When A Gun Is Bought

[jhcii]

Whether new or used there is the sighting in requirement for your eyes and fingers and hands.

Everyone is not all the same so we make these adjustments. I want to minimize anyone's time to sight in an old or brand new in the box gun to him or herself and keep it simple:

1. Realize the gun came from someone else or the factory. Either way what someone else does to sight or test it along with the factory the sights cannot be trusted to shoot straight to you the owner.

2. Shoot one shot steady whether standing one handed or double handed with the handgun at your target and see where THAT ONE SHOT went. This will show you where the rounds will group in the event the first shot misses the entire target and paper and embankment or whatever. Just make sure you saw where the first fired bullet of any weight and velocity went because in handgun range wadcutters and Lead Round Nosed and Semi Jacketed or Full Metal Jacket will show where the handgun is actually pointing when you shoot that ONE and First Shot.

3. If you are shooting a revolver empty the last 5 shots (or more) from the cylinder or shoot a magazine to empty. See where the bullets go after you adjusted the sights to hit the target according to sight adjustment tips provided by the maker of the handgun. You will get a CLUSTER showing your ability to hold a laser beam steady at any range when you tick a trigger according to YOUR eyes.

If the gun does not group and show a cluster of bullets then go back to practice with a rifle instead.

I am saying it the way it is with handguns. They are more complicated than rifles of any caliber.

 

[wsr]

Ummm ok!!!

 

[Whitwabit]

Ok .. haven't heard this one before !!

 

[Alk8944]

First thing comes to mind is "Preaching to the choir"!

 

[bushmaster1313]

Tell the truth

Who here, like me, has finally gotten to the range with a newly acquired long gun that was not bore sighted, and you were off paper and had to bide your time until the all clear so that you could paper a larger area..

 

[Bill Bates]

I skipped those steps and never touched the sights...all is well.

 

[bushmaster1313]

I skipped those steps and never touched the sights...all is well.

Where is the rest of the barrel and the rest of the lettering on that little gun on the bottom?

 

[S42N8]

All righty then...

 

[Biggfoot44]

Actually , I am frequently surprised when new to me guns do shoot to a reasonable POI.

 

[chud333]

All righty then...

My thoughts exactly sir.....




Chuck

 

[4506517]

OK.

I feel better knowing I'm not the only one that didn't understand any of that.

 

[BAM-BAM]

I always start with the target at 50 yds.

That way the difference between POA and POI will be magnified ......making it easier to identify the need to adjust the sights.!

 

[BAM-BAM]

I skipped those steps and never touched the sights...all is well.

Sight adjustment tool for these is a good ball peen hammer... just tap the front sight in the opposite direction that you want to move POI.

 

[3dots]

????????????????????????

 

[Arik]

I am saying it the way it is with handguns. They are more complicated than rifles of any caliber.

I kinda get it but this one stumped me. Rifles have sights adjustment and setting, handguns typically dont. Most revolvers don't even have actual rear sights and none of my semi autos are adjustable.

 

[H Richard]

New gun; load full up with the ammo you intend to use. Sit down at a bench rest and rest gun over sandbags and carefully fire all the rounds slowly at a paper target set at a distance you will normally use the gun at. See where they group. You now know where the gun's POI is for that ammo, for that distance. Change anything and you will need to do all over again. I seldom find any problem with handguns and under 15 yards. At 25 yards the groups tend to open up a little, but should be still in a "group".

 

[BAM-BAM]

New gun; load full up with the ammo you intend to use. Sit down at a bench rest and rest gun over sandbags and carefully fire all the rounds slowly at a paper target set at a distance you will normally use the gun at. See where they group. You now know where the gun's POI is for that ammo, for that distance. Change anything and you will need to do all over again. I seldom find any problem with handguns and under 15 yards. At 25 yards the groups tend to open up a little, but should be still in a "group".

I see a lot of younger guys at the Club...... double action as fast as you can!

Gives them a good idea of what kind of hits they'll get!!!

 

[spad124]

Ok, I'll play.

I'll agree that each shooter tends to sight differently and unless the shooter is very practiced and proficient, trigger control and breath control most likely vary quite a bit. These can affect POI. So, one shot to establish existing POI doesn't work for me. There are too many variables that can affect POI of the one shot.

My method, regardless whether I'm sighting in an adjustable sight handgun or rifle is to shoot 3-5 shots for a group, usually 5, while aiming at one point. This allows me to account for any fliers and pulled shots. I count on getting 4 good shots per group. I then determine the center of the group and the distance to my POA. Adjust sights and fire a confirming group.

With some coarser detent systems like on an AR15 A1, the sight detents may center your group to one side or the other, horizontally or vertically, of your POA. I just live with that rather than fine tuning by filing down sight posts.

With fixed sights I use the ammo the gun was designed for, such as 158 swc +Ps in a Model 10. Most times the gun is on target with the designed for load. If not, I just remember the windage.

 

[Jack Flash]

Buy a handgun with fixed sights.