Is My Gun Sighted For Me?

Bedrockk · #1 07-31-2012, 07:56 PM

I'm still relatively new to firearms & am a few months into my honeymoon w/ M&P9c. I'm still struggling w/ a tendency to shoot a bit wide right. I shoot southpaw. I've been playing a/ how I hold the firearm, how I pull the trigger, & how I aim.

I was wondering if any of you guys think this could be part of my issue: is it possible my gun is not properly sighted for me? I had someone at my local range look at it to see if it was sighted properly & he thought so but he shoots right handed. Here's a pic of my gun:

It seemed to me that the rear sight was set a touch to the right.
Any thoughts?

patbelly · #2 07-31-2012, 08:03 PM

Lefties tend to shoot a bit right and righties a bit left when new to firearms or a new firearm. Usually its low left for righties and low right for lefties.
It takes some practice and trigger control to get it on target. Some other more experienced forum members will be along shortly to help you out, but your sights are most likely fine.

1bdvet · #3 07-31-2012, 08:27 PM

I'm lefty, and just looked at my compact, and the sights are the same. I can tell you it takes practice to shoot the correct way. If I don't think I shoot to the right, but when I take my time, it's dead on target each and every time.

MP22 · #4 07-31-2012, 08:37 PM

I am a southpaw....had the same problem with my new M&P.22 at first. It was all in my trigger finger. I had to place more of my first finger pad..nearly to the first joint to get it shooting straight consistently. I had a tendency to push the trigger/gun to the right.

M&P Freak · #5 07-31-2012, 08:43 PM

Dryfire a lot using sight image 3 for your sight picture. Concentrate on sight alignment and slowly pressing the trigger straight back. It will help more than you think.

When shooting with live ammo, each shot should be a surprise. No jerking or anticipating the bang.

Sight alignment, front sight, press, press, BANG.

pmbspyder · #6 07-31-2012, 08:45 PM

This is for a righty, so just switch them or you as a lefty...

Houdini1953 · #7 07-31-2012, 08:55 PM

As all have stated above this is normal for a new gun for either a right or left hander. It should improve with practice, get some snap caps and practice aiming at the wall and see what happens when you actually pull the trigger!

M&P Freak · #8 07-31-2012, 08:58 PM

The best $7 you will ever spend: Gil Hebard's Pistol Shooter's Treasury

It looks dated, but this is the best pistol shooting book there is. The fundamentals have not changed over the years, and this little book is loaded with them in easy to read tidbits. I refer to my copy all the time, must have read it 50 times over. It helps my shooting a great deal.

Titegroups · #9 07-31-2012, 10:22 PM

Practice dry firing, the trick is to not move the sights as you squeeze the trigger. Make sure your grip is consistent. You can use whatever sight picture you desire, if shooting black sights on a black bullseyes some prefer the 6 oclock hold so as to be able to distinguish the sights from the target, popular also is the sub six hold where you actually hold slightly under the black. Focus on the front sight. Realize it will take many thousands of rounds to become proficient. You can only focus on one element at a time while shooting, the rest has to come from muscle memory and be done subconsciously, thats why you need to practice. I shoot bullseye competition, as I'm shooting the only thing on my mind is front sight center of target, the rest is completely automatic, I realize I'm done when the slide locks back.

tgmorris99 · #10 07-31-2012, 10:22 PM

Here's a handy left-handed chart.

Keystone70 · #11 07-31-2012, 10:31 PM

It looks like the rear sight may be a little to the right. I just noticed that the rear sight on my M&P9 as to the left. More so than yours to the right. I was always hitting left of target. I centered the sight as best as I could and it really helped. I would do the same and try to center your rear sight as best as you can. No sense changing anything else until you fix the sights.

WashMP9 · #12 08-01-2012, 01:44 AM

get some 9" papar plates and set them at 50' shoot at them and see where they hit. move sights till the shots stay in the center of the plate.

SMMAssociates · #13 08-01-2012, 03:52 AM

That rear sight looks to be just a hair off to me, too, but it's really difficult to tell from a picture.... My M&P40FS showed up with both the front and rear sights way off.... Much cursing later, it's feeling much better now. (Really did make a big difference.)

My range buddy Joe and I were shooting those diagnostic targets one night, and having a bad time of it. The target suggested "get another hobby"....

Best rule with a new gun, btw, if you doubt the sights, besides doing a little measurement, is to find a friend who's a decent shot with a similar weapon/sight type and see how he/she does. We get a lot of newbies at the club range, and every once in a while, it's the shooter. A little coaching, and all is well....

Regards,

rchysell · #14 08-01-2012, 09:28 AM

You should use some kind of gunrest to be sure the pistol is not moving when fired. This will tell you if the sights are off or you are having a problem moving the pistol when you pull the trigger.

Krogen · #15 08-01-2012, 10:35 AM

Although you're new to this and learning your technique, you might try shooting right-handed. See if you shoot wide to the left. If you do, then it's probably not the gun. If you still shoot to the right, it may be the gun.

I suggest this because even though I've been shooting handguns for, uh... decades, I wrestle with Colt's SAA. I always seem to shoot to the left with one. If I use my weak hand, I shoot to the right. So, I'm sure it's me not the gun.