[Eager]

I bought Heinie Straight Eight sights directly from Heine and had them installed on my XD-9 (the 4-inch barrel service model). They’ve always shot too high even with a six o’clock hold. I finally got around to starting do something about it. Since I just got a new stock 5-inch barreled XD-9, that I plan on using in USPSA I went to the indoor range with a bench rest to do take some data on both. What follows is a report of the results.

Attached are two photos of the shooting results. All shots were taken at 50 ft range using a bench rest with S&B 115 gr FMJ. The sight picture used for all shots was a six o’clock hold with the black circle on top of the front sight. The black circle of the sight was about 3.5-inches in diameter so the hold was 2 3/4-inches below dead center. The targets shown are typical results. Many other targets were used all with similar results. Just these two targets are shown for convenience.

As can be seen the results from the stock 5-inch barreled XD-9 show that the six-o’clock hold at 2 3/4-inches below dead center result in POI about right in the center. On the other hand, shots from the 4-inch XD-9 with the Heinie sights all center about 4-inches too high even with a six o’clock hold as I suspected.

I’m going to contact Heinie about this, because this Heinie sighted set-up shoots much higher than I think it should.

Comments?
http://photobucket.com/albums/y7/Eager/?action=view&current=4inXD9result.jpg
http://photobucket.com/albums/y7/Eager/?action=view&current=5inXD9result.jpg

 

[stealthsniper]

That's definitely an odd result. Hopefully it's some form of operator error. Have you tried shooting closer in? I believe the Heinie sights are more intended for combat/defense situations than target shooting at a distance. Perhaps the sight design doesn't lend itself to accurate positioning at such distances.

Good luck getting it sorted.

 

[Eager]

No, the results from the stock XD-9 show that there was no operator error and these results were repeated many times.

Range was not the problem either. There's only about half an inch drop or rise in trajectory out to about 40 yards. Most recommend zeroing at 25 yds. I was at about 17 yards. See here:
http://www.1911forum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47444&highlight=Heinie+high

After searching various pistol boards I've found several cases of Heinie sight set-ups shooting too high. In these cases the owners either got a taller front sight, or just changed all sights to a different brand. I my case it will be more expensive to go to a taller front, since I've got tritium inserts.

 

[stealthsniper]

I wasn't implying operator error with the gun itself. Rather, I thought there might be some difficulty acclimating to the new sight picture. After all, the only vertical alignment is from the sight edge, which can be tough against a black target.

I'd like to think that Heinie will swap out your front sight free of charge. I was considering Heinie sights for my gun (went with Ameriglo Shost Rings instead) and still plan to put them on another gun. However, if Heinie doesn't handle this well, Rick @ Ameriglo will get more business.

Good luck. Please let us know how Heinie responds.

 

[Eager]

According to my back-of-the-envelope Trigonometric calcualtions; In order to bring the POA up 6-inches to where I want (so a center hold can be used, eliminating any six o'clock hold) I'll need a front sight that's about 0.0688-inches taller.

Another wrinkle is that I'd like the rear sight slot "opened" to about 0.140-inch, to improve sight picture. This is what's being called "race cut" Heinies. http://www.gunracing.com/Qstore/Qstore.cgi?CMD=011&PROD=000033

 

[nogoa]

I think the reason is you are using a 25yd target at only 50ft. I think with bullet drop at the other 25ft, you'd be right on. The other target you must just be mistaken and actualy shot at 25yds. Operator error alright.

 

[stealthsniper]

Another wrinkle is that I'd like the rear sight slot "opened" to about 0.140-inch, to improve sight picture. This is what's being called "race cut" Heinies.

Any machine shop should be able to do that for $10 - $20. Re-finishing the sights might be somewhat difficult if you have night sights, but a careful hand should prevail.