Hello everyone,

I recently got a new ( to me ) S&W 915.


Got her all cleaned up and lubed when I got it. Bore is in excellent condition. Arrived in better shape than advertised on GunBroker. This past weekend was the first time I was able to get her to the range. Have 1 original mag, and 3 extra Mec-gar mags. All ran flawlessly with different brass 9mm ammo. Went thru about 200 rds or so between myself and my buddy shooting her.

However, we both noticed a problem. She is shooting low, and to the right. Now I thought it was just me and a new gun. However when my buddy was shooting, he was doing the same thing. I asked the RO to take a couple of shots too. He shot a better group, but same, low and to the right. I am dominate left handed, RO and buddy right handed.

I set her down, and turned to my 1911 and at 25 feet, shot about a 3-4 inch group. The S&W is my 3rd 9mm. Have a Taurus PT92, and a Start BM. Have shot many other brands and calibers. So I cant believe it was me or us this range trip (I've used this ammo in my PT92 and Star BM with no POI issues).

I have new Wolffe springs on order, but was wondering if there is anything I can adjust. The sights front and back look to be fixed sights. This was a bargain, and came to me clean. I am hoping I dont have to invest a ton in this thing to get her to shoot accurately.

If I was aiming dead center of a std silhouette target, my groupings were lower than X, and to the right by 2 rings or so.
If I was aiming at the head, again dead center, I would be hitting at about the neck level, and to the right of the actual body. Hitting off the target completely.

This is what I have done with my PT92 and Star, as well as that day with my 1911.


Now this pis shows relatively what I was experiencing. Green is where I was aiming. Red is where I was hitting. Did this in on several different targets. All the ammo performed with similar point of impact. However, point of aim was as green shows.


Ammo was some Winchester white box, seller and belliot , some tula, and some silver bear.
I had shot thru all 4 mags with each mag having its own ammo. The S&B was the smallest grouping, however still low and to the right of where i was aiming.
I mixed the W and S&B with similar results grouping wise. The Tula and Silver Bear shot the same pattern of low and to the right, but bigger groups.

I've been shooting 9 for since about 2003. And have never noticed issues of hit vs aim until this weekend with the 915. I'm not claiming to be an ace, however am proficient with my weapons, and this is the only time i raised my own suspicions. That is why i immediately went to the .45 to see if I was just way out of practice. And was doing a nice group where I had aimed.

Well, the sights adjust, right? You can get it centered up, at least. There are probably also different-height front sights available, not sure.

Congrats on your 915!! The 915 is an often overlooked, VERY underated pistol. It is also my favorite full size 9mm.

You should be getting better accuracy than that, in my experience, from a 915.

As has been mentioned, I'd first check the sights, to see if the rear sight is slightly offset in its dovetail.

Then I'd make sure I have a new recoil spring. Always a good idea with a used pistol. Next, check the barrels muzzle crown. Make sure its smooth and doesn't have any chips or imperfections. Then give the barrel a good cleaning with JB Borebright or an intensive similar cleaner. A nice lead/copper fouling free barrel is an accurate barrel.

Then I'd get some 147 grain 9mm rounds. JHP if possible. My 915 is a tack driver with these rounds. IIRC, member mlk18 has had a very good experience with the 915. Hopefully he will see your thread and tell you what his 915 likes best.

In case you don't know, sometimes pistols of the same make and model will sometimes shoot better with a particular weight round. Two otherwise identical pistols may be super accurate with different rounds.

The last thing I did to get accurate with the 915 was to put a curved backstrap factory Xenoy grip on in place of the straight backstrap grip that is on your 915. I also put a "Glock sock" - rubber sleeve - over the grip. It keeps the 915 from moving around in my hand while shooting. Eliminates potential shooter error, for me, from the accuracy equation.

Hope this helps! Let us know how you make out with that 915. Regards 18DAI

Edited to add: Are you a left handed shooter? If so, you may have too much finger on the trigger. I'm a lefty, and when I put too much finger on the trigger of a new to me pistol, my rounds sometimes wind up grouping where yours do, in the lower photo.

Thanks for the reply's guys.

Crown doesnt have any gouges or damage. I believe the slide was refinished at some point in its life.
Has a parked finish.

The rear site does look like its centered left to right in the slide.

I was shooting at 20 ft, 25 ft, and 30 ft during the 250 rds we all put downrange. And all the groupings were low and to the right.

Yes, I am a left handed shooter. Ive been shooting 9mm since about 2003. I'm pretty accurate with both my Taurus PT92 and my Star BM. As well as with my buddies Ruger P95 be brought that day.

When I first got my Taurus, I was using too much finger with my grip, and had similar affects. I have learned to get a proper grip and can shoot quite well with my other firearms. That same day, after my first 4 mags down the 915, i went right to my 1911. As the first silhouette shows the red/green on top of each other, thats how we all were shooting with out own weapons. But each of us shot low and to the right with the 915.
RO had a Glock. Buddy was shooting his P95. With 4 different types of ammo, I knew I was going to get some different results. But didnt expect POI to be so much off of POA.