Trouble with iron sights on AR

Power Pill

Power Pill

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I just recently started shooting my AR with iron sights and to be honest...im terrible...I tried to zero it at 50 yards...but after 60 rounds i still couldn't keep rounds on the target

My rear sight is adjustable for height and left and right...but it didnt seem to matter which way i adjusted it...I just couldn't get any sort of group with them

I could get good groups with a scope...

Can anyone give me some advice on shooting with iron sights???

Thanks :D
 
Uhh... did you screw them down tight?

I mean you just, take a shot, see if it's left/right/high/low, throw it a few clicks (IN THE DIRECTION IT SHOOTS, NOT IN THE DIRECTION YOU WANT IT TO SHOOT), shoot again, click it a few more times.

Or just shoot a group, and move the irons to the centre of it.
 
DASQ said:
I mean you just, take a shot, see if it's left/right/high/low, throw it a few clicks
Click to expand...

Don't "take a shot". You'll chase the zero all over.

Take 5-10 shots, observe the center of the group, and adjust from there, then repeat as required (shouldn't be - you will get it on the first try).

As for grouping, use the small aperture, get close enough, focus on the front sight if your eyes can do it, placing it in the centre of the aperture nad the (now fuzzy) centre of the target.
 
One other thing you want to check is the position of your front sight. Most AR foresights are adjustable for elevation. If your foresight is screwed down all the way you'll be shooting over the target.
 
I've got a PDF of a U.S. army 25m sighting target for AR's both iron sight and Eotech. Worked for my Aimpoint as well.

If you can tell me how to upload a PDF or want it emailed to you let me know.
 
DASQ said:
Uhh... did you screw them down tight?

I mean you just, take a shot, see if it's left/right/high/low, throw it a few clicks (IN THE DIRECTION IT SHOOTS, NOT IN THE DIRECTION YOU WANT IT TO SHOOT), shoot again, click it a few more times.

Or just shoot a group, and move the irons to the centre of it.
Click to expand...

so if its hitting left...I should adjust the knob to the left?
 
Power Pill said:
Can anyone give me some advice on shooting with iron sights???
Thanks :D
Click to expand...
Practice, focus on the front sight, use the force (don't overthink).

Edit: You can't zero until you can shoot groups. Worry about sight adjustment later.

Consistent posture and cheek weld is really important, nose against the charging handle if needs be.
 
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Is it a factory installed barrel or a home build? If it is a home build, you may have some issues with running out of windage to compensate for a barrel that was poorly indexed on installation.
 
Focus on the front sight, keep it centered in the aperture, zero so your POI is right above your front sight, that way you are not obscuring yout target.
The picture a pumpkin on a fence post, thats what your sight picture should be.
 
Power Pill said:
so if its hitting left...I should adjust the knob to the left?
Click to expand...
If it's hitting left, you want to bring the sight picture left (move the rear to the right) so the sights end up pointing where the bullets land, assuming your rifle stays 'still'/controlled.
 
beltfed said:
Is it a factory installed barrel or a home build? If it is a home build, you may have some issues with running out of windage to compensate for a barrel that was poorly indexed on installation.
Click to expand...

I installed it myself

how do you know if its properly indexed?
 
Hitzy said:
Indexing is done at the factory when the barrel extention and front sight are installed. You can't screw it up attaching it to your receiver :)
Click to expand...

That really depends on what the definition of 'indexing' is.

In this case we are talking about the front sight alignment with the rear.
If you have a taper pinned front sight base, yes - you pretty much get what you get, unless it is horribly wrong and you glue and set screw it.
If he has a clamp on or set screwed gas block and sights attached, there is usually an opportunity to align it with the rear aperture.
 
Ok you asked the question. An ar should shoot a minimum of 3 MOA or 1.5 inch group at 50 yards. If the gun is not grouping then there is problem with the gun or more likely the shooter. To rule out the shooter get an accomplished target shooter to try the gun. If he can not get it to group then there is a problem with the gun. Even if the sights are not calibrated, the gun should group. It just groups in the wrong place.

Now if an accomplished shooter is not available then here is how to get your best shot.

Use a bench. Support the rifle on sandbags as close to the action as possible. (Supporting the barrel adds weird barrel harmonics)

A technique that I used with AR to maintain the same eye position was I would touch my nose to charging handle. I am not pinnochio so my nose remains the same length throughout the shooting stiring. So my position remains approximately the same spot. One foundation of accurate shooting is doing exactly the same thing each time the gun is fired.

Proper sight alignment with the peep sight is to look through the peep. Focus on your front sight. Make sure that the front sight is in the middle of your focus then place the front sight over the target you want to hit. Your eye can only focus on one thing at one time it is more important to focus on your front sight then your target. So front sight clear target fuzzy. What this means a small error in sight position on target is not nearly as bad as a slight error in sight alignment.

beating a dead horse. If your aim is one inch off of of center, with perfect sight alignment, you will miss by an inch at a 100 yards. Not bad. If your sight alignment is off by 1,000ths of an inch you will miss by an inch at a 100 yards. To better understand this concept the average human hair is 4,000ths of an inch. So if your sight alignment is out by a hair you will miss by 4 inches at 100 yards.

This perfect sight alignment has to be maintained while minipulating the trigger. The best way to check this is to dryfire your gun. Your sight alignment must remain perfect during dryfire. Fortunately this does not cost anything, but it takes a lot of practice. Alot of practice. Once you master sight alignment and trigger control. Then you can shoot for groups.

Unfortunately this is just the foundation of accurate shooting thier are lots of other variables that can take a lifetime to master before you can become Quigly down under.

Easiest way is to find someone that has already done this to find out if there is a problem with the gun. Ask you clubs executive. They will probably know who shoots competitively.
 
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