Author Topic: Pistol shoots low left  (Read 7278 times)

Offline Shenandoah

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Pistol shoots low left
« on: December 18, 2011, 06:05:23 PM »
I've been trying to sight in my open top. It shoots low left and the only option I can come up with to correct it is open the rear sight (as you're looking at it) slightly to the left.  I know how to raise the point of impact, but getting it to move right has me stumped.

I do not want to bend the front sight.

Any suggestions on how to correct the point of impact?

Offline Junkman

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Re: Pistol shoots low left
« Reply #1 on: December 19, 2011, 07:04:13 AM »
You've already come up with the only easy way to move the POI to the right. I misread your original idea. You must open up the rear sight in the direction you want to move the impact, as is mentioned below. Good luck.  ;)

Offline Capt. Augustus

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Re: Pistol shoots low left
« Reply #2 on: December 19, 2011, 09:27:03 AM »
If it is shooting to the left, you want to open the rear sight to the right  looking from the rear. You move the rear in the direction you want to go. I could not tell where you were standing in relation to the gun. 

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Re: Pistol shoots low left
« Reply #3 on: Today at 01:12:35 PM »

Offline cpt dan blodgett

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Re: Pistol shoots low left
« Reply #3 on: December 19, 2011, 10:25:23 AM »
Have you shot it off a rest?  A lot of low left can be a result of technique.
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Offline Abilene

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Re: Pistol shoots low left
« Reply #4 on: December 19, 2011, 05:54:42 PM »
Have you shot it off a rest?  A lot of low left can be a result of technique.
Like Cpt Dan says.  Too much trigger finger (pulling the trigger with the crease of the first joint of the finger instead of the pad of the finger) will cause most guns to shoot low left (for a right handed shooter).  This is very common.  If you already know this and this is not the case, then you can disregard this info.  Otherwise, try pulling the trigger with just the pad of the finger, and also try shooting left handed.  If the POI moves to low right when you shoot lefty, that will point to technique.

BTW, how much low left are we talking about?

Good luck and keep us updated.

Offline Shenandoah

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Re: Pistol shoots low left
« Reply #5 on: December 19, 2011, 06:22:30 PM »
4 shooters have shot it with 2 hands from 15 yards. It shoots about 3.5 inches left and 3 inches low for all of us. Haven't used a bench yet (these are all good shooters). But, it's good advice to try the bench before cutting.

And just to clarify, if you're looking at the front sight from the rear of the gun (like you were shooting it), enlarge the rear sight to the right. That will allow the barrel to come to the right to center in the rear sight. From what I'm reading this is the only way to change the horizontal POI (other than shooter error)?

I shoot Glocks in my profession so I'm aware of trigger placement and trigger jerk. (BTW, I like the Open Top much, much more than the damn Glock).

Offline Shotgun Franklin

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Re: Pistol shoots low left
« Reply #6 on: December 19, 2011, 07:10:29 PM »
Instead of filing on the rear sight, turn the barrel to the left thus moving the point of impact to the right. You'll need a vise and a split block fitting the body of the barrel to do this correctly. It takes a little hit or miss but doesn't mar the gun. Once you get it lined up , slowly and a hair at a time file down the rear sight to match the elevation you want.
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Offline Shenandoah

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Re: Pistol shoots low left
« Reply #7 on: December 19, 2011, 07:21:07 PM »
Shotgun:

This is an open top, it doesn't thread into the receiver.

Offline Abilene

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Re: Pistol shoots low left
« Reply #8 on: December 19, 2011, 07:22:30 PM »
Shotgun Franklin,
Only one problem...wrong gun!   ;D  The Opentop barrel isn't screwed on.  Edit: I see Shenandoah beat me to that point.

Most folks report the OT's being very accurate.  There isn't much of a rear sight to be filing on on the OT's.  Seems I have heard of some folks shaving a tiny bit of material off one side of the barrel lug (in this case, the right side) so the entire barrel is pointing slightly more to the right.  Maybe Pettifogger will chime in here.

Offline Pettifogger

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Re: Pistol shoots low left
« Reply #9 on: December 19, 2011, 07:26:30 PM »
You really can't get much adjustment by filing the rear sight, in this case a notch in the hammer or a small cast sight on the rear of the barrel.  (You didn't say what kind of Open Top you have.)  You will get more and better adjustment by putting a dovetail in the barrel and putting in a new front sight.

Offline Shotgun Franklin

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Re: Pistol shoots low left
« Reply #10 on: December 19, 2011, 07:32:02 PM »
I need to look at it.
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Offline Shenandoah

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Re: Pistol shoots low left
« Reply #11 on: December 19, 2011, 07:36:22 PM »
It's an 1872.

Offline Shotgun Franklin

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Re: Pistol shoots low left
« Reply #12 on: December 19, 2011, 07:50:27 PM »
I've got Remington on my mind.
Does it have the rear sight on the barrel or on the hammer?
If it's on the barrel, machine it off and replace it with a dovetail sight.
If you get a tall brass rear sight it'd be easy to adjust.
Of course shooting a heavier bullet should cause it to hit higher.
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Offline Shotgun Franklin

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Re: Pistol shoots low left
« Reply #13 on: December 19, 2011, 08:00:35 PM »
Also, I hate my Glock with a passion. I qualified with a SAA for off duty. I hope I can, kinda, retire this coming June. I'll trade my POC Glock toward another SAA.
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Offline Shenandoah

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Re: Pistol shoots low left
« Reply #14 on: December 20, 2011, 08:45:48 PM »
Don't hate my Glock, Shotgun, it's just s tool.

But I do really like my open tops (I have 2). The older I get, the more I like simplicity.

I have 4.5 before I retire. I'm a City cop.

Offline Coffinmaker

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Re: Pistol shoots low left
« Reply #15 on: December 23, 2011, 11:44:48 AM »

Two thoughts.  One, check the barrel/arbor fit to insure the barrel isn't moving against the front of the frame and/or the wedge isn't pulling the barrel.
Your not going to be able to correct 3 1/2 inches left by cutting the rear sight.  As Pettifogger suggested, remove the front sight and dovetail in a new front sight.
Or:  Ship it back to the importer for replacement.

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Offline Shenandoah

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Re: Pistol shoots low left
« Reply #16 on: December 23, 2011, 12:25:47 PM »
I've already corrected the barrel/arbor fit by welding the arbor end adding material and filing until the fit was good. It seems like Pettifogger's suggestion is the way to go.

I have a friend machinist who can cut the dovetail. Any suggestions on where to find a front sight? 

Offline Hoof Hearted

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Re: Pistol shoots low left
« Reply #17 on: December 27, 2011, 01:51:08 PM »
VTI has factory sights for many different pistols. A really easy one is the Remington "58" from Uberti. There is the Lemat also. Both of these are dovetailed. Be careful as the angle of the cut for the dovetail is not necessarily "normal". I would suggest having the chosen sight in hand........

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