SIGforum
New HK 45 shooting way low....

This topic can be found at:
https://sigforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/430601935/m/1000046144

May 11, 2018, 03:55 PM
roymor
New HK 45 shooting way low....
....about six inches below POA from roughly 10 yards away. Have run Winchester white box 230 grain through it along with several handloads all with bullet weights above 200 grains and with powders like 231 and Bullseye. It hits in the same spot with everything. The gun is new and has the Tru Dot night sights that came on it. The rear sight seems to be a bit tall and I'm wondering if a sight combination with a lower rear sight and/or higher front sight might fix my problem. The gun is great. Functions flawlessly and is very accurate but all the shots are 6 inches low. Any advice or wisdom from you guys would be appreciated.


Any sane person should be instinctively skeptical when all the smart people agree. Mark Steyn
May 11, 2018, 04:04 PM
GP229
If it's shooting low, the rear sight needs to be taller, not shorter. Or a shorter front sight installed.
May 11, 2018, 05:17 PM
RHINOWSO
Try some factory ammo other than powder puff WWB???
May 11, 2018, 05:56 PM
roymor
GP229--Thanks. I always overthink that and get it wrong. Any recommendations for a different sight set up?


Any sane person should be instinctively skeptical when all the smart people agree. Mark Steyn
May 11, 2018, 05:59 PM
az4783054
Try better quality ammunition. You might have someone else shoot it, preferably from a rest, before changing out the sights. FWIW, many new users of HK tend to shoot low and left. I did with my P2000 and P2000sk pistols. HK is like SIG ("combat sights") in that you cover the target with the front sight.


Beware of a man whose only pistol is a 1911, he's probably very good with it.
May 11, 2018, 07:10 PM
roymor
az4783054----I usually avoid manufactured ammo and load my own stuff. I've been looking for an excuse to load some 45acp with Power Pistol and may try it now. When I shoot the gun I line the sights up exactly as I would with a SIG--sights lined up, front sight exactly where I want the round to go, and bang, six inches low.


Any sane person should be instinctively skeptical when all the smart people agree. Mark Steyn
May 11, 2018, 08:14 PM
darthfuster
Does it shoot low for others who try it? If you are right handed and it shoots low and left, chances are good it's you. Same if you are left handed and it shoots low right. Wouldn't be the first time a new trigger exposed technical trouble.



You’re a lying dog-faced pony soldier
May 11, 2018, 08:21 PM
roymor
Darthfuster--I'm the only one to have shot it. I'm right handed and have tended to shoot Glocks high and left. This is the only gun I've ever shot low.


Any sane person should be instinctively skeptical when all the smart people agree. Mark Steyn
May 11, 2018, 10:32 PM
cslinger
Ok so please don’t take any of my comments as demeaning or condescending as I don’t know your skill level (which probably far surpasses mine) but I always start with the “is it plugged in answer” so to speak.

First is it a DA/SA Gun? And if so are you jerking the trigger pulling the shots?

Second are you used to six o’clock hold guns? HKs are Drive the dot affairs so you might be holding low.

Third have you tried different ammo?

Again these are all pretty basic and you very well might be looking at my reply as who da f’ is this idiot but I thought they might be worth mentioning before messing with the hardware.

Again no disrespect if these are stupid suggestions for you.

Ohh and if you are having a hardware issue reach out to HK. In the past they had a deserved “We are HK and we hate you” rep but for quite a few years now their CS has been TOP NOTCH.


"Guns are tools. The only weapon ever created was man."
May 12, 2018, 04:28 PM
roymor
cslinger--I don't take your questions as being condescending--no worries. The gun is a SA/DA Variant 1. I am used to shooting Sigs and I have a USP as well so I know how to "drive the dot" as you say. I stay away from factory ammo, I like to load my own. My skill level is certainly not great, I'm not LEO, military, or anything like that. When a gun shoots consistently six inches low like this one has, with various types of ammo, it makes me wonder if I'm running into an issue that others may have had.


Any sane person should be instinctively skeptical when all the smart people agree. Mark Steyn
May 12, 2018, 04:34 PM
darthfuster
quote:
Originally posted by roymor:
Darthfuster--I'm the only one to have shot it. I'm right handed and have tended to shoot Glocks high and left. This is the only gun I've ever shot low.


I'll echo Slinger's sentiment and say this just a WAG based on my own experience. I could be wrong about your case. Typically when someone is shooting low like you describe, it is the result of anticipation and compensation for recoil.......even if slight. A person can be accustomed to one trigger an settle into some technical errors without such dramatic results. 1911 style guns have such great triggers that anticipation/compensation demonstrates very slightly down range especially at the distances you mentioned. HK triggers are not as forgiving. Sometimes the standard combat trigger can feel almost like a staple gun (VP70). The way I ferret the technical weakness out is to have someone else load my mags with random snap caps. I look away so I can't know when they might be chambered. Then I hit the firing line. The first snap cap will show you what you are doing wrong. From there you work new mags loaded randomly until when the trigger drops on the snap caps, your gun doesn't move and the sights stay lined up on the target.......every time.

I've been shooting for 40 years. You'd think by now I had it down. A few years ago I got an HK P30. My first trip to the range I was super low. I was so confident in my technique I was convinced the problem was the gun. HK humbly offered to pay to have it shipped back and tested. Before doing so I decided to be certain it was not me. Long story short, it was me. Fixed the technical issue and the gun was dead on.

HK doesn't let guns out that are that far off. Unless someone meddled with the sights or the like, it is more likely the problem is the user. Jus' sayin' Big Grin



You’re a lying dog-faced pony soldier
May 12, 2018, 04:51 PM
RAds
Is this an LEM gun by chance? I always shoot LEM low and centered. A training issue yes, but one that I finally gave up on as it took me 20x the practice to shoot ok vs other trigger systems. Went back to striker and DA/SA guns and all is well now.
May 12, 2018, 06:36 PM
hrcjon
He says its a V1 not LEM. For me if I shoot something competently (that means nominally a 1" full mag group in slow deliberate aimed fire) and repeatable and the groups not where I want it with the ammo I intend to use... I just change the sights.


“So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong, and strike at what is weak.”
May 12, 2018, 06:40 PM
SevenPlusOne
I had a 45c that always shot low with anything but +p loads.



"Ninja kick the damn rabbit"
May 12, 2018, 07:53 PM
roymor
Thanks hrcjon. That's what I'm thinking. And SevenPlusOne--I'm going to try some hotter handholds than what I originally fired and I'll see what happens.


Any sane person should be instinctively skeptical when all the smart people agree. Mark Steyn
May 12, 2018, 09:41 PM
GJM AK
None of my three HK45, six HK45C, three USP C .45 or six USP FS .45 pistols shoot six inches low at 10 yards.
May 12, 2018, 10:12 PM
thezoltar
Since it hasn't been mentioned yet I guess I'll have to be the first to ask if you know that the HK is a dot cover over target and not a top of blade under target sight picture. It requires the target to be covered @ 25' to aquire proper elevation. I apologize if this is already known.


======
...welcome to the barnyard...some animals are more equal than others
May 13, 2018, 06:49 AM
kkina
quote:
Originally posted by thezoltar:
Since it hasn't been mentioned yet I guess I'll have to be the first to ask if you know that the HK is a dot cover over target and not a top of blade under target sight picture. It requires the target to be covered @ 25' to aquire proper elevation. I apologize if this is already known.

The return of the Combat Sighting pic...





ACCU-STRUT FOR MINI-14
"First, Eyes."
May 13, 2018, 07:41 AM
rbert0005
Once again, was this shot off of a decent rest?

If not you are only guessing.

Bob


I am no expert, but think I am sometimes.
May 13, 2018, 08:10 AM
smschulz
Try letting someone else sight it in also that is experienced in shooting for comparison.
That is a LOT off and sound like a sight picture to me or a shooting issue and as mentioned above use a rest.