I shoot accurately enough to just SHOOT and see where the groups are.

With my XD .40 Service, the gun shoots high with 165 gr. bullets and correctly with 180 gr. bullets so I shoot.... 180gr. bullets.

My XD .45ACP Tactical isn't nearly as sensitive to bullet weight and shoots 200 gr. bullets dead-on. I don't know why.

The gun isn't sensitive to bullet weight, the trajectory is. Bullet weight and powder charge are the major contibutors to bullet trajectory. Any gun will shoot different patterns when bullet weight or powder charge are changed, actually bullet shape will effect it as well. If you don't reload you need to find a factory load that you gun shoots well and stay with that manufacturer and load to get anywhere close to consist results. You learn a lot about trajectory when you start reloading it is a whole other aspect of the shooting sport that's a lot of fun too.

By the way you should shoot a bunch of your defence rounds and find out where they pattern. It may be entirely different that your target rounds even if your shooting the same bullet weight.

**jnclement** · 06-09-2007, 03:02 PM

+1 for pistols. If it works while moving and shooting, it's close enough.

06-08-2007, 06:14 PM	#1
Rustynuts XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,465	Sighting In What does everyone use for sighting in on a new gun, or one that's been worked on? 1 - don't bother, just shoot 2 - Rest it on the bench at the range 3 - use some cheapo sandbags 4 - Buy a nice benchrest (MTM Predator or similar)

06-08-2007, 07:48 PM	#3
Tard XDTalk 4K Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Machias, WA Posts: 4,453	Whenever I tried to sight-in a pistol by resting it on sandbags, the point of aim shifted quite a bit because my body, hand and head positions are different then my normal hold. I've never figured out how to avoid this, but now I shoot accurately enough to just SHOOT and see where the groups are. With my XD .40 Service, the gun shoots high with 165 gr. bullets and correctly with 180 gr. bullets so I shoot.... 180gr. bullets. My XD .45ACP Tactical isn't nearly as sensitive to bullet weight and shoots 200 gr. bullets dead-on. I don't know why. __________________ If you aren't part of the solution you are part of the precipitate.

06-09-2007, 03:02 PM	#6
jnclement XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West Texas Posts: 2,613	+1 for pistols. If it works while moving and shooting, it's close enough. __________________ Contrary to what sells magazines, not all of us are, or want to be SpecOps, SEAL, Recon, Delta, CQB, Ninja, firearm-knife-tactical-death-touch instructors.

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

06-08-2007, 07:44 PM	#2
Verk XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 376	You did say what kind of gun. I think it depends on what it is and what you are using it for. If its a simple "service" pistol with fixed sights then there isn't much sight alignment you can do other than drift the rear sight one way or the other or experiment with different loads. If you are talking about a target gun with adjustable sights or optics then I would think a good quality rest would be your best bet. Failing that, sandbags could be made to work. Obviously, you want to take as much of the human error factor as you can out of the equation so you can focus on sight adjustment or determining how individual loadings group. Something like the Ransom Rest would be the best for this but they are expensive. There are however, a few new rest on the market that operate on the same principal that are more reasonably priced.

06-09-2007, 04:54 AM	#4
Rustynuts XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,465	This is for my 40 subC and my 45C service. So if different weights float around, it's tough then? These guns are primarily for self defense and range fun. I would probably settle on a few makes & weights of cartridges, so I could zero in with them (I have a sight tool, so I can drift them) Until I decide on getting the latest ammo and doing it again! I've got the sights pretty well centered on the slide down to within a mm or so. Is that all that's required as long as you can hit paper? Guess I really just want to try a rest to see how bad my normal aim is!