Walther PPK/S Shoots high

[Ninety-North]

I have a PPK/S made by Interarms. The gun shoots ~5" high at 15 yards. I thought this very odd, but I had the chance to shoot someone else's PPK/S yesterday and his shoots high also - pretty tight group centered 4" high at 21 feet.

Any ideas what is going on with the PPK/S? I don't have this issue with any other guns I shoot.

Thanks, NN

 

[Steve C]

Try 25 yds/meters where most fixed sight guns are sighted in for and perhaps a target hold vrs point of impact. A practical approach would be to just aim 4" low at close range.

Other than the typical things that throw rounds high like lifting your head, breaking your wrist up, anticipating recoil, healing there's no reason for it to shoot high. If you are using 2 hands try using 1 like pocket pistols where intended. I've found that using 1 handed bullseye type hold can improve point of impact on some weapons. Small guns with short sight radius are more dificult to aim accurately and you need to focus on the front sight, follow through to bring the sights back on target and not shift focus to see holes in the target.

 

[doglb]

Doesnt that just chap your ass, bought a brand new Kimber Aegis 9mm, and its was shooting off-you would think that as much money as we spend that these firearms would shoot straight and that the sights would be in proper alignment. Hell No-the gunsmith couldnt even loosen the screw for the adjustment, had to send it back, talk about a waist...

ended up selling it!

 

[c919]

Are most of the other guns you shoot American made?

It could be the European/American sight picture POI/6 o'clock thing....

 

[Deanimator]

What ammunition are you using and have you tried something different?

Fixed sight guns are regulated for a particular load, not necessarily the one YOU use.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

I'm not surprised. .380acp can be ammo sensitive and require a certain weight slug to shoot POA at some set range usually 20' with a short bbl pistol.
try it off a rest with several different loadings.

 

[Ninety-North]

Thanks for everyone's input. I shoot an Springfield EMP with a short barrel and am normally dead on with that and I shoot in a bullseye league so normally I can hit what I am aming at. The first time I shot it, I missed the paper at 25 yards so I brought it in till I could see where it was shooting - a lot high at every distance - both 1 and 2 handed.

My intial thought was it was designed to be aimed at the bottom of the bullseye for POI in the center or variations in ammo as has been suggested. I have tried factory loads and reloads with similar results, so I don't think that is the issue.

Given that it is an Interarms variety, any suggestions on how to find out if it is designed to be aimed low?

NN

 

[Deanimator]

My intial thought was the aim at the bottom of the bullseye for POI or variations in ammo as has been suggested. I have tried factory loads and reloads with similar results, so I don't think that is the issue.

The issue is not whether the ammunition is factory or reloads. The issue is bullet weight and velocity. What weight bullets were you shooting?

 

[Ninety-North]

I have shot 85 and 95 grain bullets with identical results.

 

[searcher451]

I think that the Interarms/Ranger folks followed the Walther manual about aiming the pistol. To wit:

In dim light, the white markings enable the sights to be quickly and accurately aligned.

In bright light, the dark outlines of the front and rear sights contrast sharply. Note that the sights should be at even height (a) across the top, with an equal amount of light (b) showing on either side of the front sight.


The (a) and (b) refer to a picture/diagram indicating that standard, picket-fence alignment of the sights will produce the appropriate results.

FWIW, my two Interarms PPKs are deadly accurate.

 

[Ninety-North]

Searcher451 thanks. I have the right site picture. In fact to hit the bull, I need to lower the front sight until it just disappears below the notch. Go figure. I'm having a gunsmith take a look at it, but it is nice to hear that someone with an interarms version is dead on.

Short is not usually an issue for me. Like I said my emp is one of the best shooting guns I own.