Guns, Bows, Shooting Sports, and Hunting Adjusting rear sights

[Radshooter]

I just picked up a new . 45 ACP Springfield Armory 1911. My first 1911 in fact. It is a pretty basic bare bones pistol except it has non-adjustable (no adjusting screws) night sights. I am hitting consistently to the left of the bullseye on the target. I think I need to move the rear sights a bit, but have never done it before.

How hard is it to do? Special equipment? I have brass punches of various sizes. Is this something I could do on a tailgate at the range? Or is this a case of "if you have to ask, don't try it. "?

Thanks guys. I would like to try this myself if possible because it is 90 miles back to the gunshop I bought it at.

 

[SRath]

Obviously the downside is it is a new gun and if you do screw anything up the seller will not warranty it. I have almost no experience with 1911's, but the Colt Commander I happen to have next to me (it belongs to a friend) has the typical dovetail rear sight like most pistols. But 90 miles, 180 round-trip, is a long way to go for minor sight adjustment.

Since you have brass punches and will eventually need to feel confident at working on it, I would say take a block of wood and a towel to lay the gun on and your punches with you next time you go shooting and just tap that sucker to where it shoots straight for you. Just my vote.

It wouldn't hurt to call the seller and tell him what the problem is and see what he advises.

 

[Radshooter]

Thanks SRath. I wimped out and ordered a sight adjusting tool from Brownell's tonight.

 

[SRath]

I can understand that. They are pricey, but the right tool for the job. I just used my brass punches when I changed sights on my Glock. But with a Glock, there is virtually no chance of scratching the finish, even with steel tools.

The coating they use is just a smidge below a diamond in hardness. Having just fixed my friend's non-functioning Colt Commander, which was very clean to all outward appearances, but rusted up inside the firing pin safety, I appreciate the toughness of the Glock coating even more.

Did you happen to call the seller? It's nice to buy guns from a dealer with a range. Then you can test and tune before ever walking out the door.

Brownells is about 60 miles from here and is a terrific company to do business with. I always get my parts the next day and can pick up the phone for technical support. They insist upon making you happy.

 

[AMink]

Just a thought as I don't know how much you shoot, but hitting to the left (and sometimes low) if you're right handed is common. When you squeeze the trigger, you naturally "push" the barrel to the left and down. Before you move the sight, you might have someone else shoot a few rounds and see if happens to them too and also have someone watch you, or video, and see if you are pushing the barrel. Of course, that is NEVER my problem; it is always the gun!:-laf Good luck and let us know how it works out.

 

[JCyrbok]

Thanks SRath. I wimped out and ordered a sight adjusting tool from Brownell's tonight.

thats the best way to do it. You can move it is small incraments and you know how much you move it each time. More accurate of a way to adjust a sight than with a punch.



J-

 

[Radshooter]

Thanks guys.

AMink has a valid point. While I am comfortable shooting a . 45 for years, (my CCW pistol is a full-size EAA Witness) I have not shot more than 40 or 50 rounds through this particular pistol yet. I am not going to get too crazy doing anything to this pistol until I hit the 500+ mark, so I have a good solid feel for it.
I did call the gunshop and ordered some better night sights for it. These are not very bright at all. Therefore, I am not doing anything about adjusting these sights until the new sights are installed. I have Meprolight on my Witness and even after 14 years they are still very bright and easy to acquire.

Somewhere on the web I saw a pie chart. It described where the bullet was hitting in relation to the bullseye, and the cause. For example, in my case, the pie slice to the left of the bullseye would say "pushing with trigger finger. " The pie slice above the bullseye might say "too weak of a grip, gun is rising. " The pie slice below the bullseye might say "Anticipating recoil". Does this make sense?? Anyone seen this?? Link???

Thanks again all.

WOO HOO!!! Something new to BOMB!! Oo.

 

[SRath]

Fun, isn't it?

 

[dfirlik]

Somewhere on the web I saw a pie chart. It described where the bullet was hitting in relation to the bullseye, and the cause. For example, in my case, the pie slice to the left of the bullseye would say "pushing with trigger finger. " The pie slice above the bullseye might say "too weak of a grip, gun is rising. " The pie slice below the bullseye might say "Anticipating recoil". Does this make sense?? Anyone seen this?? Link???





There are about 50 printable targets on this page, incuding the pie charts for right and left hand shooters.



Rifle & Pistol Targets



Scroll down to about the 30th row for the pie charts.



Don (MI)