Drifting The Tactical Rear Sight

[palmetto99]

I'm in the process of breaking in my new "Tactical". The gun is grouping well, but shooting to the left. I took a close look at the rear sight and it is off set to the left of the slide.

Will I need to use a hammer and drift/dowel to move the sight to the right once the screw has been loosened, OR will I be able to push it with my fingers? Trying to determine what tools to bring to the range next time I go.

Thanks folks.

[NIGHT AL]

Forget your fingers, do it at home, use a vice,and drift, take it to the range after you get it loose, then do your sighting in.

[gamma72]

I'm pretty sure to move your groups to the right you'll need to drift the REAR sight to the left and if you want to move the front, then you have to drift it to the right.

[GunBugBit]

Dawson Precision sells an aluminum punch with a nylon tip that's just for rear sights. I find it's just the ticket for drifting my 1911 fixed rear sights. Far easier to use than a sight pusher and quite effective.

[gb6491]

Originally Posted by gamma72

I'm pretty sure to move your groups to the right you'll need to drift the REAR sight to the left and if you want to move the front, then you have to drift it to the right.

I'm probably reading that wrong, but say your shots are hitting to the left of where you are aiming, then you would need to move your rear sight to the right to correct that. So, move the rear the way you want the bullet's impact to move (IE, elevate it to bring the impact up, move it right to move the impact right). The front sight works the opposite as in move it the opposite direction from where you want the bullet to impact (IE, a shorter front sight will move the bullet's impact point up, moving the sight to the left will move impact to the right).
The sights on my RIA 9mm Tactical had Locitite (or some such thread locker) on them, so a little heat was needed to aid in moving them.
Regards,
Greg

[Cappi]

worth repeating

move the rear the way you want the bullet's impact to move

cause that's the easiest, simplest way to say and think it


.l.T.A.

[palmetto99]

Let me add some thing to the original question. Does the rear sight cut change width? It appears that the cut narrows from left to right. I used a mic to check.

[Vospertw]

Reviving an older post with a related question - anyone have a rough idea of how much of a drift is required to move an inch at say, 25 yards? I know it won't be precise like a scope but thought a rough idea might be helpful for making an initial adjustment at home.

[Road Rat]

Originally Posted by gamma72

i'm pretty sure to move your groups to the right you'll need to drift the rear sight to the left and if you want to move the front, then you have to drift it to the right.

aaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh................................ ...

[Giesterfarher]

Originally Posted by Cappi

worth repeating

cause that's the easiest, simplest way to say and think it


.l.T.A.

aaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh................................ ...

[AndyC]

Originally Posted by Vospertw

Reviving an older post with a related question - anyone have a rough idea of how much of a drift is required to move an inch at say, 25 yards? I know it won't be precise like a scope but thought a rough idea might be helpful for making an initial adjustment at home.

Yes, there's a formula - but it depends on the weapon's sight-radius. Let's assume a 1911 with a 6-inch sight-radius (distance between the back of the front-sight to the back of the rear-sight).

error X sight radius
------------------------ = adjustment to sight
Target distance in inches


so...

1 inch X 6 inch sight radius
------------------------ = adjustment to sight
900 inches (25 yds in inches)

6
----
900

0.0066"

or call it a 7-thou' movement in the sight to change POI by 1" at 25 yards.

As for the sight direction, there's an old Army acronym - FORS. It stands for Front - Opposite, Rear - Same.

In other words, if you're moving the front sight for whatever reason, move it in the opposite direction that you want the group to move ie. if you want the group to move right, move the front sight left. If you want the group to hit higher, move the front sight lower, etc.

That confuses some folks, so "Rear - Same" is easier to remember. Want to group more to the left, move the rear sight left. To group higher, move the rear sight higher - etc, etc.

[Dave Waits]

Originally Posted by gamma72

I'm pretty sure to move your groups to the right you'll need to drift the REAR sight to the left and if you want to move the front, then you have to drift it to the right.

sir, that is backwards.

[Tommy Kelly]

Always move the rear the way you want the bullet to move. move the front opposite. It's been that way forever and at 25 yds to move the group 1" will take very little movement at all. I have replaced the sights on 3 of my rock Islands and all have been centered on the slide for poa poi. I stayed with fixed sights just went to a wider profile.

[Vospertw]

AndyC - perfect! Exactly what I was looking for, thanks amigo!