Sight moved?

[psx]

I am quite new to shooting so please bear with me if this is a stupid question.


I have a Smith & Wesson model 627 less than a year old. Yesterday I was at the range shooting – and it set bullets quite low – perhaps 40 cm. at 25 meters distance. Last time I was shooting (a couple of months ago it was a bit off – but not so much).



Should I be concerned – or is it something that can happens?

 

[Rpg]

Most likely it's shooter error: trigger control or sight picture.

The quickest way to diagnose and correct the problem is to take a lesson 1 on 1. Virtually all indoor ranges have someone available to teach. This isn't a free service, you'll be charged for it.

 

[ReloadforFun]

Sights rarely, if ever, move on their own.
Have you tried shooting it supported on sandbags on the bench?

If you should be squeezing the entire grip instead of just the trigger finger, it can pull shots low.

 

[JohnHL]

I am quite new to shooting so please bear with me if this is a stupid question.


I have a Smith & Wesson model 627 less than a year old. Yesterday I was at the range shooting – and it set bullets quite low – perhaps 40 cm. at 25 meters distance. Last time I was shooting (a couple of months ago it was a bit off – but not so much).



Should I be concerned – or is it something that can happens?

Were you shooting the same ammo both times?

Lighter bullets will strike the target lower than heavier bullets when fired from the same gun.

John

 

[824tsv]

Other than having someone else try shooting your 627 with the same ammunition you are using, ^ this is the best answer.

 

[Pisgah]

Shooting almost 16" low at 25 meters? It almost has to be your flinch.

 

[gwpercle]

Since you are new to shooting , you may not be aware that every load will impact to a different point .
357 Magnum ammo has a wide range of bullet weights and velocities and your gun must / can / will be sighted in for one load ... the others will be higher , lower . left or right .

Now if the change in POA / POI is happening with the same load... the elevation screw in the sight may be loosening and backing out , raising the rear sight ... this would cause your POI to be lower . Try adjusting your rear sight and if this is the problem , the screw might need some easily removed thread locker to keep it in place .
Sight in your revolver from a bench with a solid rest ...
hold the gun in both hands and rest your forearms on the rest, you gun should not touch any solid surface , squeeze off each shot carefully . A rest helps big time to sight in !

Gary

 

[psx]

Other than having someone else try shooting your 627 with the same ammunition you are using, ^ this is the best answer.

I got another one to try it. He experienced the same.

 

[dmy]

From a mechanical perspective, you might want to check the front screw on the rear sight. Mine worked loose with light loads. A little blue Lock Tight fixed it.

 

[__steve__]

If someone else has same experience with it and you determine it isn't flinch related might want to have it looked at by S&W in case of something more serious than sights.

One way to rule out technique is to have someone at safe distance behind your shoulder with a phone recording in slow motion, where side view of muzzle can be seen. Even better would be to have the target in view at 5 yards to see impact points (120 frames per second). Any muzzle movement can be clearly noticed in the video.

Not a requirement but a helpful tool I found useful is a sight laser to see close vicinity where the muzzle points vs sight alignment compared to points of impact.

 

[JohnHL]

Now if the change in POA / POI is happening with the same load... the elevation screw in the sight may be loosening and backing out , raising the rear sight ... this would cause your POI to be lower.

Gary

Gary, wouldn't "raising the rear sight" cause the POI to be higher?

John

 

[H Richard]

This is a target analysis chart, intended for one handed Bullseye shooting for a right handed shooter, but can give you an indication of the problem even with two handed shoting. It is just one possibility.


Always shoot from a good solid sandbag rest to get your best example.

 

[rct269]

The bottom line of all this is there's no point in even thinking about shooting any handgun/rifle until you have determined point of aim and point of impact is identical (or otherwise to your liking---as in a "six o'clock hold") from a SOLID, TWO HAND HOLD, bench rest utilized from a seated position-----and as noted above, don't expect different bullet weights/brands to shoot to the same point of impact with the same sight setting.

There is only one constant in accurate shooting------consistency in each and every aspect of the operation.

As to a S&W Micrometer sight "shooting loose", it ain't damn likely---unless the gun's been dropped/otherwise abused.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[Nightowl]

With a revolver, you can have someone load the cylinder with about 4 or 5 rounds, skipping some chambers! When you get to an empty chamber, you will be able to see if you are holding the gun steady through the shot, or are pushing down at the time you trip the hammer. It used to be called "ball and dummy" drill used to diagnose pre ignition push or as I call it "chili dipping"!

 

[Tom S.]

With a revolver, you can have someone load the cylinder with about 4 or 5 rounds, skipping some chambers!

This is a method I use when shooting with someone new or unskilled. Because some Smiths with smaller recoil shield allow you see the rim of cartridges, instead of leaving a charge hole empty, I put in a spent cartridge. People are often surprised to see how much they flinch in anticipation of the "bang".

After this exercise, I hand them an unloaded revolver and tell them to dry fire it, concentrating on keeping the sights immobile during the hammer all/strike. When they can accomplish that, we do the first drill again and in almost every case, groups size shrinks considerably. Once we get acceptable groups sizes, we work on placement.