Need advice on adjustable sights for my Sig 226

[gunsrfun1]

Hello - I've looked all over the web on this issue and thought I would consult you folks. I've got a Certified Pre-Owned P226 9mm that I shot for the first time yesterday. Windage was a bit off, but that was easily fixed. But the gun shoots high - around 4-5 inches high at 25 yards, which is higher than I like, even with a 6 o'clock hold. The gun has the basic #8 front and rear sights, which isn't that easy on my eyes. So I'd like to get some adjustable rear sights.
I really don't see much out there. The LPA TPU sight looks like it might fit the bill, but I don't like the way it will hang over the slide. There is an LPA SPR set, but that requires fitting apparently, which isn't my strong suit. Plus it sits higher on the slide, which will make the issue worse.
And the Meprolights are a bit pricey at $130.
Really all I need is a decent, affordable adjustable rear sight that is easily fitted.
Do any of you have any suggestions? Should I just live with the gun shooting high? (Is that somewhat normal on these?)
Or -- should I just replace the rear #8 sight with a #6 -- according to Sig, each number down = 2 inches POI down @ 25 yards. This would put me pretty much at POA = POI.
Open to any and all suggestions.
Thanks

 

[SwampWolf]

SIG installs a really nice, compact adjustable rear sight on a few of 1911 pistols they make (including the STX and the TTT models). I don't know if the dovetail cut is the same on the Model 226 as it is on their 1911s but, if it is, you might want to consider getting the sight from SIG-if they sell it separately.

 

[PO2Hammer]

The LPA's won't give you a better sight picture than the stock fixed sights. They have a shallow, narrow rear notch which doesn't help with speed or precision IMO.
Heinie used to make a plain black set of their Slant Pros for Sigs. Those were the best sight picture and were easily tuned for elevation by filing off a little from the front or rear.
I would replace either the front or rear with a factory replacement of the correct height. The factory sight picture is pretty good on Sigs IMO.

 

[gunsrfun1]

Yeah, I am leaning towards simply replacing the factory rear with another factory rear that is a bit shorter. Now the problem is paying over $100 for the sight pusher that seems to be recommended for the job.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/196518/maryland-gun-works-front-and-rear-sight-tool-sig

 

[PO2Hammer]

No way.

I put the slide in a padded vice and drive the old one out with a brass or plastic tipped drift punch and a hammer. Drive the new one in the same way. Use grease and go slow. Remove a little metal from the bottom of the new sight if needed. Rears are easier to replace than fronts, but cost more.

If you don't have a vise, buy one. They're cheaper than sight pushers and more versatile.

 

[9mmepiphany]

That is quite a bit elevation error at 25 yards. The correct sights for a SIG 226 9mm are 8 & 8. Every 9mm 226 I've ever shot, about 5-7, has been pretty much dead on with the standard sight set. I'm almost thinking it has something to do with the lockup

How tight a group are you getting at 25 yards that are 4" high...the gun should be shooting inside 2"; close to 1" off a stable rest.

The problem with most after market sights is that the top of the 226 slide is domed and the bottom of most adjustable sight bases are flat...so you're going to have some overhang, unless you have the sight based buried into the slide

 

[gunsrfun1]

Epiphany, it's interesting that you mention lockup, because after I posted this thread, I noticed a problem with some burrs on my barrel hood and slide, as shown in this post I did on Sigtalk:
http://sigtalk.com/sig-sauer-pistols/10901-sig-226-burrs-barrel-hood-inside-slide-normal.html
Basically the slide appears to be banging into the barrel hood on recoil. Could this affect point of impact? I'm no physicist but I guess it could, the banging lifts the barrel up a bit?
The gun functions fine though, no reliability issues. Groups are decent.
The gun has #8 fore and aft, but I am sure it's shooting high, having shot it off a bench. At 25 yards I had to hold below a clay bird (with daylight showing between the top of the sights and the bottom of the bird) to hit it.
The gun is a Certified Preowned, so I am going to call Sig tomorrow about the burrs.
Pictures attached of the burrs in case you can't get to the Sigtalk column.

 

[9mmepiphany]

That isn't something I've seen before and certainly something that would be worth a call to SIG about. CPOs come with a 1 year warranty and it is possible something is slightly off.

Anyone who shoots many SIG 226s will tell you that a 4" error off a rest is too much

 

[gunsrfun1]

I contacted Sig today and after submitting my photos, they agreed it was not normal. I'll be sending it back for repair. Should take 3-4 weeks. Stay tuned.

 

[Fremmer]

So if the burrs cause variation in the lock up, the sights may have nothing to do with high poi? Would burrs like that affect lock up?

 

[9mmepiphany]

Don't know, I've only spent time with SIG gunsmiths, who confirmed that this is pretty common when drop-n barrels are more force-in ones

 

[maddy345]

I have used a brass punch and hammer on all of my guns without problem. Including a Springfield XD which are notoriously hard to change.