Thoughts.. Kimber TLE/RL Shooting High

[Swingshift]

Sigh.. So I've just returned from the range with a Pre-Owned Kimber TLE/RL that I picked up in a trade 30 days ago.

First let me say that I am an experienced and accurate pistol (1911) and rifle shooter and I have never had any problems putting well aimed shots in bulls eye's with tight groups at will.

With that said, I took the Kimber for a spin today.. Put 100 rounds of Federal American Eagle 230gr. (which I have always been very accurate with) through it. All of my shots were in between 2" to 2.5" inches high. Not cool. I was also able to move my group into the bulls eye when I decided to aim in the white just outside the black.

The firearm is completely stock. I come to my fellow Calgunners looking for thoughts, suggestions, personal experience with 1911's that shoot high and any possible solutions to this problem. Of course if you know of a good gunsmith in SoCal particularly in the SFV that'd be great as well.

I am aware that using different types of ammo can sometimes affect accuracy but I've never experienced it like this.

Here's a look at my targets from 7yrds.

[negolien]

What sight picture are you using ie popsicle or cover? I find my Custom II sights are popsicle but have hear differing opinions for differing models.

[Swingshift]

What sight picture are you using ie popsicle or cover? I find my Custom II sights are popsicle but have hear differing opinions for differing models.

When you say "sight picture" I'm thinking fuzzy, clear, fuzzy.. In relation to rear sight, front sight and target. I'm not sure what you mean by popsicle or cover.

[pointerman]

Are you putting the front sight dot covering what you want to shoot or just under what you want to shoot (like you are underlining it)?

[Swingshift]

Are you putting the front sight dot covering what you want to shoot or just under what you want to shoot (like you are underlining it)?

Ahh I see.. I underline where I want to hit with the clear front sight tip. Even still, I don't feel as if it should make that much of a difference in the location of my group though.

[Dutch Henry]

From your description and pictures of your targets, it looks to me like you're using a center-hold; bisecting the target's center (black).

Before you start making any changes, try shooting the pistol at 25-30 yards. If it is shooting any higher at 25 yards, then you may want to install a taller front sight.

[Dark Mod]

Have someone else shoot it to eliminate shooter error from the equation. If they get the same results just file down the rear sight / get a taller front sight

[trigger945]

The groupings look good so I'm thinking it's got to be how the gun was sighted from factory? It has fixed sights so you can't really adjust the elevation.

Maybe replace with new sights or file down the rear sights as people have suggested. I heard Dean Wilkerson in Van Nuys is a good smith. American Gun Works in Glendale and Jim Hogue will be a good bet as well.

Good luck!

[Swingshift]

Thanks for the input Calgunners.

[negolien]

Ahh I see.. I underline where I want to hit with the clear front sight tip. Even still, I don't feel as if it should make that much of a difference in the location of my group though.

You'd be surprised at the difference it makes. A lot of these threads turn out to be exactly that as far as what the operator is using as far as a sight picture as opposed to there being a mechanical issue with the weapon.

[INFAMOUS762X39]

Interesting. My Kimber TLE w/Meprolights preferred sight picture is POA "point of aim" over the 6 o'clock hold.

Hopefully I am going to the range tomorrow. I have not shot my kimber in months. I'll report back when I can.

Itching to try out my new Flat Trigger..

[XVIga_Rob]

Interesting. My Kimber TLE w/Meprolights preferred sight picture is POA "point of aim" over the 6 o'clock hold.

Hopefully I am going to the range tomorrow. I have not shot my kimber in months. I'll report back when I can.

Itching to try out my new Flat Trigger..

My TLE sight picture is also POA (cover your target) and dead on at 15~20yds (if I do my part).

[negolien]

The easiest way to diagnose this issue is to adjust you aim to the point where your hitting the center and understanding what your sight picture is. Some pistols have different sight pictures if that's the case it's simply a matter of figuring out what the weapon is trying to tell you. Whether or not you choose to continue using those sights is up to you. A qualified gunsmith or the manufacturer can suggest alternatives to the stock sight picture if you choose to change it.

[redcliff]

Without knowing the distance you are shooting at reporting that it's hitting "2 inches high" doesn't give us any idea of the magnitude of the problem and what the sight correction should be.

Shoot a target at a known distance (whatever range you want the handgun to be zero'd at), measure the offset between point of impact and desired point of impact using the type of hold you prefer and we can tell you exactly how much the sight height needs to change. Sight radius would be nice to know exactly also but can be estimated for most 1911's easily enough. Sight correction calculations requires distance to target, measurement of how much the point of impact is off and sight radius.