My thoughts on sights.

[Scottzilla]

I'm kind of new to shooting pistols and rifles. I started with rifles just under a year ago. After some research I bought an m&p 15-22 and put thousands and thousands of rounds down range. I thought the m&p would lead to an AR but it didn't. Instead I ended up with a 7.62 Saiga simply because of how inexpensive the rounds are.
The m&p needed a few clicks left to be spot on, the Saiga needed to be cranked well to the right. While shooting rifles I realized pistols were a whole different ball game so I applied for my NYS license and did lots of research.
Oddly, I came across tons of information relating to accuracy. Imagine my surprise when I found out when the bullet doesn't go right where you want it to its because you are doing something wrong. Your palming, jerking, too much trigger finger, not enough trigger fingker, etc. wow, this stuff is confusing.
On a rifle, you adjust your sights and hit bulls all day long.

My first pistol purchase was a Walther PPQ. It's a fine, accurate pistol. I spent lots of time and money learning to shoot this gun but always seemed to shoot a little to the left. I read everything I could, I tried all the techniques I could. I beat myself up pretty good; I'm obviously doing something wrong.
After filling a target with a silver dollar sized hole just left of the bull I decided to adjust the PPQs sight to the right.
Every shot went right on the bull. It was like I was suddenly a good shooter.

I believe technique is important when pistol shooting but am confused why so many think it's the shooters fault when they could potentially be a few clicks away from perfection. Why is sight adjustment so blasse on a rifle but apparently overlooked on a pistol? Why don't pistol mfg's put simple to adjust sights on all pistols?

 

[9mmepiphany]

I believe technique is important when pistol shooting but am confused why so many think it's the shooters fault when they could potentially be a few clicks away from perfection. Why is sight adjustment so blasse on a rifle but apparently overlooked on a pistol? Why don't pistol mfg's put simple to adjust sights on all pistols?

The general answer, to your first question, is that most folks don't shoot well enough to accurately determine how far to adjust the rear sight. The rule of thumb is that you should not adjust your sights in an increment smaller than your group size.

The answer to your second question is a matter of cost based on the answer to the first question

 

[foghornl]

Just my humble 1/50th of $1...

Some handguns come with fixed sights..Ruger Vaquero comes to mind, and some DA revolvers made for the CCW market also have fixed sights..nothing to snag when drawing from cover.

Handguns are more likely to be held or gripped in a slightly different manner by different people, and with only (frequently) 1-hand hold, several variables are brought in.

Rifles have 3 (or 4) points of 'hold' 2 hands and the butt stock on the shoulder, and check weld for sighting. So, the aim tends to be more consistant.

My Springfield Armory "Champion" model needed a bit of tweaking, while my GI-45 was spot-on out of the box. Shooting Budd was a bit left with my GI-45.

There is probably more involved, but that's all I have for now.

 

[murf]

put iron sights on your rifle, shoot it off-hand at 100 yards and see how accurate you are!

that is what you are doing with your pistol (apples to apples).

to be accurate, you have to be a lot more precise in your shooting, or get a scope and a bench rest for your pistol (apples to apples).

murf

 

[Texan Scott]

and of course because purely defensive handguns will likely be used at ranges where the difference between 4' at 50 yds and 6' at 50 yds is entirely academic... we'd rather not have the snag/ breakage hazard however small... and because the sight radius of a snubby revolver is so laughably short as to make adjustable sigts in small increments difficult and impractical... and on such a gun, and with a 12 or 13-lb DA trigger, they'd be wasted ...

 

[9mmepiphany]

I'm pretty sure you mean 4 and 6 inches, and not feet, at 50 yards...because a two foot difference isn't academic...that two inch difference at that distance would mean the difference between an acceptable and unacceptable service gun

I'll also mention that I just had my 2.5" M66 upgraded with target (flat rear blade) sights. Good sights are more critical on short sight radius revolvers as alignment errors are harder to detect...it is pretty important when DA shooting for beer money

 

[tipoc]

After filling a target with a silver dollar sized hole just left of the bull I decided to adjust the PPQs sight to the right.
Every shot went right on the bull. It was like I was suddenly a good shooter.

As a new shooter you were unaware that you could and should adjust the sights if it is needed. Now you know.

Gun and ammo manufacturers, instructors and even internet forums spend a good deal of time telling folks that they can adjust the sights. They also explain that technique can make a difference and that proper ammo can as well. If you were shooting silver dollar sized groups at 7 or 15 yards with the PPQ you were doing well. You adjusted the sights, hopefully following the manufacturers instructions that come in the manual that came with the gun. After that the silver dollar moved to where you were aiming it for, just as the manual said.

If a fella is shooting groups that look like shotgun patterns at 10 yards then more time is needed on technique. On internet forums folks spend more time on this than the fella with silver dollar sized groups at 15 yards.

tipoc

 

[jim243]

Why don't pistol mfg's put simple to adjust sights on all pistols?

Well they do, kind of. Where as revolvers front sight is generally machined from the barrel material and is fixed, pistol front sights are generally not (exception is the Beretta 92's, milled in the frame) and are pinned in a hole or dovetail. If you are shooting left, move the front sight right. Rear sights are almost always dovetailed and if you are shooting left move (drift) the rear sight left. If the front sight is shooting low, you can install a smaller front sight, if you are shooting high, install a taller front sight. (can't get simpler than that)

Pistol sights are general either fixed (standard) or adjustable (extra $). Why are not all pistol sights adjustable, well one is cost and the second is that once a pistol is setup the sights are never adjusted again (unless you drop the pistol on it's sights).

Adjustable sights are great for target shooting, but get hung up on clothing when used for CCW and self-defense. Many people will not get or use adjustable sights for that reason. The mfg's in their wisdom therefore make the pistols for the general public in that configuration and offer adjustable sights as an option. The exception to that is in "target pistols" which almost always come with adjustable sights.

That's why,
Jim

PS: If you are shooting low and left, it's not the sights, but you have too much finger rapped around the trigger and are canting the pistol as you fire, try pulling straight back on the trigger as you shoot, takes some pratice.

 

[LKB3rd]

I think it is because of the basic purpose of the two types.

Rifles are supposed to be accurate first and foremost. Handguns need to be portable.

Yes, people taget shoot and practice with handguns for sport, challenge, and more effective defense but their basic purpose is to be portable.

Also, since handguns are shot at closer range, more crude sights get the job done, where they wouldn't/don't on a rifle.

 

[Texan Scott]

9mmE, yeah, i meant inches... and 6 inches at 50 yds is hideous, yes... but my point was that at CQB range, even THAT is irrelevant... at 7-10 yds, a pistol THAT bad will still group center mass on a man-sized target... and if that's all you really expect of your snubby, you really won't benefit from target sights.