New Ruger SP101 .22lr

[Rodney Richwine Jr.]

A common mistake new shooters make is to blame the sights and start adjusting them. You are doing what is known as chasing the bullet.

When I shoot a new to me gun I never know for sure whether I am testing myself, the gun or the ammunition. I make several separate trips to the range before I touch the sights.

The biggest variable is me. I may have the jitters from drinking caffeine, being tired or not practicing the basics of proper breathing, grip, or trigger pull. My most common fault is not focusing on the front sight. When I realize I am not doing so I will repeat out loud to myself “front sight, front sight, front sight” while I am pulling the trigger. (It is also a good way to get the range to yourself. People look at funny when you talk to yourself). After a few rounds of doing so I am usually back on target.



Your second target shows your groups are mostly centered. Personally I would reset the rear sight so it is centered and make several trips to the range before touching them again.

Disregard me asking what you meant by resetting the rear sight, you already told me, sorry about that.

 

[22-rimfire]

A common mistake new shooters make is to blame the sights and start adjusting them. You are doing what is known as chasing the bullet.

When I shoot a new to me gun I never know for sure whether I am testing myself, the gun or the ammunition. I make several separate trips to the range before I touch the sights.

The biggest variable is me. I may have the jitters from drinking caffeine, being tired or not practicing the basics of proper breathing, grip, or trigger pull. My most common fault is not focusing on the front sight. When I realize I am not doing so I will repeat out loud to myself “front sight, front sight, front sight” while I am pulling the trigger. (It is also a good way to get the range to yourself. People look at funny when you talk to yourself). After a few rounds of doing so I am usually back on target.

Your second target shows your groups are mostly centered. Personally I would reset the rear sight so it is centered and make several trips to the range before touching them again.

However, chasing the bullet is precisely what you do with sight adjustments whether it be a scope or iron sights.

Personally, since you are comfortable with it right now, I'd leave the sights alone and continue to shoot.... basically see how it goes. There will be some variance between ammo types but at close range (25 yds or less) the effect is diminished. Spend time on your shooting form,

 

[Glock Doctor]

Thank you sir for your input. Yes, I'm right handed and I shot single action. ....... For now I've got a dirty gun to clean and I've got to learn how to re-oil the inner workings; the outside, barrel, and cylinder are no problem, but anywho. Thank you sir and have a good one.

Here's a couple of hints for ya!



For any stainless gun: Flitz Metal Polish Saves a lot of the 'Donkey Work' of gun cleaning!

Followed up by: Break Free CLP.

Finally, lose the slotted tip; and wrap the cotton patches around the brush. The best pure cotton (and non-carcinogenic) cleaning patches come from Pro-Shot.

The best all-purpose, use everywhere, gun cleaning rod comes from Kleenbore 22 LR Pocket Gun Cleaning Kit. This should do it for ya!

 

[Rodney Richwine Jr.]

Here's a couple of hints for ya!



For any stainless gun: Flitz Metal Polish Saves a lot of the 'Donkey Work' of gun cleaning!

Followed up by: Break Free CLP.

Finally, lose the slotted tip; and wrap the cotton patches around the brush. The best pure cotton (and non-carcinogenic) cleaning patches come from Pro-Shot.

The best all-purpose, use everywhere, gun cleaning rod comes from Kleenbore 22 LR Pocket Gun Cleaning Kit. This should do it for ya!

Thank you for the list of good supplies, I wrote them down. I made it back to the range and I'm fixing to post how it went.

 

[Rodney Richwine Jr.]

OK, this time I used a gun rest. Again I used Remington Thunderbolt, except for the last 8 rounds I used Winchester SuperX hollow point and those 8 were shot in a rush because the range was closing. Every target was from 7yds except for the one marked 15yds. I only went through 430 rounds of a 500 CT box and had only 1 misfire. All in all, I think I'm close to having it sighted. I think one more good session at the range will do it. Here are two pictures of my targets. Thank you for any and all input and have a good one.

 

[FROGO207]

Welcome to the forum.
It looks like you are getting things sorted out. It might be worth trying a few different brands of ammo to see if one shoots tighter groups than the others. Most .22s will shoot one brand/type (lead or plated) of ammo best. I would just shoot a box or two of 50 of each type I could find without adjusting the sights looking for the smallest group, rather than where the group hits on the target at first. Then adjust your sights to that ammo you find shoots best for accuracy if you want to use it most. You might get lucky and find that the ammo you are already using works best. I usually find my .22s like the expensive stuff best though. Taking your time for all shots and resting your arm or arms often will improve your aim. After a while you will be able to shoot longer strings without needing to rest and have tighter groups as your muscle memory and strength get better..

I purchased a laser sight for my Walther P22 some years ago. When I started to use it I found that the red dot really wobbled around on the target at 50 feet after my arms got tired. After I built my arm strength up by shooting a lot the dot hardly moved at all. Happy shooting.

 

[joneb]

I recently acquired a H&R 929 with a 6" barrel, the rear sight is adjustable for windage only. I have tried about a dozen different kinds of 22 lr ammo in it and they all shoot a bit different for windage and elevation.

 

[22-rimfire]

OK, this time I used a gun rest. Again I used Remington Thunderbolt, except for the last 8 rounds I used Winchester SuperX hollow point and those 8 were shot in a rush because the range was closing. Every target was from 7yds except for the one marked 15yds. I only went through 430 rounds of a 500 CT box and had only 1 misfire. All in all, I think I'm close to having it sighted. I think one more good session at the range will do it. Here are two pictures of my targets. Thank you for any and all input and have a good one.

I think you're doing just fine. Keep it up. 10-15 yds is a good plinking distance for handguns.

People make fun of Remington Thunderbolts ("thunderturds") because there used to be such a high percentage of misfires/duds up to about 10%. This is a few years back and impressions were formed which is why you'll see comments like.... I'll never buy or shoot Thunderbolts, etc. They are a bit dirty, but cleaning a gun is not hard. I shoot them from my old stock and do get misfires. I just don't generally shoot them in semi-auto firearms. My favorite plinking ammo is Federal Champion/Lightning. They always worked and shot good enough for me. They come in 50 round boxes which I prefer, and were available from Walmart. Lightning is the WM loading.

 

[Scott B.]

I picked up an SP101 .22 as a farm/utility gun. The sights were spot on from the factory on mine. I swapped the stock grips for a Hogue rubber monogrip before I shot it the first time and it made a big improvement in the feel of the little revolver. Congrats on the new gun. You choose a really nice revolver.

 

[stchman]

I own a Ruger SP101 in .22LR and it is a good shooting revolver.