Hakim Shooting Low troubles

[Frost Cracked]

So, my Hakim seems to be shooting low. Sighted at 400 yards, to hit even at 50 yards.

Looking to know if this is a common problem with using modern ammo compared to old milsurp, or if it's something else? Bent barrel (I hope not) or is my front sight too high?

I know this is kind of open ended but if anyone has any sort of experience with this rifle I'd be most appreciative.

 

[Blastattack]

So, my Hakim seems to be shooting low. Sighted at 400 yards, to hit even at 50 yards.

Looking to know if this is a common problem with using modern ammo compared to old milsurp, or if it's something else? Bent barrel (I hope not) or is my front sight too high?

I know this is kind of open ended but if anyone has any sort of experience with this rifle I'd be most appreciative.

I see no problem at all. The gun was never designed to be zeroed for 50 yards, and thus the sights will never align for 50 yards. Try it at 100 or 200 and see where the slider falls. As for ammuntion, different bullet weights using different powders at different velocities will consistently give you different results in different rifles. Another thing of note, there are no number markings on a Hakim sight, as the "numbers" are written in Egyptian. If the numbers are legible, it may or may not have been replaced by a leaf from an AG42, which is calibrated for 6.5x55, which obviously has different ballistics than an 8x57.

 

[Frost Cracked]

If the numbers are legible, it may or may not have been replaced by a leaf from an AG42, which is calibrated for 6.5x55, which obviously has different ballistics than an 8x57.

It is in Egyptian script. I took it to mean that the symbols were 1-10, just, in Egyptian.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

Barrel bent when the Arab owner dropped it, running from the Israelis.

Grizz

 

[grelmar]

I have 2 WWII vintage rifles that hit way, WAY low, and they don't have an adjustable front sight, so I'm stuck to either:

a) grinding down the front sight
b) moving the rear sight to 300m in one case, 400 on the other.

I have several other WWII vintage rifles that are bang on for elevation at 100M, point of aim is point of impact.

My personal theory?

1) One was arsenal refurbed. When it was refurbed, it might have gotten a new front sight post, and then might very well have not gotten sighted after the refurb, on the assumption that if it was brought out of storage, the regimental armourer would have had to give it a once over anyway, and sighted and adjusted it then.

2) The other is, well, pretty thoroughly used. And it looks like it was just stored after the war without being refurbed. Who the heck knows what it went through before being stored, and eventually bought by an importer and shipped to Canada.

3) The stocks. They're wood. They can either dry out (fairly common), or absorb grease (a LOT of grease) if they were given the dip before storage. Either way, both are full stock rifles, and the shrinkage or expansion of the wood due to drying out or absorbing a lot of grease, can put a lot of pressure on the barrel, and really move the point of aim around.

To fix it, you can either grind down the front post or push the rear elevation/distance adjustment up to the point where it's close to point of aim. Personally, I just moved the rear adjustment, because they're just range blaster/fun guns/long term collectibles. I'd rather not risk messing up the front sight by taking a file to it, and I only need it to be so-so accurate for fun at the range.

If you decide to grind down the front post, pause and think about it first. Make sure that you've tried a number of different types of ammo for it - maybe the ammo you have is light loaded, or the powder has degraded if it's REALLY old surplus.

Also, get someone else to shoot it and do a sanity check that you're not doing anything silly with how you're sighting - it can happen, especially with a rifle that you're not used to.

Hope this helps. If anyone else chimes in, as always, I'm willing to be proven wrong, so long as I get to learn something in the process.

 

[gaff]

depends on what ammo your using. north american hunting ammo will not have the same trajectory as military ball ammo. lot lower point of impact . get the right ammo first,and compare it to the ammo your using now.
missed a huge bull moose because of this back in the day , seen the bullet strike the ground between his legs. it was about 70 yards away.

 

[Andy]

Try it at 100 yds, and if it groups well, shorten the front sight to suit.

 

[sail32]

For military sights to be on at different ranges, you must shoot original or ballistic compatible ammunition.

I used to have a Hakim and if I remember correctly you need the WW2 German sS 198 grain spritzer boat tail ammunition or its equivalent, such as Portuguese 8x57mm for their Mauser rifles.