The continueing saga of my left shooting Browning Hi-Power

[WonderNine]

Gunfyter, yes I've removed the magazine safety. Sorry, forgot the answer that. The trigger pull is actually not that bad. A hair heavier than my father's Beretta 92, but less creepy. I like the trigger, but it could be a little lighter.

Bren, you don't use your sights in a 7 yard gunfight, so what's the point? I'm gonna get this thing shooting straight at 30 yards or know the reason why.

 

[Old Fuff]

The fact that the sights are centered on the slide is meaningless, because the barrel may not be concentric to the slide (especially at the muzzle). Or the way your individiual eye sees the sights may be the cause. More often then not if the sights are centered I tend to shoot slightly to the right. Getting an exact zero for a particular gun/load/individual is the reason to have adjustable sights, or to adjust fixed sights to the degree they can be adjusted.

One time the members of our small-bore shooting team tried an experiment. In each case the pistol that belonged to a shooter was zeroed for that person. But when we exchanged guns and fired a slow-fire string each gun was off for that other person - sometimes a little, and sometimes a lot.

I would be much more interested in getting a gun to shoot point-of-aim/point-of-impact then worrying about having the sights centered. Face it - guns are different, even within a certain make and model, and people shoot them differently.

 

[Gordy Wesen]

"When groups are offest to the left and circular one can assume that the firing-hand wrist is offset to the right. It does not take much mis-alignment to cause this effect and it's easy to fix.
Move the hand around the frame until the wrist aligns with the vertical axis.
Unfortunately the fat frame and long trigger reach can frustrate the most ardent."
___________________

Wish I had said that, but it comes from "the Modern Technique of the Pistol". p.146

 

[BigG]

Since firearms recoil away from any solid support, your grip must be consistent or the group center will change as your grip shifts. That's one of the infuriating things about pistol shooting. Your pistol appears to be shooting within spec to me.

 

[Sean Smith]

The fact that the sights are centered on the slide is meaningless, because the barrel may not be concentric to the slide (especially at the muzzle).

Bingo.

 

[Gerald McDonald]

I think Bren is right, move to 7 yards and bring your group size down to a level that you can tell whats happening. At 35 yards your all over the target so its impossible to tell if its technique or gun problem from a photo.
I was taught that the sights are there to be used, and 7 yards is far enough away that they are useful, also agree that it makes no difference if the sights are centered or not.

 

[Kingknives]

I agree, move it a bit closer, double and triple check your technique, have someone observe you or video tape yourself if possible. Also, use a bench rest. Even if it's just a couple of small sand bags. The adjust your sights as needed. They very well may not be "centered".

Good luck,
Joe

 

[WonderNine]

See my new thread on this

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=28699

 

[spacemanspiff]

i have the same problem, i shoot to the left of POA. but with careful concentration i can over come that obstacle. but that in itself is very difficult. i have a tough time slowing myself down. my trigger finger just wants to keep going faster and faster, while i'm saying "Slow Down!"

my first shot will go right where i aim it 90% of the time. that tells me i do the right thing with my first shot. after that it all goes down hill, whether i'm shooting my steyr or my kimber.

my next range visit will address where i place my finger on the trigger, as well as how tight i'm gripping with my strong hand.

my best group came from 40 shots (5 mags) through my kimber, at 7 yards without using the sights, just instinctive shooting. the first 8 shots were all touching, and drifted horizontally, about a 3 inch group. the next 4 mags opened that up to about 7 inches, with 3 flyers.