New SDVE 9MM shot first time last night, shooting low?

[davidenorth]

I recently picked up a new 9MM SDVE on a sale promotion at the local Fleet Farm. I have been impressed with the value of the pistol. I have owned many Smiths previously including a 5906. Last night was the first time I could shoot the new pistol. The weather has been horribly cold here so I went to an indoor range an hour from home. I brought my fiance and her fourteen year old daughter who have never shot handgun before. Well, we have two new shooters in the sport. Their smiles were priceless. Will post pics soon of the girls shooting.

The problem was every round we fired impacted 3-4" below point of aim. I tried two types of ammo WWB 115 FMJ first then Hornady Gold Dot 124 +p. No matter who shot or what ammo impacts were always below point of aim by 3-4 inches. We shot at normal IPSC styled man target with a five inch circle at center mass. I have never had a problem with a handgun doing this in my 30+ years of handgun shooting. I even tried holding off 3" above the circle and then rounds impacted in the gray circle. Groups were nice about 3-4" at 7yards. I have never been a great pistol shot so I was very pleased with accuracy. I really like the pistol and was not put off by the trigger like many others who think it's horrible. I grew up on double action revolvers. Any ideas? Do I contact Smith and Wesson already?

 

[BigCityChief]

Please provide pics of the target. Were your shots directly below point of aim or off to the left or right?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[davidenorth]

Here is a sample pic. We centered front sight in middle of gray circle. The ones in gray circle I held off above the circle.

 

[OKFC05]

I see this so often it is commonplace; fully half of new "combat Tupperware" shooters.

I had one student that had been shooting the Glock for a couple months, and could get a salad plate group at 7 yds, always a foot low.

"You're breaking down when you shoot", said I.
"Oh no, it must be the gun!" said he.

I had him hold the gun on target while I reached forward and pinched the trigger against the trigger guard.
THE BULLET HIT DEAD CENTER.
"Oh" said he.

And then learning began.

Don't call S&W to "fix" your gun.

 

[dajogejr]

I've got about 400 rounds total down the range with my new SD40VE.
Most of mine have been low and a little left.
I've been getting tighter groupings AND higher up with more an more practice. I know it's not the gun. It's a heavier trigger than I'm used to...and practice/familiarity that I've yet to gain 100%...

A buddy of mine on Detroit PD gave these to me as help, as well.

 

[JonDoughe]

I had the same issue when I started shooting. Make sure you are holding on target and not aiming at 6 o'clock. You may already know that, but I would point it out. Also make sure you are only using about half-way to your first knuckle on your trigger finger. When I started doing this, it made a huge difference in my accuracy.

Same thing happened when I left a buddy of mine fire it. He followed my advice and unloaded 15 rounds into the head on the target.

 

[hmbiohazard]

when i first got my sd40 ve i was shooting low. it was all me and getting used to the heavy trigger. it is heavier than most triggers and required a bit of "training time" to get familiar with. 4000+ rounds through my SD now since october and im hitting paper alot better than my first time out. give it time and get used to your new firearm

 

[retired_diver]

Like the chart states you could be flinching or when you pull the trigger the overtravel is causing you to pull down. Overtravel is the distance from when the firing pin is released (usually called break) until the trigger actually stops moving. Dry fire your pistol a few times (make sure no ammo is loaded) and watch the front sight. I believe you will notice that it drops down when you fire. If it does that is why you are shooting low. This is not a target pistol and you do not have target sights on it, so ignore where the focus on aiming pictures are aiming. Put you front dot on center (10 ring) aline the rear with the front sight and pull the trigger concentrating on the front sight.
I would like to point out that if the target were a "bad guy" he would be mighty full of holes

 

[HeyMikeyE]

I am also shooting low with my SD40VE myself. This is my second one (traded off the first like a dummy) and the trigger is noticeably heavier on this one.

I did not have this problem with the first gun. I have dry fired the heck out of it and was playing around with my grip a little but the results were the same. I have a Houge and Pachmayr grip sleeve on the way (couldn't decide so I got both). I'm ready to get out and practice, practice, practice...

 

[MyDads38]

Great! Thanks!

I've got about 400 rounds total down the range with my new SD40VE.
Most of mine have been low and a little left.
I've been getting tighter groupings AND higher up with more an more practice. I know it's not the gun. It's a heavier trigger than I'm used to...and practice/familiarity that I've yet to gain 100%...

A buddy of mine on Detroit PD gave these to me as help, as well.

I made a copy of this and plan on sharing it with a few shooting buddies of mine. One especially has a hard time sighting in his handguns/rifles. So this should help him out quite a bit, without me sounding like a smart-***!

Was at the range a few months back when a guy had a new M&P 9mm. He couldn't even hit paper at 10 yards! Asked if I wanted to give it a try; of course I did! I was hitting 3-4" below center, but was my first time firing the gun and at least I was hitting paper! Thanks for posting this!

 

[pawpaw1967]

I had the same problem as you did when i got my sd9ve. i have always used the same sight picture as is in the picture above as being correct. had a great teacher when i was 12 who told me never change the way i aim a gun change the gun instead. that being said i regard all my guns to be tools. if you use the correct sight picture above you may notice that the three dots dont line up. i used a Dremal tool and removed some material off the top of the front sight to the point where wen i line up my sights level the 3 dots also line up, and yes i did this with a Brand New Gun lol. i am well over 1000 rounds thru this gun now, it performs flawlessly and hits where i aim every time. my advice is not that you do this however if you do, do it slowly take off a lil at a time. B4 i modified mine i had 2 more experinced shooters shoot it with same results always low. Good Luck.