Sig 226 9mm shoots high

[Sauer Grapes]

I just bought a gently used p226r to add to my Sig family. Took it to the range last weekend to try it out.
Was shooting extreme 147gr plated bullets with 3.1gr of Universal Clays in Winchester brass, with CCI primers. Wow! 11 inches high at 25yds!
Someone told me the 226 9mm doesn't like lead bullets, especially heavy ones. What's up with that?

Well, I went back today with some factory Federal 115gr RN TMJ and RMR 124gr JHP. {4.2gr Universal Clays.}Well, it did much better, but, it still shoots about 5'' high at 25yds. I even had another shooter shoot the gun. {same result} Nice groups, just high.
I also had some old Remington 115gr JHP with me just in case I needed another test bullet. They also produced pretty much the same result.
Barrel lock up is good, slide has almost no play in it.
Both sights are numbered #8, which I assume is the way they are suppose to be.
Not sure where to go from here, other than put an adjustable sight on it or just switch front and or rear sight.

 

[Rubber_Duck]

Try a taller front sight. SIGs also use a "combat holdover" sighting picture when using OEM sights.

This page has some detailed information on SIG sight numbers and their corresponding heights: http://www.realgunreviews.com/sig-sauer-sight-heights-sight-numbers/

 

[Peter Gun]

When people are just not used to the sig sight picture, the usually shoot low, not high.
Are they aftermarket sights possibly? Modified somehow? I’ve never shot a sig that shot high, especially not that much.

 

[1KPerDay]

Try a taller front sight. SIGs also use a "combat holdover" sighting picture when using OEM sights.

This page has some detailed information on SIG sight numbers and their corresponding heights: http://www.realgunreviews.com/sig-sauer-sight-heights-sight-numbers/

Good info but a combat hold would make his problem worse, not better. It's shooting high, not low.

 

[Sauer Grapes]

They are definitely Sig sights. I have an older p226 in 40s&w which shoots great. That one has a #8 on the front and a #7 on the rear.
Thanks for that link Duck.
I might buy a bore sight and try and confirm what I'm seeing.

 

[CNobbe]

Dang, that is high. When I first tried a 226 9mm I shot low, figured out the sights after some practice. How's the accuracy at a closer distance? I'd be curious to see how it's shooting at 25 feet...

 

[Sauer Grapes]

Dang, that is high. When I first tried a 226 9mm I shot low, figured out the sights after some practice. How's the accuracy at a closer distance? I'd be curious to see how it's shooting at 25 feet...

Our range is set up for 50yds,25yds, 40ft and 12ft. I shot it at the 40ft range. I aimed at the bottom of a 3x5'' index card.{5'' being the vertical} I put a nice group in the card but it was the upper half. I would call it around 3'' at that distance. Slow fire off hand I put 8 out of 10 rounds in the index card.
After doing some reading on the link supplied by Rubber Duck, it sounds like the only constant is that, as a rule the front sight will always be lower or the same number as the rear.
Looking at my p226 40s&w, those sights might have been changed. Front is a number 8 and the rear is a number 6.

 

[CNobbe]

My stock 226 .40 has #6 front and 8 rear.

 

[Rbstuartjr]

Just checked my stock 226 in 9mm, they are both 8's. I never had mine shoot high. My problem was shooting low, then I figured out the combat sight.

I also figured out that mine prefers 124gn pills. I'm using RMR 124 jhp with Hs-6, though, not universal clays.

 

[Doublehelix]

I have a 9mm P226 Legion in SAO, and it came with 8/8 sights, and it shot dead nuts on.

I bought a set of TruGlo fiber optic sights for it, also in 8/8, and had a heck of time with them, they always shot high. Very high.

I ended up selling the TruGlo's and buying some LPA fiber optic sights with an adjustable rear. I love them, and have decided that any aftermarket sights I buy from here on in will be adjustable.

 

[Sauer Grapes]

Being in an impatient mood last night, I took the slide off the gun and put the rear sight to the grinder! I ground off about .019'' from the rear sight. I figured the worst that can happen is I have to replace the sight which was pretty much inevitable anyway.
Got done work early today and beat it to the range with 4 different types of ammo.
124gr RMR plated FP-4.1gr WSF-OAL- 1.084
124gr Rainer plated HP-4'1gr Aliant 20/28- OAL- 1.084
147gr Extreme plated RN-3.4gr American Select- OAL-1.155
Blazer factory 115gr RN.
Distance shooting 25yds.
Well, I'm getting in the ball park.
The Rainier 124gr HP was the worst of the batch shooting about 4'' high.
RMR 124gr FP was better shooting about 3'' high.
Surprisingly the 147gr Extreme did about 2 1/2'' high.
Blazer 115gr was pretty much the same as the 147gr plated.
Groups were good. {average 3 1/4''} Best I can do with these old eyes.lol I think I'll get a #6 front sight and see how that does. I'd rather float the target a little than have to cover it with a combat sight picture.
BTW, I did such a nice job on the rear sight, I cleaned it up with a file and a honing stone, all I need is some cold blue and I'm good to go!!

 

[texagun]

Being in an impatient mood last night, I took the slide off the gun and put the rear sight to the grinder!

That statement alone made the hair on the back of my neck to stand straight up.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

The sights are probably regulated for 115/124 gr. bullets. A 147 has more hang time in barrel which will make it shoot higher.

 

[Sauer Grapes]

That statement alone made the hair on the back of my neck to stand straight up.

I'm sure it did!! It came out very well though. I'm pretty good with tools and my hands being a career finish carpenter.
That and changing the front sight got me where I wanted to be. Stoned the top of the sight, hit it with a bluing touch up pen and it looks good.