Shooting low

[HamburgBoy84]

I was out shooting this morning with my main CCW G19 and my Sig p226 BW Tactical. I'm starting to group the glock pretty well (at least all 15 rounds were on a paper plate @ about 20 ft) but I can't get more than 50% on the paper with the Sig. Most of them are at least 12" low etc. The gun is brand new and I'm not a great pistol shooter, but even bench resting this thing is not on target. Should I send it back to Sig? If anyone in my area would be willing to try it out and see if it's just me I'm open to that as well.

[knight0334]

Either aim higher or put a taller rear sight on it. Could be a trigger control issue as well if you're used to the Glock's trigger versus the Sig's, they are a bit different.

I dont see how the gun can be defective to warrant sending it back. If the barrel locks up tight, I doubt its a problem with the gun.

[GuyMontag]

Since you shot it off of a rest, are you absolutely sure the gun was locked in position to confirm that the gun is shooting low. From your self-admitted lack of pistol skill, I'd guess that it's trigger control or anticipation as already suggested.

I'd be damn sure it's the gun and not the shooter before you start changing things. With something the quality of a Sig, I'm guessing shooter.

[BrowningBoy]

Make sure you are focusing on the front sight. Target should be slightly blurry. Move closer until your groups shrink, as they do move back. 15 of 20 rounds in a 9 in paper plate at 7 yards is just the beginning. If you practice regularly and learn proper technique you will be putting 20 of 20 in the center of that plate. Once you are there, then you will know what each of your guns will do. (grip, breathing, front sight, squeeze the trigger) Concentrate on these things and make them consistant. You may also do better if you put a small black dot in the center of the paper plate. Aim small, miss small. It really does help to pick out a small aim point. I also think you are probably jerking the trigger. Force yourself to squeeze the trigger every shot. You can really improve your trigger control by dry firing. Just be sure you use a safe backstop and are no where near any ammo. Once you get all these things down I think you will see that both the Glock and the Sig shoot to point of aim at 20 ft. Good luck

[Brick]

Originally Posted by HamburgBoy84

Most of them are at least 12" low etc. The gun is brand new and I'm not a great pistol shooter, but even bench resting this thing is not on target. Should I send it back to Sig?

I would bet dollars to donuts there is nothing wrong with the regulation of the sights on either pistol. So there is no need to send your pistol back to SIG or put taller sights on it either. What you need to do is learn the basics of pistol marksmanship. Go to www.bullseyepistol.com and find the AMU Pistol Marksmanship Manual and read it. It will tell you everything you need to know about all of the basics. Then start applying the basics diligently to your shooting during your practice sessions and I guarantee you'll improvement.

[HamburgBoy84]

Originally Posted by Brick

What you need to do is learn the basics of pistol marksmanship.

I know I have a lot to learn, but with the other pistols I own (glock) and have owned, (Ruger and Walther .22, Kimber 1911, SigPro .40) I've been reasonably accurate with. Maybe I'm just not use to the SRT trigger on this Sig.

Why would I group the G19 fairly well and then not even be hitting paper 1/2 the time with the Sig in the same caliber?

And I am using a dot in the center of the paper plate to focus my aiming for what it's worth.

[BrowningBoy]

From what you described before you are not grouping reasonably well with either of the two guns mentioned. At 20 ft even with a gun where the sights are way off you should still be able to hit a plate 20 out of 20 shots. At my last qualification I was given a USP 40 compact to use. At 3 yards my group was 1 ragged hole, at 7 yards my group was about 2 in. center of target. At 15 yards the group was about 6 in left. The group was about 6 inches. At 25 yards my group was about 10 inches but was about a foot left. So as you can see, even when the sights are off you should be able to hit point of aim at such a close distance. These groups were all shot under timed qualifying conditions from the standing and kneeling positions. Off of a solid rest with proper technique you should be getting tighter groups. Until you get your group size way down you will have no idea if the sights are off or not.

[Nic]

Originally Posted by Brick

I would bet dollars to donuts there is nothing wrong with the regulation of the sights on either pistol. So there is no need to send your pistol back to SIG or put taller sights on it either. What you need to do is learn the basics of pistol marksmanship. Go to www.bullseyepistol.com and find the AMU Pistol Marksmanship Manual and read it. It will tell you everything you need to know about all of the basics. Then start applying the basics diligently to your shooting during your practice sessions and I guarantee you'll improvement.

Great link... bullseyepistol.com is some of the best marksmanship info on the net.

[Steve_NEPhila]

Originally Posted by HamburgBoy84

I know I have a lot to learn, but with the other pistols I own (glock) and have owned, (Ruger and Walther .22, Kimber 1911, SigPro .40) I've been reasonably accurate with. Maybe I'm just not use to the SRT trigger on this Sig.

Why would I group the G19 fairly well and then not even be hitting paper 1/2 the time with the Sig in the same caliber?

And I am using a dot in the center of the paper plate to focus my aiming for what it's worth.

The SRT is for short reset trigger, which is how the trigger behaves after you pull the trigger. With that being said, it has nothing to do with the SRT. However, you are probably correct it has something to do with the different trigger system. Here is how you can find out. Go shooting with a buddy, have him or her shoot both of your weapons. Take the Pepsi challenge.

[Brick]

I know I have a lot to learn, but with the other pistols I own (glock) and have owned, (Ruger and Walther .22, Kimber 1911, SigPro .40) I've been reasonably accurate with. Maybe I'm just not use to the SRT trigger on this Sig.

I would doubt that the trigger mechanism would have a lot to do with shooting that low. But, trigger control along with an improper grip can. For example your description of the low shots sounds (to me) more like you're squeezing with your whole hand or using inconsistent pressure from your pinky as you fire the shot. You should not sqeeze with the pinky at all, all pressure should come from the middle and forefingers and be straight back into your palm.

Why would I group the G19 fairly well and then not even be hitting paper 1/2 the time with the Sig in the same caliber? And I am using a dot in the center of the paper plate to focus my aiming for what it's worth.

I like a center hold, because the center is always the center and it doesn't make any difference how big the target is. That makes the results a little more predictable. For example, I zero my pistols for 50 yards and keep them that way (except for when I'm shooting bullseye) because I know that at 25 yards my shots will be 1 1/2" high and I can hold "on" from 0 to 50 yards and make reasonable hits.

But, in order to do that, my point of focus must be the front sight not the target or the rear sight. Looking at the target and trying to spot your hits will generally pull your shots high, and yes the effects of that error can be overcome by other errors due to poor trigger control or grip.

No insult intended, but shooting a 9" group at 20 ft. is not grouping well. It's acceptable for a shot from a pistol drawn from cover and fired in less than a second in an IDPA match, but it is not really good marksmanship. Learn the and apply the basics and it won't matter what pistol you use.