Sight Adjustment Mandatory?

[Vincent1966]

Hello All,

I recently acquired a Glock 17 with an adjustable rear sight. It eats any kind of ammo I put in it and I shoot better with it than any of my current handguns. I am not sure if this is a custom job or not, but I noticed the rear sight was noticeably off to the right. My questions are:

1. Will this hurt me in competition shooting?
2. Is this an accepted practice, meaning should I "adjust" my other guns in this same manner?
3. Does this go against the "spirit" and rules of competitive shooting?

I shoot with a local gun club, but my intentions are to join an IDPA or some other type of competitive shooting club.

Thanks,

MC

 

[rcmodel]

1. No, it will only help you to have the gun sighted in to shoot where you look.

2. Only if your other guns shoot to the left all the time.

3. Adjustable handgun sights were invented for competation shooting.

rc

 

[Vincent1966]

rcmodel,

Thanks. This is a new area for me. Yes, they do. My other guns apparently shoot to the left all the time. I thought I was pretty accurate with them. Now that I think about it, the first few shots would pull downward to the left but then I made the adjustments mentally. That is a lot harder to do when you are drawing from a holster. I was at the range this weekend. I brought 3 guns, two with the standard mfg sighting, and the Glock. The two guns shot downward to the left. The Glock did WAY better.

Side note: One of the "other" guns is a Para Ordnance PXT 14-45 NRA Gun Rights 1911. Very nice sights on it. There is a guy at the range that is interested in it. I let him shoot it. His shots were way better than mine. That got me to question my whole thinking and if I were doing something wrong.

Adjustable handgun sights were invented for competation shooting.

Is there a rear sight that easily adjusts from left to right? The Glock's adjustable sight is basically up and down. I'd like to try a sight that can be easily adjusted up/down and right/left. Heck, I'd probably get some of those for my other guns too.

MC

 

[waktasz]

If all of your guns shoot to the left, it's probably you.

 

[rcmodel]

If all of your guns shoot to the left, it's probably you.

I'd go even further and say, if all of your guns shoot to the left?
It is you.

See if you can get an experienced shooter try your guns and prove it one way or the other.

But it sounds like you are unconsciously jerking the trigger to me.

rc

 

[Vincent1966]

I'd go even further and say, if all of your guns shoot to the left?
It is you. ... But it sounds like you are unconsciously jerking the trigger to me.

I would LOVE for that to be the case, because then I could fix it by improving on me, not the firearm. Like I said earlier, I am not a stranger when it comes to shooting, but not in competitive situations. Sounds like I need to find a coach/private instructor BEFORE really diving into competitive shooting. Is that a good plan?

MC

 

[rcmodel]

Sure wouldn't hurt.

rc

 

[k4swb]

For me, most every guns out of the box that have the sights set perfectly centered shoot high and right. This is just what happens for me. After almost 50 years of shooting I cannot fix me and stopped trying years ago.

I adjust the sights to me. On non elevation adjustable sights I either pull the front sight a little deeper or swap it out for an adjustable and I prefer the latter.

I will never understand why people do not like to adjust adjustable sights. That's why they're adjustable.

 

[BullfrogKen]

Yup, it's you.

Sounds like I need to find a coach/private instructor BEFORE really diving into competitive shooting.

IDPA is not a professional sports game, so just go play.

When you show up, make friends with someone there who knows what he's going and ask him to help you through your problem.

 

[Vincent1966]

But it sounds like you are unconsciously jerking the trigger to me.

rcmodel,

I took a factory sighted gun (xd 40), removed the mag, made sure there was nothing in the chamber (several times), and practiced pulling the trigger without dry firing. I could definitely see where I could be jerking to the left. You can't imagine the joy I felt! To everyone saying, its me, that is great because it can be me and jerking the trigger is something that I can improve on with practice.

Thanks for all your comments.

MC

 

[CGT80]

I shoot an XD with dawson FO adjustable sights set in a bomar cut. I can shoot most guns with factory sights and factory ammo. With light loads, the point of impact changed with my XD. I set my sights to "point of bull" so that the sights cover the point where the bullet will hit. Some people like to hold the sights 6 o'clock to the target, but that distance changes with target size and shooting distance. For competition I sight in at the longest distance that most of the targets will be set at. I actually practice dry firing. You want to get the feel for the trigger movement. I also prep or ride the trigger. My trigger has very short travel and reset. I press the trigger 1/16" when I am about ready to fire, and then pull it the last 1/16th when I am ready to fire. Some people slap the trigger and don't maintain contact with it. I have hear that trigger slappers like very light triggers. Mine is set at 3.25 pounds.

 

[rcmodel]

I could definitely see where I could be jerking to the left.

You likely can't see much jerking when dry-firing.
Because you know it isn't going to go off and cause you to subconsciously react to the blast.

Try this.

Get some snap-caps or dummy rounds.

Then have a friend load your mags out of your sight.
Have him intersperse a dud round or two in every full mag.

Then when you shoot the gun, you will be able to see exactly what you are doing when it snaps instead of snorts & roars like your mind expected and reacted too by jerking the trigger.

rc

 

[MtnCreek]

Check out this link. http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/ayoob85.html

What RC was saying about the dummy round is spot on. If you jerk, pluck, dip, .... you'll see it! Also try mixing in dry fire with your range time. Work on your grip & trigger control w/ a couple mags of live ammo then a couple 'mags' of dry fire. When you do it the right way often enough, it will become more natural.

 

[W.E.G.]

I have the "fixed" sights pushed all the way to the right on my Glocks.

Its normal for me.

You need to take that gun to the range and shoot it to find out what is normal for you.