SIG P226 sight adjustment/replacement

[Blurr[SOAR]]

I recently purchased a SIG P226 off the EE. It's a very nice gun to shoot, but I did notice that it consistently shoots low. I'm not sure if this is my inexperience firing handguns or if the sights are actually off (I think it's more than likely the latter). I do know that my groupings are very close (generally around 4-5" at 15 or so yards, not bad for a rookie I think! )

I believe the sights on the pistol are non-adjustable (no visible adjustment screws or anything) so I have a few questions in regards to that:

Is the elevation adjustable at all? Even to put a shim or something else in there to bump up the rear sight?

What's involved in replacing the stock sights with something else? Is this something only a gunsmith can do or can I attempt it with my own tools?

I'm not looking to upgrade to fancy night sights or anything like that, I just want to be able to hit what I'm aiming at without having to aim high (it really throws me off when I can't SEE what I'm trying to hit!!).

I've noticed, during some googling, that some places sell replacement front and rear sights for the SIG's and they have #'s attached to them, like Rear #10 or Front #7 and so forth. Can anyone explain this to me? I'm assuming it has something to do with elevation?

Any insight would be appreciated as I want to be able aim and know that the bullet has the possibility to go straight, despite anything I do to make it go otherwise

 

[linzeiisdad]

I was wondering about the numbers too as I want to change over to fiber optic. I posted to Sigforum and these were the replies:

Q: I'm looking at replacing the front sight on my 226 with fiber optic. A few of the websites that I've looked at list them as #5, 6, 7 or 8. ????? AFAIK they are the basic bone stock 3 dot. How do I tell what I have?

A: On the side of the sight, there will be a number. They are sometimes very hard to see and I sometimes need a magnifying glass as my 47 year old eyes ain't what they use to be.

Q: Thank you. I'm 8 and 8. What do these numbers mean? Height of actual site? Width of groove?

A: The number corresponds to a height. .40 is usually 8 rear and 6 front. .357 and 9mm are typically 8 front and back.

 

[Rottboy_8]

I recently purchased a SIG P226 off the EE. It's a very nice gun to shoot, but I did notice that it consistently shoots low. .......................................
Any insight would be appreciated as I want to be able aim and know that the bullet has the possibility to go straight, despite anything I do to make it go otherwise

Before thinking about touching the newly acquired Sig, bring it to your range and have an RO or your Sig buddies shoot it. If they don't shoot low, you have identified the problem, and its not the gun. Think of the expense you will save by doing this small exercise. Hope this helps.




SKS Russian Tula 1950, 1952 and 1953, Sig Sauer P226, Beretta 92 SBC, CZ85 Combat, Para P14 45 Ltd., Para P16 40 Ltd., SigPro 2022 .40S&W, Marlin 60

 

[RT]

Try benching it at 25yds, thats were the sights are set to shoot POA. At any other distance POI will change. As mentioned, have a couple other guys at the range shoot it as well. Try a few different types of ammo as well. However it could very likly be your grip/trigger control

Its not uncommon to aim slightly higher/lower than were you want the bullet to go. I have a 9mm 226 elite that I need to shoot at the 8 on a B27 target to put the bullet in the X, when shooting from 25yds.

The sights can be changed if needed. You can carefully knock them out with a brass punch, or try to find a SIG sight adjustment tool...I have one that you can borrow if you are anywere near me.

 

[john777]

Yeah, +1 for having a pro try a few shots.

My cuz been complaining for years that his Sig sights were off. Finally, he gave it to a pro to shoot. First hit was bullseye. LOL!

 

[Artiz]

I also bought a Sig P226 in 9mm not so long ago, I shot it last week, first time I ever shot a pistol, I grouped 25 rounds in a 1.5"x2" hole just left of the bullseye at 7 meters. I have shot 200 rounds the first trip to the range and I was always shooting the left side of the target. I did shoot another 100 rounds on another range trip, tried the 25 meters, all left of the target. Today I shot it with a different trigger finger position, instead of using the last bit of my finger, I used the joint between the two last sections, I nailed 5 shots in the black center which is 7 inched wide, and the other 5 were around it, at 25 meters! I was... amazed.
I bought it used, and the rear sight was tossed to the right, which I found odd, now I know I was the problem and the pistol was shooting fine.

But my front sight is 6 and rear is 8... it was previously posted that the 9mm should be 8 and 8, I have a west-german made P226 with the old style sights.

 

[Crescendo]

. . .But my front sight is 6 and rear is 8... it was previously posted that the 9mm should be 8 and 8 . .

The #8 Rear and #8 Front is the correct combination for the 9mm and .357SIG calibers. The .45ACP and .40S&W take #6 Front and #8 Rear.

Also, all SIG pistols, except for the target pieces, are designed with combat sights, either contrast or night sights. This means that sight picture #3 is appropriate for getting your POA/POI to match as designed.

.

Many folks, especially target shooters ar enot comfortable with the sight picture #3. In this case, your sights can be changed in order to get your desired results. THis page from the SIG manual may help in that regard:

 

[Blurr[SOAR]]

Indeed a picture is worth a thousand words! Now that I can see what the sight picture should look like, it makes a little more sense. Thanks for the Crescendo.

I will get some of the more experienced guys to shoot it as well, but perhaps practice is all I need. Thanks for all the info guys!

 

[Artiz]

A picture is worth a thousand words, but my target is also worth 10000 words, at 7 meters the rounds go a little higher than the bullseye, at 10 it is a little higher, at 15 I got some serious elevation variations, and at 25 meters it seems that it is better than at 15.
I'll need another range trip to verify that, but it seems that I need to put the front sight just under the center of the target to hit it.