Shooting much too low...Software error or hardware?

I

inSight-NEO

New member
Recently, I replaced my XD45ACP sights with the XS 24/7 sights (standard dot front, not big dot) and have noticed that Im shooting 3" or more low at 10 yards or less. However, my groups are fairly tight...within the sub-3" range. I must admit that I have also noticed that I shoot a bit low ( 1 1/2" to 2") with my P220 as well, so maybe it is indeed my shooting technique.

Now, Ive heard that various shooters have claimed that these sights do tend to shoot a bit low...but 3"? I contacted XS and the guy I spoke with said that to shoot that low within such a limited range (sub-10 yards) would more than likely be a software issue vs. a hardware. Thoughts?

While Im particularly interested in those who use such sights and their initial experiences with them, any comments are welcome.
 
Last edited:
I may be way way off base but.......

Are you holding 'dead on' since your front sight has a dot? Or.... are you holding at 6:00?? (6:00 would put you low as stated)

I've found I do much better with 6:00 hold on my revolvers but dead on with the 2 semi's.

Just some thoughts.
 
Don't take this the wrong way but only other thing I can think of may be anticipating recoil sub conciously. I know I do this sometimes with snub .357's when shooting hot ammo.
 
Don't take this the wrong way but only other thing I can think of may be anticipating recoil sub conciously.
Click to expand...

No offense at all...trust me. Im here to learn, so no advice is beyond me. Personally, I think you may be right about the recoil anticipation.
 
I don't know if this is a possibility for you but a couple of ways to help this.... at least helped me.

1. Try dry firing at home. Hold on a target and see if you push downward..... ie anticipate recoil. (Don't know if this is OK with you pistol or not... ask someone who knows)

2. When you think you're ready to work on this with live ammo try this. Do you have access to a revolver? If so load every other cylinder, spin it, then close cylinder.
Hold on target as always and squeeze off shots.
When you do this.................... see if you notice yourself pushing down the muzzle on those empty cylinder shots.

Many of the very best shots say you really shouldn't know when the gun is gonna fire as you squeeze off shots. The shot should be a surprise.

3. One other way is if you have access to a .22 pistol or revolver. Practice with one of these will also help. I love shooting my son's Browning Buckmark. It's almost like shooting a rifle as far as accuracy. I attribute a lot of that to the lack of recoil. It's at least as heavyas my full frame .40 so it absorbs a lot of recoil.

Of course, all this only applies to very slow target shooting.
 
Are you shooting from a rest? You need to do that first, to get the "human" part out of the equation.

Get a bag of rice, rest your hands on the rice bag, and slowly (that's s-l-o-w-l-y) squeeze off each shot.

Get someone else to shoot the gun, and see if they get the same results.

It may be there's nothing wrong, but you need a different set of rear sights that are HIGHER. Get them from the people who made the sights. They should just swap with you.

If you've determined the problem isn't YOU, contact the XS people and tell them the problem you're having and see what they say.
 
I'm with those who suggest a possible flinch. It's a common practice with single action shooters, "pushing" the barrel downward to anticipate recoil. I also agree that dry firing is a good way to diagnose and cure the problem, if that's what it is. Try this: balance a coin flat on the top of the barrel as you squeeze the trigger. Does it stay there? Or, does it fall? If it falls, that's pretty good evidence of a flinch. Also, practice shooting in front of a mirror. Watch the front sight. Does it dip on discharge? Again, a sign of a flinch. Keep dry firing until the flinch has disappeared. Then, at the range, mentally go through all of the steps you've gone through while dry firing. Concentrating on eliminating the flinch, rather than on hitting the target, will produce much better results.

Now, if you're not flinching, then it's a gun problem.
 
Were you shooting the same way, low with the original sights?
Click to expand...
Too be honest, I cant remember as the first time out was mainly for function testing. But, I do recall that I tended to shoot my other handgun (a Sig) a bit low as well. So, maybe its just that Im doing something wrong. Ill try out the XD again in a few weeks and see if things dont improve. Otherwise, I guess Ill just try a taller rear sight in order to compensate a bit.
 
When you shoot your SIG, do you put the dot where you want the bullet to go, or the top of the front sight? Same question for the XS.

The reason I ask is, with all my SIG's and most of my other three dot type sights, they all seem to be regulated to the dot, and not the top of the blade, or at least thats how they work for me. If I hold the top of the blade just under where I want to shoot, like a 6 o'clock target hold, my groups are always low. Put the dot itself where I want the bullet to go, and thats where the hole appears.
 
Pick up a few .45 snap caps, mix them in with your live rounds as randomly as you can. If you do have a flich, etc it will show up!!

Cold, brutal, but as far as I know, always works.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top