I have a Sig P226 Elite which needs to have the sights aligned. I have no experience and was wondering how I should go about doing it. Do I need to take it to a gunsmith? Can I do it myself with some simple tools? What do you recommend? Thanks for your help.
Sight Adjustment
- Thread starter Clvland
- Start date
The rear sight can be drifted back and forth,
Crappy tire sells a set of brass drifts. A good investment.
Take slide off frame and calmp it in a vice using wooden blocks or a Time magazine as a pad so you don't make the slide.
I paint a little white stripe on the frnt base of the sight with White Out (type correction fluid) as a reference mark. It scrapes off with a fingernail later.
I drift the sight right off the gun, the first time, and then put some oil or grease in the dovetail, then push the sight back on. Using the white stripe as a reference, push the sight to a new position. I find that a movement of a millimeter is easy to see on the stripe and on the target.
Push the sight the same direction you want the group to move.
You may find that the sight will need moving back and forth until you get it to stop where you want. lubricating the dovetail makes this a little easier.
If you try to move the front sight, a slip of the drift can knock the sight right off its base. Ask me how I know this....
Crappy tire sells a set of brass drifts. A good investment.
Take slide off frame and calmp it in a vice using wooden blocks or a Time magazine as a pad so you don't make the slide.
I paint a little white stripe on the frnt base of the sight with White Out (type correction fluid) as a reference mark. It scrapes off with a fingernail later.
I drift the sight right off the gun, the first time, and then put some oil or grease in the dovetail, then push the sight back on. Using the white stripe as a reference, push the sight to a new position. I find that a movement of a millimeter is easy to see on the stripe and on the target.
Push the sight the same direction you want the group to move.
You may find that the sight will need moving back and forth until you get it to stop where you want. lubricating the dovetail makes this a little easier.
If you try to move the front sight, a slip of the drift can knock the sight right off its base. Ask me how I know this....
Yes, it can be done as described above, or with the use of a proper sight adjustment tool, or find a Smithy that has all the tools and knowledge.
However, my first question is how do you know it needs to be adjusted. Before attemping any adjustments, shoot the pistol off a good solid rest and also have someone else shoot the pistol to see if they get the same results as you.
Very often, technic, finger postion, grip can all affect were the pistol shoots.
Its very possible that some adjustment is nesessary...just be very sure be moving anything.
However, my first question is how do you know it needs to be adjusted. Before attemping any adjustments, shoot the pistol off a good solid rest and also have someone else shoot the pistol to see if they get the same results as you.
Very often, technic, finger postion, grip can all affect were the pistol shoots.
Its very possible that some adjustment is nesessary...just be very sure be moving anything.
This was recently rammed home to me during a session with a Sig 226 when I announced to all that the sights seemed to be off and it was shooting low and slightly to the right. The group was tight as all get out but low and slightly to the right.
Someone took the same gun and shot a nice tight group right on target. When I tried it a second time I got 4 shots dead on and then it magically started shooting low and slightly to the right.
..... I need to practice more apparently...
Try that rest trick and also having some known really good shooters try your gun. From what I saw in my own highly embarrassing experience it's highly likely it's your technique.
