Sight questions

1226 Views 8 Replies 6 Participants Last post by BKP99, Jan 1, 2004

lymph

Discussion Starter · Dec 9, 2003

I have been messing around with my 9mm p99's factory sights to try and improve my accuracy. I purchased my p99 (serial number 08xxx) used and it had the number 5 front sight installed. The sight was imperfect -- bulging a little on the left side and not completely straight looking. I figure someone screwed the set screw too tight, causing it to almost poke out the top. Anyway, I'd tend to hit high and left.

I adjusted the rear sight to correct for the drift, but it seems that I had to move it quite a bit. I hit center now (still high), but the rear sight is noticably off center. I probably turned it about 1 and one half turns.

I thought that maybe the problem was with the front sight, so I removed it and put on the number 6. That should bring the POI down and perhaps allow me to bring the rear sight back towards center, since the front sight is straighter looking. I've yet to try it at the range.

I'd like to put night sights on, but am reluctant since I've read that they are similar to the number 4 sight. That would probably have me shooting way high.

Is there a good way to test whether my gun is somehow out of spec, or perhaps my shooting technique isn't as good as it needs to be? I'm a fairly new shooter, but my dry-fire practice goes well, and my groups are fairly tight. I've shot from a bench, too, and still group high and left.

Are there any good drills for improving trigger pull? Instructions for where exactly my finger should contact the trigger? Maybe I should get some private instruction...?

Also, I'd like to order another set of factory front sights, since a couple of mine are a bit mangled from installation/removal. Where can I get these?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can spare.

See less See more

Save

1 - 9 of 9 Posts

Ni3Frontier

· #2 · Dec 9, 2003

Try shooting different kinds of ammo. When zeroing a gun, especially for a new shooter like myself, it is always helpful to do it from a bench. The last thing you need is to be wondering if its you or your weapon that is to blame for the inaccuracy. Take yourself out of the equasion and always shoot from a bench or other stable position that removes all doubt of yourself being the source of error.

Another thing that I find that helps is to start zeroing at a shorter range - say 10 or 15 yards. Once you have everything zeroed at that point, push the target back and do it again. At the closer ranges, you are roughly zeroing the weapon. As you push the target further and further back, you are fine tuning the sights on your weapon. This also helps because if it hit fine at 10 yards, but its way off at 20, you have somewhere to go back to if you just can't get it to work (it also helps a lot to keep track of how many increments you adjust the sights as you progress). I find this procedure to be even more useful for rifle shooting.

Another element that helps is to work on one axis at a time. If your shots are high and to the left, work on getting them centered left/right first, then worry about elevation.

It takes time and patience, but having a properly aligned weapon is well worth the effort.

How many of you with new P99s had to set the sights right out of the box to get the weapon to hit accurately? I would think that if the person that shot it when it left the factory can make a tight group on the test target, there should be no reason that the sights should need to be adjusted.

See less See more

Save

kdmoore

· #3 · Dec 10, 2003

I personally don't like to shoot off a bench, I always feel the recoil off the bench (the bounce up) throws the shot. Haven't done it in a while, maybe I'll go back and check again.

What does the factory target tell you?

My best advice is to find an experienced shooter or 2 (or 3 etc) and ask him to burn 10 to 20 rounds for you (do you live close by? heh). This is the quickest way to find out for sure. Had a local shooter say this very thing on a local website. At our weekly shoot several of us proved it was the gun (this time)

I'm not a marksman (I try to make up for quality with speed

I'd consider myself average, so take the above with a grain of salt.

See less See more

Save

Chocoboy

· #4 · Dec 10, 2003

Lymph, I own a p99QA .40cal. I too had to adjust my sights to get it right. I was shooting high and left too. Had to adjust the rear sights to the right a bit and change the front sight to no. 6. Now, I am hitting point of aim at 10 to 20 yrds. But i tried shooting at 25 yrds and above, my shots went high and left again. I'm sure it's the gun doing this coz i asked 3 more experienced shooters to try it and still the same results. I gues it's not much of a problem at 25 yrds above since I'd be more concern with my accuracy at closer range. It's a defensive pistol... not a sniper rifle

Just my opinion though

See less See more

Save

bybon

· #5 · Dec 11, 2003

That has been my biggest concern, i.e., having to adjust the rear sight far over to the right. So far in fact that it drives me crazy. I sent it back to SW and they sent it back with the sights only moved to the left one or two clicks. I did have a guy on the pistol team try it, and he hit exactly where I was hitting. Was not the shooters, but the pistol itself. There must be something that can be done.

Save

lymph

Discussion Starter · #6 · Dec 11, 2003

[b said:
Quote[/b] (bybon @ Dec. 11 2003,5:06)]That has been my biggest concern, i.e., having to adjust the rear sight far over to the right. So far in fact that it drives me crazy. I sent it back to SW and they sent it back with the sights only moved to the left one or two clicks. I did have a guy on the pistol team try it, and he hit exactly where I was hitting. Was not the shooters, but the pistol itself. There must be something that can be done.

I know what you mean. It seems weird to have that sight hanging over the right side of the slide just to shoot straight.

I'm going to work on my trigger control and try and find a really good shooter to try it out for me. I've read that a lot of new Glock shooters tend to push their shots left, and I'm assuming I might be doing the same thing with my Walther. I'm hoping it's me instead of the gun. I paid a lot of $$$ for the gun -- improving myself is cheaper.

See less See more

Save

lymph

Discussion Starter · #7 · Dec 11, 2003

[b said:
Quote[/b] (kdmoore @ Dec. 09 2003,8:59)]What does the factory target tell you?

I don't have the factory target because I bought it used. I guess the previous owner lost it. I'd assume it grouped well on the target, but I don't know if it was to the left. Do your p99's targets have the grouping in the center? Do they use the installed sights when shooting the test target? I thought I heard someone once say that they slapped a laser sight onto the slide or the ransom rest because it's easier on the tester's eyes. Either way, if the gun was in spec, it should have shot to POA.

I checked the crown and looked really close at the barrel and how it seats, and all looks well. I'm starting to think more and more that it's operator error.

Is there anything aside from a messed up crown or operator error that could make a pistol shoot left?

Save

bybon

· #8 · Dec 12, 2003

"Is there anything aside from a messed up crown or operator error that could make a pistol shoot left?"

I too would like to know the answer to that particular question. Heck, I have a BHP with fixed sights that has always hit dead center for over twenty years.

Save

BKP99

· #9 · Jan 1, 2004

When you take off the front sight take a peek at the hole in the slide...it's not dead center. So the rear sight has to adjusted. I think the placement of that front sight hole may vary from gun to gun too.

Save

1 - 9 of 9 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

Top Contributors this Month