Sighting In A New Pistol

[16in50calNavalRifle]

I searched many times in all the forums and couldn't find anything on this, but apologies if I missed an older thread.

Just wondeing if there is anything more to sighting in a new pistol (that is, learning how to aim it effectively) than carefully noting systematic errors in groups on the targets, and adjusting accordingly.

I was thinking of taking along one of those annotated targets that indicates the source of errors off the bullseye and seeing if that helps adjust what are sure to be some systematic errors.

If there's more to it than that -any tips or referrals to threads on THR or resources elsewhere on the web -that provide additional info on getting the hang of a new pistol, please post them here.

Thanks in advance ....

 

[Mags]

Well if your pistol doesn't have adjustable sights you are not really sighting it in. But I do understand what you are saying with pistols I always tend to shoot to the left so I adjust and continue. Hopefully you error to the same direction with every pistol so you don't have to figure out where/how to shoot with each pistol you own. I just use Shoot-N-C targets where I see where I am hitting and then adjust my aim.

 

[16in50calNavalRifle]

Thanks, Mags. These will not be adjustable sights, so as you say the adjustment will be by the shooter, uh, me. First pistol so there won't be any others to compare - yet. Next one will out of a glass case, with 10 days to wait - not special ordered, with 7 MONTHS to wait ....

 

[Steve C]

I was thinking of taking along one of those annotated targets that indicates the source of errors off the bullseye and seeing if that helps adjust what are sure to be some systematic errors.

The error correction target it a good reference and you will see experienced bullseye shooters with one of these taped in their shooters box.

To use the "wheel of misfortune" correctly you have to know how to do things properly in the first place. One of the best sources for pistol instruction is The Army Pistol Marksmanship Training Guide. Don't get hung up on the one handed bullseye style shooting being different than the 2 handed shooting commonly seen in combat shooting and TV shows. The basics are the same and the 2nd hand is just another error producing appendage one needs to consider when doing error analysis.

While your at, it look over the http://www.bullseyepistol.com website for more tips and help in shooting handguns.

 

[ReloaderFred]

Some of the most common mistakes new (and not so new) handgun shooters make are:

1. Looking at the target instead of the front sight
2. Anticipating the shot and either flinching or jerking the trigger
3. Squeezing the whole hand instead of using a firm grip and moving only the trigger finger
4. Not placing the hand in the proper location on the pistol grip
5. Crossing over the thumb of the support hand, which will eventually get it cut by a retracting slide. Even when shooting a revolver, it's good practice to keep from crossing over the thumb and not get into that habit.
6. Not properly aligning the front sight with the rear sight

Those are just a few of the common things to watch for. There are others as well, but these are the things I see the most of with my students.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[SwampWolf]

When "sighting-in" (and as The Real Mags noted, with non-adjustable sights, you're really just determining how the poi corresponds with the poa) use a good rest and insure that the barrel is not resting on anything. Finally, even if you don't have adjustable sights, most rear "fixed" sights can be moved in their dovetail slots to compensate for windage anomalies.

 

[BCRider]

First pistol? First off congrats on what you'll find is a huge amount of fun shooting. And by all means look into some of the lower key club level competitive matches in your area to add to the fun. Or go the extra yard and consider doing some IPSC or IDPA matches. Any of these are so much more fun than just punching paper while standing still.

Here's a couple of links to stuff on the web that I found really helped my own grip a huge amount. These along with that problems chart will help you to zero in on your own issues. Also don't be surprised if the first couple to 10 magazines see bullets scattered in wide groups. It may not be just you. All four of the pistols I've bought from new rather than used took from 10 to 100 rounds to break or bed in and begin shooting decently tight groups. I'm sure part of this was me getting used to them but in the last couple I know it was also the guns themselves. Just don't get all frustrated if your first few magazines worth don't seem connected to your hands in any way....

Here's the links...

http://www.handgunsmag.com/tactics_training/combatg_100306/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysa50-plo48