Glock 19 Sites drifted way left?

[.45&TKD]

Bought a used Glock 19 2nd generation with True Dot nite sites last week.

I have not fired it yet and I did not notice at first, but the sites are drifted all the way to the left in a measurable and noticable way.

Is that odd for a Glock?

The mags that came with it have SLCPD scratched into them, so I figure the gun is police surplus.

Is it possible the previous owner had them set that way to overcome an impropert grip?

If they need to be adjusted, what's the procedure?
Do I need a special tool or a gunsmith?

Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[DougW]

The XS sights on both of my Glock 17 are drifted right for me to shoot properly. The same sights on the 2 G19's and the G26 are fairly centered. It is based on the way I hold the pistols I suppose.

I usually remove the slide and place it in my padded vice to adjust the rear sight with a brass punch. I don't have the special tool.

 

[ROBBY.1911]

some people are cross-eyed dominant

 

[ckone]

dear sir,

hmm.. rear sights drifted far over to the left? got it! means it's previous owner was a lefty, and he or she was lazy...
takes time to properly learn a glock's trigger... drifting the sight is a clear tell that the previous owner was looking for an easier half-ass stop gap in leu of learning proper trigger technique to remedy his or her shots pulling to the right.

regards, sherlock holmes

- push the sight back to center in the dovetail w/ a wood block and hammer and go shoot it (and don't give up on learning the trigger too soon if your shots pull left if you're a righty, right if you're a lefty!).
with glocks, if you need to move the sight more than just a little, it's the indian, not the arrow!

 

[1KPerDay]

some people are cross-eyed dominant

true... but that has nothing to do with how the sights are aligned with each other.

 

[sarduy]

just shoot it the way it is, and if it's off-center adjusted!, dont try to make any adjustment untill you see how those sights works for you.

 

[PT1911]

place the front site in the U of the rear site... hmmmm... how does ones grip change that process? how does ones eye dominance change that process...

it is possible that the gun was shooting far left from the factory and moving the sight to the left allowed compensation for such... that is why they are not FIXED sights.

 

[1911 Operator]

i had to adjust the sights on my glock 19 really far to left also. because it was shooting way left.

just normal production variances


shoot it first though, if you need to adjust it, it's easy to tap over the sight on a glock

 

[ljnowell]

My g21 has the sights way to the right on the rear, not a big deal. Put it where you want it.

 

[.45&TKD]

it's easy to tap over the sight on a glock

Even when they are night sights?

 

[possum]

personally i agree with the above poster, and it would lead me to believe that they were having issues shooting accurately because of trigger pull most likely, so therefore during the time that they had the glock they or the armorer drifted the sight to make up for the lack of marksmanship skills.

 

[ckone]

i had to adjust the sights on my glock 19 really far to left also. because it was shooting way left.

just normal production variances

nope.
if the gun was shooting left you would've moved the sight to the right (you drift the rear in the SAME direction you want the POI to move)...
glock's build tolerances are really consistent (probably more so than any other gun maker), it's the indian, not the arrow!

glock triggers can be tricky to get the hang of, for example: if you are right-handed and a dead-on shot with a 1911 or typical DA/SA it's perfectly normal for you to hit left of POA when new to glocks... after some time and with practice you'll end up on center, lots of folks blame the gun before they've put in the work.
(a good tip is it's actually easier to figure out the glock trigger with the use of a lighter 3.5lb connector when you're starting out... then, if you want to go back to stock/heavier it will seem more natural...)

 

[1911 Operator]

Even when they are night sights?

yep, i have the trijicons on mine. they tap over just as easy as stock sites, and that crap about "you might damage the glow in the dark tubes in the sites" is just that-crap. lol

because all you need are gentle taps to move the rear site on a glock, and besides, these sites withstand the violent back and forth movement of the slide during recoil.

you can do it yourself, you don't have to order the glock site mover, or pay a glock armorer.

let me know if you have any ?'s

 

[1911 Operator]

sorry, double post

 

[1911 Operator]

nope.
if the gun was shooting left you would've moved the sight to the right )

yep this is correct, if shooting left, move the rear site to the right. my mistake (i was tired lol)

 

[PT1911]

actually... no.. if the gun is shooting LEFT, you move the (front)sight to the LEFT requireing you to move the nose of the gun to the RIGHT to shoot to the RIGHT of your initial group.


The more LEFT the (front) sight, the more RIGHT you shoot. The more RIGHT the (front) sight, the more LEFT you shoot... Come on guys.


The opposite is true of of the REAR sight.


Speaking of sights in general here, not specifically GLOCK sights... before someone says you cannot drift the FRONT sight on a GLOCK.

 

[kmbrman]

Drifting Sights

Drifting the sights on a new auto,whether a Glock or any brand ,is sometimes necessary. Guns have individual preferences as to where they will shoot even with different lot numbers in ammo. Mine is a Glock 17L and from my hand it was shooting left from day one. You will find this with any new handgun you buy, regardless of the price point. Find which ammo your gun likes best and correct the sights to hit poa.

 

[1KPerDay]

actually... no.. if the gun is shooting LEFT, you move the (front)sight to the LEFT requireing you to move the nose of the gun to the RIGHT to shoot to the RIGHT of your initial group.


The more LEFT the (front) sight, the more RIGHT you shoot. The more RIGHT the (front) sight, the more LEFT you shoot... Come on guys.

Yeah... or you could save time and effort by drifting the rear sight to the right as stated by 1911 operator 3 posts above this one.

 

[meef]

Sights, dammit.

SIGHTS.

Unless maybe you're talking about some geographical or internet location.


:banghead:

 

[1KPerDay]

Here's your grammar nazi badge, from a fellow member.

 

[ckone]

Sights, dammit.

SIGHTS.

Unless maybe you're talking about some geographical or internet location.

??? really that big of a deal to you? besides, don't you mean: internet site?

you're not one of those those guys who melts down and acts like it's ruined their day when someone calls a gun magazine a "clip" too, are you?

Drifting the sights on a new auto,whether a Glock or any brand ,is sometimes necessary. Guns have individual preferences as to where they will shoot even with different lot numbers in ammo. Mine is a Glock 17L and from my hand it was shooting left from day one. You will find this with any new handgun you buy, regardless of the price point. Find which ammo your gun likes best and correct the sights to hit poa.

again, alot)) of people drift the rear sight )) on a glock because they haven't figured out their trigger... not strictly because the gun shoots a certain way that's off from POA. the tolerances on glocks are so consistent that if one drifts a rear sight ))more than just a bit, 99.9% of the time it's the shooter, not the glock. unless the guns been bench-rested in a vice, and proven to shoot off POA, adjusting the sights is only a band-aid... at speed and under pressure, trigger control issues only become exaggerated, it's best to just put in the work IMO.

 

[meef]

you're not one of those those guys who melts down and acts like it's ruined their day when someone calls a gun magazine a "clip" too, are you?

What do you mean "acts"?

It's genuine emotion! The real deal.


::mumblegrumblegrumble::


::..pinning grammar nazi badge badge on lapel...::

.

 

[ckone]

nevermind... that's cool. i gots mad clips fo' my burner yo!

 

[Evela]

Sighted in at 25 yards from the factory, the rear sight is set very slightly to the right (they believe that most shooters are right handed and shoot slightly to the left). Any Glock set to the far left is WAAAAAY off. Move it back to dead center or just slightly to the right.

 

[PT1911]

again, alot() of people drift the rear sight () on a glock because they haven't figured out their trigger... not strictly because the gun shoots a certain way that's off from POA. the tolerances on glocks are so consistent that if one drifts a rear sight ()more than just a bit, 99.9% of the time it's the shooter, not the glock. unless the guns been bench-rested in a vice, and proven to shoot off POA, adjusting the sights is only a band-aid... at speed and under pressure, trigger control issues only become exaggerated, it's best to just put in the work IMO.

I have never heard anyone talk about the tolerances of a Glock in such a way... they are oversized to say the least. I see no reason one Glock couldnt shoot different than another... What is that they say about Glock brass? Why is that again? Oh yeah... the more reliable the gun.. the more slack the tolerances....and sacrifices accuracy in the process... but the gun will feed anything no matter the grime...