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At the range yesterday, using paper targets indoors, I noticed that my Kimber shoots about 3-4 inches to the left at 40 feet. So using some Kentucky windage, I picked an aim point about 4 inches to the right, and sure enough, I was hitting in the target area I intended. So, I'd like to adjust my rear sight, move it to the left. BUT, it is not easy. So doing some research, it looks like it is VERY difficult to move. I would need a "sight adjustment rig" and even that does not look like it can be used to move small increments at a shooting range. So, what do people recommend to adjust the sights? Send it back to Kimber? But how will they know how much to adjust it? Thanks for any help.
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Universal Sight Adjustment Tool, $50 on ebay. -
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Well, first of all, the gun shoots to the left so the rear sight needs moving to the RIGHT not left to zero the pistol. Second, you don't need a fancy tool to adjust rear sights in their dovetail---a brass drift and a small hammer will do the trick easily in a few seconds. Good luck!Comment
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The rear sight is a real pain to move, the front not so much. If you think the front sight is the one that needs adjusting, send it to a gunsmith, or of you are handy with tools, a non-marring hammer and a punch are all you need.
Be sure to clamp the slide in a vise, lined with leather to mitigate scratching the finish. As to the rear sight, it was put in by the factory using a " hydraulic press " and would be difficult to move. There were relatively few people whom I personally knew who tried the hammer and punch way, they were successful but they all advised to just send the gun to the factory.Comment
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If you're not replacing the rear sight, then it should be pretty cheap for a gun smith to move it for you a little. As you said, then the issue is how much to the right? If it were me, I'd probably make an attemp to move it after buying a sight pusher. If you take the sight pusher with you to the range, you can make adjustments as needed until it's zeroed. Definitely shoot it off a rest and as far as you can on paper. I would've expected better from Kimber.
The cheapest (free) option might be to report the issue to Kimber and send it in so they can make sure the rear sight is centered to their factory specs.Comment
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When asked what qualities he most valued in his generals, Napoleon said, "give me lucky ones."Comment
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My Custom II has a small Allen set screw in the rear sight, when I loosen that it is pretty easy to move with a brass drift/punch. I also have the $50 sight tool, while it is not necessary to move the sights on my Kimber, it has worked very well on many other guns.If you want change you have to put in your 2 cents, you can't just sit on the sidelines and whine.Comment
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If you have night sights don't use a punch. You can break the vial and sight goes dark.
RyanThe following statement is true.
The preceding statement was false.Comment
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I highly suggest not to use a punch of any kind if you have tritium vials in your sights, for one they will mar the sights and two they might cause them to crack. Also a gunsmith will charge you $25-$40 each time, and its also time consuming to drive back to them to have it readjusted.
Yes they can make any fine adjustment you want finer than a tap/hammer, the $50 one I personally own and I used them for my Colt HK, Glocks, Sig and CZ. They shouldn't wiggle or have any give due to them having a gasket inbetween the bolts. A quarter turn of a wrench would result in about an inch of drift, so you might want to start off with a 1/16 of a turn.
If you plan on buying more 1911s, or simply adjusting more then I suggest you either get:
1. target sights - most recommended
2. a high quality sight drifting tool $150 for specific brands $500 for universal.Comment
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There's quite a few possibilities. I know what makes rifle barrels go out. I don't know how long pistol barrels at pistol velocities and pistol pressures last, but I'd imagine it's at least 10,000 rounds if not 20,000. 12 years can do that if you put a couple thousand rounds through it each year. Also, it's possible your rear sight has moved if you ever banged it hard enough on accident, but probably not likely. Improper cleaning techniques can permanently damage the barrel, maybe the crown.
Another likely scenario is if your recoil spring is tired, you're barrel might not be going to back to the same place after each shot. Enough wear on the spring or barrel itself can probably make what used to be tight, now wobbly.
I don't know, but I'd get a new barrel and see what a gunsmith could do to "accurize" it if budget allowed.Comment
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