What could the issue be?

[jeffyboy]

I have taken my S&W 5904 to the range about 10 times over the past month and have experienced the same issues. When shooting paper at 7-10yards (with WWB) I can get about 1" groups but when I go out to 20-25 yards I am lucky to get 10" groups. I have tried different ammo and I get the same results. Any idea on what I might look at?

[USMC_2651_E5]

Any idea on what I might look at?

Look at the front sight, center it vertically and horizontilly in the rear sight, and align the both up on a blurry target.

[jeffyboy]

When I do that with my other pistols I get decent groups, only the 5904 shoots like %$%# as this range.

BTW, it has about ~2000 rounds through it.

[jeffyboy]

Could it maybe be a worn barrel bushing?

[What Just Happened?]

Maybe a trigger issue or a sloppy slide-frame fit?

[USMC_2651_E5]

Not sure, can it be the ammo?

[jeffyboy]

I tired UMC, WWB, Federal American Eagle, and Blazer - all 115gr FMJ. They all perform the same in respect to 20-25 yards out

[jeffyboy]

Maybe a trigger issue or a sloppy slide-frame fit?

I did notice some wear on one side of the slide. I'll need to take a picture and post it up.

[jeffyboy]

Here is the slide wear....

[bwiese]

That gun is defective, I'll take it off your hands for fifty bucks

Hell, it just could be that the sights are not that great and thus not allow you great control.

Have you tried different weight bullets in your 9mm ammo? 115gr? 124gr?

Oh btw - go try a box of Federal match ammo as a reference.


BTW#2 - your gun is perfectly fine (even more so than required) for personal defense needs.

[rayra]

What kind of shot pattern are you getting? Do you hold aim on the center of the target? That sort of problem at longer range sure strikes me as being the shooter, not the firearm.

Had a 5904 for several years, liked it well enough and never had any problem with it. And there is no bushing per se in a 5904.

[What Just Happened?]

What is your firearm experience and what kinda of groups can you get with other handguns?

have you tried letting known marksmen trying your handgun and seeing if they can get a good group?

[bwiese]

Have you tried using a bigger dot on the target at the extended distance?

To really do apples-to-apples comparison you'd want the target dot at ~7+ yds to have the same appearance ("visualized size") floating on top of your front sight as that of the target at ~25 yds - which means a bigger dot is needed.

If the dot becomes much smaller in relation to the sights because of the extended distance you'll probably be overcorrecting, etc.

[jeffyboy]

What is your firearm experience and what kinda of groups can you get with other handguns?

have you tried letting known marksmen trying your handgun and seeing if they can get a good group?

I have about 25 years behind the sights. Was trained to shoot in the army back in the early 80's.

I get about 3-4" groups with my Beretta at 25yrds. I have not had anyone else try it...never crossed my mind.

[jeffyboy]

Have you tried using a bigger dot on the target at the extended distance?

To really do apples-to-apples comparison you'd want the target dot at ~7+ yds to have the same appearance ("visualized size") floating on top of your front sight as that of the target at ~25 yds - which means a bigger dot is needed.

If the dot becomes much smaller in relation to the sights because of the extended distance you'll probably be overcorrecting, etc.

doh! I should have caught that. I looked at the XS Big Dot sight but they don't make one for the 5904. Any suggestions?