442 Shooting Low and Right

[James_Joshua]

I just bought my first S&W a couple of weeks ago. It's a 442 with a lawyer lock. I plan on using it for concealed carry eventually. The trigger pull is wonderful, and the accuracy is great. I didn't expect too much from a snub nose, but was thoroughly impressed.

I went to the range and started to notice that the point of aim was a couple of inches from point of impact.

The yellow dot is the point of aim of my target loads and the center of the group is about 1.75" to the right and 1.5" low at 25 feet. The red dot is the point of aim the Winchester +P loads and the center of the group is about 2" to the right and 2.5" low at 25 feet.

What I would like to know is this a common problem? What might S&W customer service do for me? I thank everyone for there input and help.

 

[Revolver King]

are you a lefty? If not, try backing your trigger finger out a bit and try not to squeeze your whole hand while pulling the trigger.

 

[def4pos8]

When I do such as that, I'm pushing against anticipated recoil and yanking my (right) trigger finger with too much authority. --did this just a few days ago with my Ruger LCP bottom feeder. Careful attention to the (minimal) sight picture and trigger pull solved my point of impact problem.

 

[James_Joshua]

I am right handed. My Dad was also at the range so I had him shoot it. His shots hit in the exact same place. I shot his 357 revolver without problems. It's not conclusive either way, but the probability that it is the shooter is lower.

After a through inspection my father noticed that the barrel was pointed to the right. The barrel is actually misaligned to the frame. I called Smith and Wesson and told them what was going on and got a shipping label.

I don't want to send in the gun, but for a defensive firearm it's essential that I can trust it. After my experiences with Springfield Armory, I know that warranty repairs are usually in excellent hands.

 

[stevieboy]

I'm a right handed shooter but I'm cross dominant (I use my left eye for sighting). Often, my first few groups will be high and left. I've learned that, when that happens, I should switch hands and start shooting left handed. Usually, just a couple of groups is all I need to start hitting right at POA. Then, when I switch back to shooting right handed, my groups tend to be centered right around POA.

This is a long-winded way of saying that, whenever a gun is consistently off POA, my first instinct is to think about the shooter. Only after one's ruled out human error should one assume that the gun is the source of the problem.

Here's what I would do. Get someone else, somebody who's a good shot, to fire off a few groups with the gun. Compare his patterns with yours. If he's significantly off in the same direction that you are, that would be pretty good evidence that it's the gun and not you. I'd also fire a few groups from a bench rest just to see what the gun's doing when not influenced by your conscious or unconscious movements. If the gun hits at POA when rested you can pretty safely assume that groups that are consistently off are not the gun's fault.

 

[500 Magnum Nut]

James, if the guns barrel is pointing in the wrong direction, call S&W they will fix your gun. The fix is free and so is the shipping!

 

[James_Joshua]

Fed-Ex is picking it up tomorrow morning.

 

[H Richard]

What ammo are you using? S&W's are regulated to POA with 158 Gr Standard velocity. If you are using 125 +P's they will shoot much lower and possibly a little right. Try it with 158's or make sure S&W knows what ammo you are planning to use to adjust the POA/POI.