[rotnguns]

I’ve learned something about dot sights today that most of you probably know already…As an old revolver shooter, I’m used to lining up the tops of the front and rear sights. However, when I employed this strategy with my service model XD-9, shots printed about 3-4 inches high at 25 yards, even with light 115 grain white box. I was about to purchase other sights, perhaps a taller front sight, but today at the range I placed the front-sight dot just above the bottom of the rear sight notch, instead of lining up the tops of the front and rear sights. Worked great! I was interested to find that the drift adjustment I had made to the rear sight during my unenlightened sighting days had to be corrected almost back to the original position. My guess is that the vertical axes of symmetry for the dots on the rear sight and the notch on the rear sight do not coincide.

It's interesting that I had no problems with such handguns as the Beretta 92FS and the P220 ST - I postulate that the "point of aim" designs associated with these two fine handguns largely mitigated the effects of my erroneous sighting method since I was effectively aiming low.

I suspect that the principles underlying my experience are elemental to most of you. However, I posted this message because in my search for solutions, I found several posts detailing experiences almost identical to mine, and I hope some shooters like me who started out with revolvers can benefit from the information.

Rotnguns

 

[Margana]

The Xds are set up for a 6 o clock hold....That said, using the top of the front sight as the POA....My XD40 shoots to the POA, my XD9 SC requires the 6 O Clock hold to hit the center of the bullseye....My XD9 Tactical shot high by about 4 inches even with the 6 O clock hold....It did not change after 500 rounds, so I installed a Sig number 6 front sight, now it shoots as my XD 9 SC. I prefer the way my XD40 shoots (I think the top of the front sight should be POA).

I would not suggest changing sights until you have fired the gun at least 500 to 1000 times....

Of course, I assume you have verified the POI with shooting at bench rest. Many shooters tend to heel the gun off hand and at the moment of trigger release, the muzzle dips a bit.....

You can buy, from CDNN Sig OEM takeoffs. The Sig 220 .45/226 .40 have nuber 6 front sights which shoot lower than the "standard" number 8 front sights which are on the 9mm Sig 226. You can buy a set (front and rear) for $4.99 (which sure beats the $50 per sight new, that Sig charges). You could send the gun back to Springfield to have them sight it in for you and to change the sights as it's a real bear to get the XD sights off on a new gun. If you resort to buying the Sig takeoffs, you will need to add a drop of Locktite as the sights get compressed when they have been previously installed. Good luck!

 

[rotnguns]

Thanks for the very informative reply, Margana. Since I figured out how to obtain a reliable sight picture with the factory sights on my xd-9 service, I don't plan on changing out the sights anymore. I did my sighting from a sandbag rest, as with all my guns. You provide an interesting contrast to my experience with the xd-9 tactical. I guess it's the luck of the draw, but my tactical was dead on at 25 yards using the 6 o'clock hold advised by Springfield. Judging from your experience and that of many other posters, I suspect a lack of uniformity in Springfield's sighting process for new handguns. If I do change sights, I will try the SIG OEM sights you mentioned in your post - hard to go wrong at that price!

Rotnguns