i just bought a .22 the other day for plinking. i've put 500 rounds through it and it is shooting about 3 inches to the left. the thing is i am hitting groups of less than 2 inches so i am wondering if there is a possibility that the sights are off? with all my other gun i do not have this problem but they are all of higher caliber. i just want some advice please.
is it me or my gun
- Thread starter conkill
- Start date
What kind of .22 is it? Does it have adjustable sights? Is it offvertically as well or only horizontally? You may need to just click off a couple of ticks to the left to bring the sight to where you want it. Or use a a drift and tap it to the left. Prior to adjusting them though have you shot from a bench rest yet with this .22? If you haven't I would encourage you to do so. It may have nothing to do with the sights and everything to do with your trigger pull. I normally shoot .45's and when I took my Ruger MKII out for the first time in 3 years, I though the sights were out of adjustment because my groups were all high and left of center. When I shot from a bench rest, I found that there was nothing wrong with the firearm, it was definately the shooter. Me! 
Hope that helps,
Evan
[This message has been edited by EQP (edited August 05, 2000).]
Hope that helps,
Evan
[This message has been edited by EQP (edited August 05, 2000).]
Make a homemade soft benchrest of some kind to stabilize your pistol. I made a simple one out of a small duffle bag stuffed with towels. There is no way you can be absolutely sure where your piece is aiming when the human factor is so influential as with offhand shooting.
Then, buy a stack of economy paper plates at the grocer. Draw a dime size black spot in the center for your aiming point and stick 'em up on your backboard. Pace off 10 yds and go to work. You will find this exercise is VERY enjoyable and informative.
Also, .22's are very particular about ammo. You'll go nuts chasing the holes around trying to adjust your sights when switching brands around. Some will shoot left, some will shoot right, some high, some low.
A bench rest will allow you to determine which brand your gun likes. This is a really fun way to enjoy your .22. I know what my Buckmark shoots best, but every now and then I find something on sale at a gun show or a store, so I get out my plates and duffle bag and see what it really does.
Then, buy a stack of economy paper plates at the grocer. Draw a dime size black spot in the center for your aiming point and stick 'em up on your backboard. Pace off 10 yds and go to work. You will find this exercise is VERY enjoyable and informative.
Also, .22's are very particular about ammo. You'll go nuts chasing the holes around trying to adjust your sights when switching brands around. Some will shoot left, some will shoot right, some high, some low.
A bench rest will allow you to determine which brand your gun likes. This is a really fun way to enjoy your .22. I know what my Buckmark shoots best, but every now and then I find something on sale at a gun show or a store, so I get out my plates and duffle bag and see what it really does.
Might be you flinching. Or it might be the sights are set a little off. If they are adjustable, a couple of clicks will set them right. Or if they are fixed, you might just have to live with it. You can compensate for it. But I would advise trying what others have said, and try a benchrest before drawing a concusion as to what the problem is.
If you are consistently shooting small groups in the same spot but not hitting your point of aim as I understand you to say, you need to adjust your sights to move point of impact. Pretty simple IF you have adjustable sights. If not....
What model 22 pistol are we talking about? Most of them at least have a rear sight that is drift adjustable for windage.
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Just one of the Good Guys
What model 22 pistol are we talking about? Most of them at least have a rear sight that is drift adjustable for windage.
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Just one of the Good Guys
Pay attention to Good Guy.
If you are getting consistent good round groups, it is the sights that need adjusting.
The bench rest trial will help determine the accuracy of the pistol, but the way your hands, arms and body take the recoil will sometimes move the point of impact. Keep the sights where you can hold them standing. You won't always have a bench rest.
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Archie
If you are getting consistent good round groups, it is the sights that need adjusting.
The bench rest trial will help determine the accuracy of the pistol, but the way your hands, arms and body take the recoil will sometimes move the point of impact. Keep the sights where you can hold them standing. You won't always have a bench rest.
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Archie
While I don't know the particulars in this case, the person saying that if you shoot good groups, you can't be doing something wrong, is incorrect.
Years ago, when I got my first Glock, I was shooting good groups, but they were about 4-5" left. Two other people with new Glocks told me they had the same problem, and had their sights way off to one side to correct. I let a cop friend that's very good with his Glocks shoot mine to see if it was me or the gun. He picked it up, emptied a full magazine rapid fire into the 3" bull at 50ft, handed it to me and said: "It's not the gun". I adjusted my grip and trigger pull and not the sights, gun shoots fine now.
Years ago, when I got my first Glock, I was shooting good groups, but they were about 4-5" left. Two other people with new Glocks told me they had the same problem, and had their sights way off to one side to correct. I let a cop friend that's very good with his Glocks shoot mine to see if it was me or the gun. He picked it up, emptied a full magazine rapid fire into the 3" bull at 50ft, handed it to me and said: "It's not the gun". I adjusted my grip and trigger pull and not the sights, gun shoots fine now.
i agree with johnwill. i had a ruger p-series that i could group well with, however, my groups were always down and to the left. i had occasion to let a friend who shoots competitively try the gun and he put all of his shots dead center.
he watched my shoot and came to the conclusion that i was mashing the trigger--i adjusted my approach and laid the pad of my finger on the trigger instead of gripping it with the second digit. my groups opened up for some reason but all of my shots were centered.
i guess the only advice i would offer is to let a pretty good shooter use the gun and see how they do with it...
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Take the long way home...
he watched my shoot and came to the conclusion that i was mashing the trigger--i adjusted my approach and laid the pad of my finger on the trigger instead of gripping it with the second digit. my groups opened up for some reason but all of my shots were centered.
i guess the only advice i would offer is to let a pretty good shooter use the gun and see how they do with it...
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Take the long way home...