Question about sighting in revolver.

[juneau803]

Fellas, I need help!!!

My wife is a pretty good shot, but when I sight in her Diamondback 4" revolver to hit point of aim (for me) she seems to always group to the right of the bull in a vertical line a couple of inches to the right.

Now she has a good stance, a good grip and no real issues that I can work on. When she shoots her Kimber 1911 and Buckmark 22 that I sight point of aim (for me) the problem is not there. She is a lefty and I am a righty.

Now should I just adjust her over to the left a bit and be done with it? She is very consistant with her "to the right" groupings.

I would really appreciate the advice on this one as it has been very frustrating for her and me. (help me.....help me.....) :banghead:

 

[carebear]

Is that shooting double action?

The other two guns are comparatively light single actions with shorter trigger reaches so that'd be my first guess.

If it is DA, she may be consistently pushing the trigger to the right while trying to pull through the heavier double action pull. Check whether she is only bending her trigger finger at the second joint, not the knuckle and that the rest of her fingers aren't sympathetically flexing.

Have her try cocking it first to check.

Also, is she left eye dominant as well as left handed?

 

[LHB1]

Juneau,
Yes, if she is consistent in her shot placement, sight in her revolver FOR HER. I suspect it has something to do with grip shape/style and hold. It doesn't matter if she stands on one leg and pulls the trigger with her thumb. As long as she does it CONSISTENTLY, then sight in her gun for her impact point. You can always click the sights over if her impact point moves. That is what adjustable sights are for. Just my .02.

Good shooting and be safe.
LB

 

[juneau803]

She is shooting SA. When she shoots DA, her groups actuall cluster closer to where I sighted it in. She has pretty strong fingers. At first I thought she wasn't pulling the trigger straight back in SA. When we worked on that she brought it closer to point of aim but not much.

Actually I went back and checke all her targets and she seems to place to the right predominantlywith the revolver and even a little with the semis. With the revolver it is real pronounced.

I'm just wondering how far one can go with trying to improve technique before you give in and adjust the sight. Remember this is my wife so if I want to keep her shooting and me sane I have to tread lightly. You know what I mean.

 

[carebear]

I'd still suspect pushing at the knuckle or sympathetic clenching of the other fingers if is a cross-platform thing.

But, the general rule is once you have a consistent group, start cranking sights.

So, just like LHB said, she probably just holds it a bit differently than the autos and for defense and plinking, who cares. Put the sights on target for her and let 'er rip.

 

[juneau803]

Thanks guys, this really helps.

I think she has minor some grip, squeeze issues with the revolver since she is not as familiar with it as she is her semi's.

So I will crank her over a bit until she starts straying to the left.

It hasn't been easy with her being a lefty and me a righty but she has a real nice weaver stance and loves to shoot. I'm a lucky guy.

She got a little freaked out because she has her CCW shooting qualification this weekend and was hitting pretty close to the right of the target at 15 yd distance. So I've been scambling to find a solution.

 

[carebear]

Definitely for the qual just crank the sights and double check her at the 15.

There's always more time for gentle coaching.

 

[carpettbaggerr]

I'm just wondering how far one can go with trying to improve technique before you give in and adjust the sight.

Huh? If she's getting a small, consistent group, her technique is fine. That's why the sights move, you know.

You really can't sight in a gun for someone else. The groups may be close, but they won't be dead on. Everyone's different.

 

[Standing Wolf]

You really can't sight in a gun for someone else.

Bingo! You can roughly sight in a gun for someone else, but no two people grip a gun the exact same way.

I'm finding guns I sighted in several years ago are no longer correctly sighted: my grip has changed, and I no longer shoot quite so much to the right.

 

[Majic]

As it sounds like she is not a new shooter why not let her adjust her own sights. If she doesn't know how then it's about time she learn.

 

[db4]

Hate to bring it up...but what makes you think your technique is perfect and hers isn't?
My brother and I have some matching revolvers (S&W 17's and 57's), we're both pretty decent shots, and if we trade guns POI moves several inches at 25 yards for both of us. Everybody does it differently.

Sight her gun for her, not for you, it will pay off in results...and probably in domestic tranquility as well.

 

[juneau803]

Good points everyone

Thanks to all for the suggestions. I have moved the sights for her and her grouping has moved over accordingly. The last few days her shooting problems have been confounded by low light conditions in the evening. We finally figured that she was not looking over the sights properly.

Took a while for me to figure that her non dominant eye was getting involved. Problem was solved by having her close one eye to verify she was looking over sights with her dominant eye. That kept the "flyers" down to an acceptable level and has built her confidence up.

As far as her technique vs mine.....I wish I looked half as good as her but the proof is on the paper. Know what I mean?

 

[carebear]

confounded by low light conditions in the evening

Well, now it's Harries Technique time....

After she starts getting used to focusing with the dominant eye you might want to slowly get that other eye open.

 

[juneau803]

Carebear,

Yes, most definetly. She was shooting both eyes open before until all of a sudden she could barely hit the target. Freaked us both out until we figured it out. Shooting close to dusk with snow conditions was making her weak eye play tricks on her.

Solved it by having her close her eye. At the qual she will be in an indoor range and light conditions optimom.

Bad timing, you know with the confidence thing shaken by quirks. I'll be glad when this is over. It's tough trying to figure what's happening with another person's shooting. Ya gotta respect shooting coachs for what they go thru. :banghead:

No more shooting close to dusk.

 

[juneau803]

Wife passed CCW class (with flying colors)

Hey guys,

Just wanted to let you know that my wife finished the range portion of the CCW class and did me proud!!!! In fact she outshot a good portion of the guys there.

Here is what she had to do to qualify: (i'd post a pic of the target if I knew how)

Colt Diamondback 4" w/hogue grips

5 shot sitting SA 7 yds 2 hand
5 shot sitting DA 7 yds 2 hand
10 shot standing SA 7 yds 2 hand
10 shot standing DA 7 yds 2 hand
10 shot standing DA 15 yds 2 hand
10 shot standing DA 10 yds 1 hand

She had 48 out of 50 on the target.

32 of the shots were in the vital zone of the silloughette and the rest were solid hits with the 2 misses being the one handed double action at 10 yards.

Not bad since we had never practiced DA one handed before.

Anyway's thanks for all the advice, she was able to shoot her way out of it.

 

[carebear]

Did they change the qual for the CCW or was that her instructors own course?

I remember 7 out of 10 in the black on a B-25 at 7 yds and 5 out of 10 on the same silhouette at 10 yds, SA or DA offhand, being all the law required.

 

[juneau803]

Carebear,

Yes I think you are right about the actual qual number. I think her instructor believes in having them shoot. I didn't have to do that much when I qualified last year. I say more power to her though.

 

[carebear]

Definitely the more the better, as long as they pass or fail just on what's required.

Good for her!

 

[BluesBear]

I have said it before and I am still of the belief that Women are intrinsically better handgun shooters than men.

Quite often you have to explain the mechanics of grip, stance, aiming and whatnot, but from there on they're just better. I think it has something to do with better fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

I do know from experience that, when it comes to shooting handguns, women are much easier to teach than men.


CONGRATULATIONS to Mrs. Juneau803!

 

[juneau803]

Bluesbear,

It sounds like you have described my wife exactly.

Now she just wants to just shoot her .22's and have fun, and next learn
how to shoot rifle!!