Figured out my shooting low problem

[Goathead75]

Of, I'll first say that I'm still very new to shooting so some of the problem could have just been "duh" moments but if it can help someone I'll put it out there. This was my first centerfire pistol and I just picked it up in November so needed time and rounds with it.

The first issue was with the site picture. Honestly, I never knew there was other than a 6 o'clock hold, this is a cover hold. Learned that! That helped, brought it up a bunch but was still shooting low for me.

Went to the range and went through 50 rounds, all about 3 inches low at 25yds. Well my pro has a fiber optic front site and I had been lining up the top of the front site with the top of the rear, covering the target with the fiber optic piece. What I tried different (not sure if this is what you're supposed to do in the first place or not) but I lined up the top of the fiber optic with the top of the rear sight...problem solved! The shots started going exactly where I wanted them to go. That 1/16th of an inch between the top of the fiber optic and the top of the sight was where my difference was.

So, not sure if that's how you're supposed to shoot it in the first place, but it solved the issue for me.

 

[Dragon88]

Please find a range or individual in your area that does firearms training, and sign up for their Basic Pistol Course.

 

[Goathead75]

Please find a range or individual in your area that does firearms training, and sign up for their Basic Pistol Course.

Thanks, I did before I got my permit. I've shot rifles in the past and .22's, just not used to different sights and sight pictures. That's new to me. Wasn't anything I had done so didn't know it was different. In the class we shot a .22, .357, and .45, all were iron sight with a 6 o'clock hold. Please done think I'm fumbling around with this, just inexperienced with the differences.

 

[Raptor10]

hmm, i have a similar issue with my new, right out of the box pro full size using 115 grain federals. first time out yesterday i shot 17 rounds making height ajustments at 25 yards by raising the front of the gun up until the bottom of the front sight was covering POA (point of aim) which means you are covering target when you should be ablle to see what you are aiming at. i have read other blogs about this and it seams that this is a common issue with the pro series. i have been shooting for some years now and have had alot of well trained marksmen give me advise which i certainly use. i think that the front sight is a bit high as compaired to the std. M and P. the rear sight is fixed as far as any height adjustment so i think i am going to look into an adjustable rear sight. anyone have a comment. by the way after 50 rounds of 2 different types of ammo my groups at 10 yards were baseball size, 4" low and left 2". at 25 yards the grouping was a little bigger but still 3" low and left. the main issue is at 25 yards the front sight dot is way above rear sight dots which means the front sight is totally covering the p.o.a.

 

[flkinganuthin]

you might be low at 25 yards because you are using your sights.. I'll try to explain. Your sight line is different than the barrel line, obviously because they are above the barrel..
So at 25 yards, the bullet has yet to elevate to your sight line. It might do so at, say, 35 yards. At 45 yards, it may be a little higher, at 60 higher still.. Then as the bullet races towards the center of the earth, it will cross your sight line again maybe 100 yards.
You will see in this pic where the bullet crosses the sight line twice. File:TargetShooting3.gif - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
So you see that you will only be dead on bulls at 35 and 100 yards (hypothetical numbers).. This is why shooting is a sport.. it aint all point and click.