Pistol Shoots Low RESOLVED

Ganderite

Ganderite

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I load DRG cast lead bullets for my 45ACP pistols. I load the 200SWC and the 225gr Flat Point in three different powder charges> Each of my 45s has been shot with all six loads to see which works best.

Some guns shot all loads quite well, but most have a clear favourite.

Some guns required a different front sight to make the pistol shoot to POA. Some got an adjustable rear sight.

This one shoots low. It is a Tanfolgio, so I don't happen to have any alternate sights in my junk drawer.

I tried both the 200s and the 225s to see if one shot any higher. No luck. They both shot about the same.

There is a theory that a slow bullet will hit higher because the pistol has more time to flip. So I tried that.

Same 225gr bullet. A load so mild it barely runs the action (750 fps) and a max load of Power Pistol at 930 fps.

They both shot to about the same place, about 3" low.

Looking for a taller rear sight.



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I'm sure somebody with more experience than me will chime in, but I would try loading a heavier bullet quite warm. The additional recoil should bring it up. Whereas you were loading them light, load them heavier.
 
Fargone4sure said:
I'm sure somebody with more experience than me will chime in, but I would try loading a heavier bullet quite warm. The additional recoil should bring it up. Whereas you were loading them light, load them heavier.
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The 225 gr bullet at 930 fps is "warm". In fact, it is 'hot".

It shots the same place as the 200gr at 800 fps. All loads and bullets shoot to about the same place.
 
move your target in closer, your obviously shooting the heavy bullets a lot farther then when the point of aim and point of impact intersect resulting in a low impact point on the target
 
The "theory" is well established, and I've seen it in action, but your experiments didn't seem to agree with it with that gun. I recall that it was the bullet weight, not its MV that produced the effect.

You didn't mention the distance - what was it? My own experiences have been at 25 yds and farther.

Perhaps there's something about those bullets in that gun? Their weights are close to each other - maybe there'd be a noticeable difference between a 150 or 180 and the 225?

That said, a different or modified front sight, or different rear sight seem to be your options.
 
No two loads or bullet weights can be expected to shoot to exactly the same POI with the same sight setting.

Light bullet and/or low power loads generally shoot lower.

Heavy bullet and/or higher power loads generally shoot higher.

Thats why they make adjustable sights.

Most fixed sight .45's are factory sighted for 230 grain FMJ @ 830 FPS.

what is you OAL?
 
I have a 1911 that someone changed the slide/barrel assy., prior to me getting it and it shot even lower than yours (at 30'). I removed about half the height of the front sight and aside from looking a bit odd, with this abbreviated sight, it now shoots the centre of the target.
 
I did the math. I need sight change of 25 thou to shift MPI by 3".

The front sight is already quite low, and appears to be integral with the slide, so just swapping the front sight is not an easy option.
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An adjustable rear sight is available, but I don't fancy a $100 sight on a $400 pistol. (It is a Tanfoglio 97 I bought used.)

The rear dovetail is the same as on the Springfield, so there might be a taller fixed sight available.

But I can see that the rear of the sight overhangs the slide, behind the dovetail. I am going to try to slip a flat screwdriver in there as a wedge and see if I can bend the sight up 25 thou.
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It might break, but the option is a new rear sight anyway, so I don't have much to lose.
 
glue a shim in the notch of the rear sight and then paint it black, there is enough surface there to hold the glue
 
I know it's Ganderite, but what sight picture are you using? Quite frequently people complain about Sig's with combat sights "shooting low"; this is because they are using the wrong sight picture (bisect instead of cover). Maybe the Tanfolgio has been set up similarly?
 
PrecisionLongshot said:
I know it's Ganderite, but what sight picture are you using? Quite frequently people complain about Sig's with combat sights "shooting low"; this is because they are using the wrong sight picture (bisect instead of cover). Maybe the Tanfolgio has been set up similarly?
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Yes, that is what is happening. But I have a lot of pistols, and I set them all to hit where I aim, the way I aim, which is to hit just above the top of the front sight.

I am thinking that an attempt to bend the rear sight will probably break it. It has two set screws to push down on the slide. If I was to mill some material off the rear sight dovetail, the screws would then push it up a bit higher.

This sound reasonable?
 
Ganderite said:
Yes, that is what is happening. But I have a lot of pistols, and I set them all to hit where I aim, the way I aim, which is to hit just above the top of the front sight.

I am thinking that an attempt to bend the rear sight will probably break it. It has two set screws to push down on the slide. If I was to mill some material off the rear sight dovetail, the screws would then push it up a bit higher.

This sound reasonable?
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there is not enough meat on the dovetail to get it as high as you need it, willing to be proven wrong
 
You could file a different angle on the dove tail bottom ( less material on the front ), that would bring the rear and therefore the sight up. Downside, dovetail gets loose, so better loctite the holding screw(s)

CG
 
madcow said:
No two loads or bullet weights can be expected to shoot to exactly the same POI with the same sight setting.

Light bullet and/or low power loads generally shoot lower.

Heavy bullet and/or higher power loads generally shoot higher.

Thats why they make adjustable sights.

Most fixed sight .45's are factory sighted for 230 grain FMJ @ 830 FPS.

what is you OAL?
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Maybe Auto's are different than wheelguns; but a bullet that spends more time in the BBL, be it slower due a heavier bullet or a lighter charge...will hit higher. So I agree with half of each of your statements; and respectfully disagree with with the other half of each.
So would have Elmer Keith IIRC...and he was ( and in my mind will always be...invented the 44 Magnum and honed the 357 to perfection? Duh) the Guru of handguns.
 
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