Sighting in a revolver

Jerry N. · Jan 1, 2015

I just bought a used 15-4. I've bought mostly new and one other used gun, but I've never noticed them not being sighted in. Generally, I can hit the mark. The 15-4 was WAY out of sight. I dialed it in the best I could using only a screw driver and shooting until I could hit the mark at about 10 yards. It works pretty good now, but I'm wondering if there is a better way. I also want the gun sighted in properly and not just sighted in so that it "corrects" for any shooting tendency I may have.

How does one sight in a gun properly and at what distance is a gun to be sighted in at?

nectoxicdragon · Jan 1, 2015

Jerry N. said:
I just bought a used 15-4. I've bought mostly new and one other used gun, but I've never noticed them not being sighted in. Generally, I can hit the mark. The 15-4 was WAY out of sight. I dialed it in the best I could using only a screw driver and shooting until I could hit the mark at about 10 yards. It works pretty good now, but I'm wondering if there is a better way. I also want the gun sighted in properly and not just sighted in so that it "corrects" for any shooting tendency I may have.

How does one sight in a gun properly and at what distance is a gun to be sighted in at?

Handguns are funny critters when it comes to sighting them in. Iv you have a laser boresighter available, use it on one of the handguns you know is properly sighted in and check the sight alignment with the dot and set the new pistol up to match. Then soot it to do final sighting in. If a boresighter is not available, run the sights to the limitsand count the turns at you take then back to the opposite limit. divide the number of turns by two and adjust them back that number of turns to center them. This SHOULD put the sights to the "neutral" position, that is the point where they generally (dangerous term to use, I know) are adjusted to from the factory, since handguns are usually set to about 25 ft.

H Richard · Jan 2, 2015

Sometimes the grip can make you hold the handgun in such a way that the sights will be slightly off. Sometimes an older gun that was sighted in for 158 gr bullet will not shoot to POA with lighter bullets and require you to adjust the sights. Sometimes the barrel is not screwed fully in and the front sight may be just slightly off center and requiring you to adjust the rear sight to compensate.

chief38 · Jan 3, 2015

I sight all my handguns in at 50 feet because that is the distance both my indoor Clubs have their targets hung at. At both indoor Ranges we are not allowed to shoot at shorter distances because the Board members feel there is a chance of a ricochet. When I shoot at my third Club which is outdoors I can hang a target at 21 ft., 30, 50, 75 or 150 ft but I still shoot at 50 feet with the exception of when I practice with my carry gun.

I always sight my guns in from a free standing position with no rests. I find when sighting a gun in from a sitting or resting position the POA/POI is different for me when I am in the free standing position. Now that may be just me, but that's how I do it.

scooter123 · Jan 3, 2015

I sight my revolvers in by placing my forearms on a rest, doing this allows me to duplicate the recoil follow through closely enough the POI matches the results shooting offhand.

If I'm sighting in a Reflex sight I'll set it so the POI coincides with the dot with a 125 grain plated/jacketed bullet, because these are the least expensive bullets you can find for 38 special. Sighting distance is 25 yards.

If I'm working with Iron sights I will sight in so the POI has the bottom of the hole in the paper right at the top line formed by the front and rear sights. Sighting distance is 15 yards because I can't see well enough to be precise enough with iron sights on a handgun any more.

PS; when I was 45 my uncorrected vision tested at 20/15. Now at nearly 60 my uncorrected vision tests at 20/30 at distance and not worth spit up close and it really really bugs me. You younger readers should take heed and remember one day you'll also be old. So, next time you see a Grumpy Old Man just remember there are reasons why we are a bit grumpy.

ironhead7544 · Jan 3, 2015

Adjustable sights are adjustable for a reason. Not everyone shoots the same way or uses the same ammo. Set up the sights for you.

I have had a number of handguns that had to go back to the maker due to sight problems.

spdguns · Jan 14, 2015

1. Find a good, qualified instructor to help you sight in the gun and explain the process.
2. If the instructor is good, he can explain the grip issues that may or may not be causing the "sighting in" problems.
3. If you are up for a road trip, c'mon down, I'll do it! It will cost you a cup of coffee or something along that line.

ridgewalker · Jan 15, 2015

Sighting in is very important and I believe a significant amount of the poor results I see by other shooters at the range can be attributed to lack of sighting in the ammo. Not enough practice is of course the main reason for poor shooting.

I try to buy my practice ammo in lots of 1000 rounds and sight in my guns to this ammo. I used to sight it in off the bench and I could sight it in pretty well after just a few rounds. Ideally my off hand POI would match my off bench POA. If not I would try to adjust my shooting technique to make it match.

Now I mostly just adjust the sights from a free standing no rest position as described above by Chief 38 although my club has a 25 yd base position.

I rotate which revolvers get to come to the range so I am usually sighting in one revolver or the other on almost every trip to the range.

Sighting in a revolver

Jerry N.

Member

nectoxicdragon

H Richard

US Veteran

chief38

scooter123

Member

ironhead7544

Member

spdguns

Member

ridgewalker

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