Need taller front sight

[chutestrate]

My P9 is incredibly accurate, but I'm always 6 inches high. I dot my i, aim at 6 o'clock, and all my shots are high.

I can't find a taller front sight on the kahr website, is it available or should I be looking at other manufacturers?

[MW surveyor]

What rounds are you shooting. Light weight bullets tend to shoot higher.

[Bill K]

Welcome to KahrTalk!

Please don't be offended by my asking but have you shot the pistol bench rested? Maybe have another shooter at least as good as you shoot the gun? Maybe bury half the dot as part of your sight picture.

New to Kahrs myself so can't help with finding you a taller front sight.

[chutestrate]

Half the dot isn't a bad idea. I"m shooting 124 gr fmj. I have to put the top of the front sight beneath my target at 15 and 25 yds to hit it dead on.

[dewoah]

It's just the opposite for me. Mine shoots 3-4" low from same distance with the same loads (124 fmj). Good groupings, I just can't fully dot the i. I guess it's all about learning how to shoot your gun.

[wyntrout]

I think a little high is better than low. It''s nice to see what you're shooting at. I've had to fix a few guns that shot too darned low... my S&W 645 shot about 9" low at 15 or 25 yards... don't remember, but it had a ramp front sight, pinned from the side. I removed the sight and filed down the sight and the base... almost too low, but I drilled a new pin hole in what was left of the ramp and re-installed the sight to shoot almost perfect vertically. The rear sight is adjustable for windage. I used some epoxy to stop any looseness and soften sharp edges.

The other was my Springfield Champion with mismatched sights, shooting about 4" low at SEVEN yards. It had XS-type night sights with the standard front sight, but they weren't for that gun and NOT matched. I wound up sending the slide to Novak and had them install their elevation-adjustable night sights... not cheap, but I did get a 10% discount for military on the parts and they shot high a bit, too, but a couple of adjustments and they were right on.

It may be that you have the wrong front sight, or the rear, or even both... stuff happens and it wouldn't be the first time.

Talk to Kahr.

Wynn:)

[QuercusMax]

I've been pretty consistently low with my MK9 using Winchester 115g FMJ. I really have to try hard to bring it up - it's rare that I am high even despite trying. We each *do* need to learn to how shoot our own guns. I'm still working on it.

[dewoah]

I would rather mine shoot higher than lower as well. It seems all of mine are off a little and shoot differently. I've learned to compensate, but a correction with the sights would be nice. I'm still trying to figure out if different ammo will make a difference.

G19 / P9 / P380 / Det. Sp. / SAA .45 / H&R .22

[chutestrate]

Well, I'm sending it back to Kahr. I was hoping that they could send me a different front or rear sight since it is just height. Plus is that they are picking up the shipping.

[Jeremiah/Az]

I've always wondered how Elmer Keith could make those 100 yards & more shots with his .44's.
He could not use his sights in the conventional way.:confused:

[wyntrout]

Well, I'm sending it back to Kahr. I was hoping that they could send me a different front or rear sight since it is just height. Plus is that they are picking up the shipping.

Very good. I hope they get it sorted out and back to you soon. Sometimes the wrong sights DO get installed.

I would prefer adjustable sights, but if the fixed ones are right on, great. The problem is when they aren't and you need to adjust them. Have you TRIED to move any of the Kahr sights that WEREN'T loose already?? Drift adjustable... uh-huh.:rolleyes: Not in the field!

Wynn:)

[dewoah]

chutestrate - glad they were accommodating. I would want it right as well. Please let us know the result when you get it back. Good luck!

[TheTman]

I need a taller sight for my Swedish Mauser, its a shoots great groups, but the damn thing is sighted in for 300 yards and thats as short as the sights will go. I thought about brazing a brass bead on top of the sight, then hammering it to the proper shape and filing it down until it's sighted in for 100 yards. The front sight is dovetailed, so if they made a taller sight a guy could swap out that would be perfect.

Nevermind Samco to the rescue! Has a front sight calibrated for 100 meters.

[chutestrate]

Well, I received the P9 back with a test target.
I went to the range, and got the same results I sent it in for. It is still shooting high. I'm using Federal 124 gr fmj.

I'm a little disappointed in the results. The test target shows a nice group with a note that says 6 o' clock hold.

That's nice to know, but I have no idea where he was aiming on the target. I checked my manual again to see what the suggested sight picture is, and nothing is stated about how to aim the sights. I checked Kahr's web sight as well to make sure I had the most current instruction manual, same information.

So, I've put in a call to Kahr requesting more information. I want to know where the evaluator aimed on the target so I can try to get the same results. It would also help to know what ammunition he was using. I at least want a little more information so I can decide whether to keep the stock sights or talk to a gunsmith about changing them to something that would aim it the way I'm used to shooting.

When I called the tech was very accomodating and said the evaluator or someone who had talked with the evaluator would get in touch with me in a few days. I'm confident I'll find a way to make this pistol work for me. It's a nice little gun.

[jmurch]

6 o'clock hold is dotting the i, lining up the sights so that all 3 objects (rear site, front post and bottom edge of the bull or POA) are vertically sequentially lined up.

Put it on a sandbag or better yet a benchrest vise. You are probably pulling your shots low due to the long trigger pull.

[WMD]

I was told by Kahr, they test fire guns for accuracy at 10 yards using standard American made factory ball ammo (American Eagle, Remington, etc). 6 o'clock hold is just as "jmurch" described. If the target from Kahr is in the black, you are probably sighting incorrectly or moving up when you fire.

You do not mention how far you are shooting. My PM9 is a tack driver at 10 yards with a 6 o'clock hold. There are no optional height sites for Kahr pistols because they should not need them. Try bench resting as previoiusly suggested. I think you may find your P9 is OK.

Keep us posted! :)

[Bill K]

...

That's nice to know, but I have no idea where he was aiming on the target. I checked my manual again to see what the suggested sight picture is, and nothing is stated about how to aim the sights. I checked Kahr's web sight as well to make sure I had the most current instruction manual, same information.

...

Sight image/picture 1 is a 6 O'Clock hold. Great for target shooting but not in my opinion the best hold for SD shooting. Sight image/picture 2 is what I want for my SD pistols - should there be the time and distance favoring the use of sights in the first place.


http://pistol-training.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/sightimages.jpg

[jmurch]

I use the same method of sight pics as Bill. Sight image 1 for target shooting sight pic 2 (COM, Navy hold) for SD.

I also agree you probably will not have much time or need for sights in an actual SD situation.

I have been thru a bit of SD training and I have been trained that the left hand is to fend off the threat, right hand draws and points gun at the threat as soon as it clears the holster and start firing as you attempt to bring it up to even see the sights.

[Husky44]

OP: I also would encourage you to shoot from a bench or vise (if you haven't already) to see if your point of impact is truly different from your point of aim. I was convinced the sights were off on my XDM when I first got it, until I tried a bench rest. Then I found out that the sights were spot on...

[aray]

Operator error.

I was in the lane next to you and have gone to the trouble of demonstrating what you're doing wrong:

4409

as well as what you need to do to fix it:

4408

[chutestrate]

LOL, love the images.

Great advice. Thank you. I typically use target image 2 for all my shooting. However, not being the sharpest knife in the drawer, brightest bulb in the pack, etc. I appreciate the advice, and will bench the gun.

Unfortunately, my outdoor range starts at 15 yds, so I haven't been shooting closer.

So, I'll get to our indoor range, shoot at 10 yds benched, and free holding. I'll remember to take pics this time to document and see what you guys can suggest to me.

Love the pistol, just have to bond with it.

[jmurch]

FYI my MK9 hits POA at 15 yards using a COM (center of mass, pic 2) hold.

[jocko]

Well, I received the P9 back with a test target.
I went to the range, and got the same results I sent it in for. It is still shooting high. I'm using Federal 124 gr fmj.

I'm a little disappointed in the results. The test target shows a nice group with a note that says 6 o' clock hold.

That's nice to know, but I have no idea where he was aiming on the target. I checked my manual again to see what the suggested sight picture is, and nothing is stated about how to aim the sights. I checked Kahr's web sight as well to make sure I had the most current instruction manual, same information.

So, I've put in a call to Kahr requesting more information. I want to know where the evaluator aimed on the target so I can try to get the same results. It would also help to know what ammunition he was using. I at least want a little more information so I can decide whether to keep the stock sights or talk to a gunsmith about changing them to something that would aim it the way I'm used to shooting.

When I called the tech was very accomodating and said the evaluator or someone who had talked with the evaluator would get in touch with me in a few days. I'm confident I'll find a way to make this pistol work for me. It's a nice little gun.

all about sight picture, 6 O'clock hold and 12 O'clock hold is going to print differently. I don't think kahr makes a higher sight either. No doubt if you see a tad less of that front sight your pattern will move down. It is not a gun issue..:blah:

[chutestrate]

To me it's a gun issue, but I have choices. I might install XO sights if I find I really don't like the stock sights.

[jocko]

if the kahr tech people shot it and returned it with a target that was acceptable, then it might be a gun issue in YOUR hands but not a fault issue of the gun when 99% of all kahr owne4rs report no issues. Not trying to argue with u but not all brands of guns shoot the same and sometimes ne must change his sight picture to get the results he wants. You might write some of these sight companies like dawson, or xs and see what they offer, who knows they might have just the front sight for you..

[chutestrate]

You're right, and I don't take it as arguing. I tell my wife I'm perfect, but somehow she doesn't let me think that. I'm a legend in my own mind she says.

It probably is me, but I just don't like having to adjust my shooting style when it works with all of my other guns.

[jocko]

being this is what most call a 7 yard anbd under save ur life gun, have you tried just POA point of aim shooting. u can get damn deadley like that and faster than tryinbg to line up all the sights to. No doubt in a defense situation ur not gonna do all that sight stuff, so why not try uust pointing that guna nd seeing that front sight clearly at 7 yards and under and see where it gets u. U might just surpr4ise yourself.

Ur wife ia a very wise person indeed.