Adjusting Iron Sights a Brief Tutorial

Frost · Apr 4, 2011

How to adjust iron sights on handguns and rifles (shotguns too)
I know some of you are thinking I have lost a step posting this as everyone knows it.
Well the sad truth is they don't.
I had someone ask me for a link for which way to move the sights.
I got more false hits than you would believe trying to find link for him to give to someone.
So here it is.

The general rule is the rear sight is moved in the SAME direction you wish to move the point of impact.
To move the point of impact right move the rear sight right.
To move the point of impact left move it left.
To move the point of impact up move it up.
To move the point of impact down move it down.

For example, if the point of impact is LEFT and BELOW the target, and you wish to move the point of impact to the center, then move the rear sight RIGHT and UP.

The front sight moves the opposite direction, so it would move LEFT and DOWN.

Adjusting the sights on a firearm is not complicated.
Just take your time and think about what you are doing.
If a gun is not hitting the target where you think it should be consider it might be you rather than the gun.
Sometimes it takes a while to get used to a revolver or a pistol.
I have seen people wear out the adjustment on a Smith and Wesson revolver.

shane361 · Apr 16, 2011

Re: Adjusting Iron Sights

These have come on handy in my past...

http://files.ncoschool.com/target/M4%20Zero.pdf

Stan in SC · Oct 6, 2011

It's easier to think of it in a slightly different manner.The firearm hits where it is pointed.You do not actually move the point of impact,you move the way the firearm sights are lookinbg.You want to make the sights look(aim) where the gun is impacting.

Stan in SC

PCShogun · Oct 18, 2011

Frost said:
The general rule is the rear sight is moved in the SAME direction you wish to move the point of impact.
To move the point of impact right move the rear sight right.
To move the point of impact left move it left.
To move the point of impact up move it up.
To move the point of impact down move it down.

Spot on. I have a Mosin Nagant that was hitting about 4 inches low at 25 yards. By moving the rear site up to the 450 yard setting, its hitting bulls eyes. Now I just need to figure out how to push the front site down, or file some of the post off without going too far.