[PorkFat]

I just picked up a Taurus PT92. It's the first handgun I have with fixed sights.

Using a Laserlyte precision boresighter (the same one that got me on bullseye with 2 rifles and a handgun) shows that the vertical point of aim is 2.5" higher than the where the barrel is pointing @ 10 yards. It's horizontal point of aim is spot on though.

Is this normal? Is it trying to figure recoil into the equation by having the point of aim being higher to compensate for the raised barrel by the time the bullet actually leaves the muzzle?

I haven't shot it too much yet but what I have shot has been low.

[ChristopherG]

Is it trying to figure recoil into the equation by having the point of aim being higher to compensate for the raised barrel by the time the bullet actually leaves the muzzle?

Yes. And, with fixed sight guns, it can only make this calculation really work with one weight of bullet. Heavier bullets take longer in the barrel, and thus exit when the barrel is pointed higher, and thus shoot higher; so if the loads you've been shooting have shot low, and you want a load that will shot to point of aim, try a heavier bullet--this is a 9mm, right, and you've probably been shooting 115's? Try 124's, which (Winchester White Box and CCI Blazer prices notwithstanding) is the original and standard bullet weight in 9mm parabellum.

[PorkFat]

OK, I was using 115 gr. and I have several more boxes to go through. I'll try some 124 to see it that works better. Thanks!

[PorkFat]

One question that popped in my head: At what distance are fixed sight pistolsdesigned for?

[9mmepiphany]

i've always taken it for granted that they are zeroed for 25 yards

[1911 guy]

Find the load your gun likes, buy a lot of it, and file the front sight to bring up the point of impact.

[PorkFat]

No need to file the front sight. Just in case anybody is wondering, I switched to 124gr rounds and I'm dead on!

The most accurate rounds I fired were Hornady TAP 9mm 124gr. Expensive, but I'm not practicing with them much more, I'm just keeping them in my gun at home.

I can't believe something as simple as bullet weight was getting me so frustrated!

I wasted money on new sights that made my gun look dumb and I'm just going to return the part I didn't modify hopefully...