I got my 9mm Performance Center CORE to shoot dead center off of a sand bag. When I shoot free hand I am shooting low right, but with a tight group. After about about 150 rounds I get the same result. It clearly isn't the gun, it is me. The beauty of a red dot is that it takes a simple adjustment, if I am consistently off, to put my groups on center. Fixed Iron sights is a different story. If your gun is on center from a rest, but off center free hand, then you are left to work on your trigger control. At what point do you say enough and use Kentucky Windage?

I would surmise from your post that you are left handed. Left handed shooters tend to shoot low and right. I had the same problem, but with the other hand. (Low left). More finger on the trigger fixed it. All the way up to the joint, in my case.

Try that, and see if it doesn't work for you.

Good luck!

Dry fire practice will help. By removing the recoil you can see if the sights are moving or not. Move your finger around on the trigger and see what works best while focusing on the sights or red dot. Once the sights/red dot no longer move as you press the trigger then it's time to take it to the range. As scattershot mentioned, I too had to move my finger in all the way to the first joint on the trigger. Next you will need to "press" the trigger straight back. Any side to side movement of your finger can move the gun around. Once you get this figured out your accuracy should improve.

My Shield was the first striker fired gun I had ever owned and it took me a couple thousand dry fires to get that sorted out and burned into muscle memory.

Pyro, I just purchased a 9mm C.O.R.E 5" barrel myself. Will be going to the range this weekend. I do like how the gun fits and fills in the hand.

You haven't failed until you quit trying.
Sounds like you need some motivation, so try taking up IDPA, USPSA, Steel Challenge, or?
Nothing like shooting in pubic against a timer to get your heart pumping.

Also, when you have to do all 3 types of shooting (freestyle, right hand only, left hand only) in the same match, the fudge factor offset you put in your sights for one makes the others worse. Try shoot weak handed for awhile and learn to control that.

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Science plus Art

You seem to be saying getting some instruction help to cure your problem is off the table. I commend you for at least recognizing it's not the gun. I see new shooters cursing and raving their new gun is a *** while spraying bullets all over the target and range at a distance of 7 yds. or less. If you can't see yourself getting better, then "Kentucky windage" may be an answer. Don't be surprised to learn your Kentucky aiming point changes.

On rare occasions I have had a shooter approach me on the range and ask me to shoot their gun. This happens when they see my target vs. theirs. In my experience, the gun is always OK. What that shooter does next is critical.

Good shooting to you!

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Bob.
SWCA 1821

Google "handgun shooting mistake chart" or "handgun mistake chart".
Not always 100% true but a good start.

Be careful, most charts are for right handed shooters; left handed shooters would be opposite.

Most of my troubles have been gripping or trigger control.

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2B1ASK1

a couple things might help, at home dry fire with a coin on top of the gun... also, a cheap rail mounted laser will tell you if you are moving the gun when you are pulling the trigger.

At the range have someone mix in some snap caps with live rounds, that will tell you quick if you are dipping down (anticipating recoil)

It took me some time to break myself of that
Norm

This is the odd thing, I am right handed.

According to that chart I am tightening my grip while pulling the trigger.
Food for thought.