Help w/ accuracy with Sig P226 & tips on maintenace

[FuNkDrSpOt]

Ok so it's been about 2 months since I got my Sig P226 and I've shot about 700 rounds through it so far ( Addicted ).

I wanted to see if you guys had any tips for me shooting better. I'm ALWAYS off target down and to the left. How can i correct that? When I shot the p226 .40 and p220 .45 I was pretty damn accurate at 15yrs, is there a chance my sights could be off? ( i have a BTFO package where it comes with night sights, I dunno if the sights were included straight from Sig or added by someone at the gun shop )

Also, I had a chance to review quite a few vids on youtube about proper cleaning techniques but I wanted to see if there was a video that you guys might recommend or just general tips or recommendations for cleaning it, as well as how OFTEN i should be cleaning it.

Thanks for you time for those of you who respond!




*edit* For anyone else who searches, this is where you can find the vids for the whole procedure and preventative maintenance PDF. http://www.sigsauer.com/CustomerServ...nceGuides.aspx

[FuNkDrSpOt]

Ok, so I found some maintenance vids on Sig's website under customer service: maintenance.

[Craigwood]

This is good to know because I just got a P226 as well. So far I only got about 300 rounds thru mine. I love the feel of the Sig. I like the metal frame. My sights are the standard fixed iron sights. Mine shoots low. But I plan to affix adjustable night sights. As far as cleaning. I like to clean mine as soon as I am done and when I get home. My Sig, when I shot my first 200 rounds was jaming from a result of powder fouling. I got my Hornady Gun Cleaner and Dry Lube. And sprayed it all inside......no jams afterwards. With cleaning in mind, it is recommended you dont oil the trigger (on any gun). It just attracts dirt and grime. Again the Hornady spray again because it flushes out all the crap and dries in a minute. I'll be staying close to this thread to see more postings. Nevertheless. I love my Sig

[FuNkDrSpOt]

This is good to know because I just got a P226 as well. So far I only got about 300 rounds thru mine. I love the feel of the Sig. I like the metal frame. My sights are the standard fixed iron sights. Mine shoots low. But I plan to affix adjustable night sights. As far as cleaning. I like to clean mine as soon as I am done and when I get home. My Sig, when I shot my first 200 rounds was jaming from a result of powder fouling. I got my Hornady Gun Cleaner and Dry Lube. And sprayed it all inside......no jams afterwards. With cleaning in mind, it is recommended you dont oil the trigger (on any gun). It just attracts dirt and grime. Again the Hornady spray again because it flushes out all the crap and dries in a minute. I'll be staying close to this thread to see more postings. Nevertheless. I love my Sig

You sprayed it inside where exactly? And did you not use a brush?

[SFFRONTMAN]

Are you right handed? The low and left shooting is caused by you jerking the trigger when shooting, pushing it down to the low left.

[NewbieDave]

To the OP...

Have you try shooting the gun from a rest/sand-bag first to confirm it's not you. If you have shoot it from a gun-rest and it's still shooting to the left, then it's your sights. Most range should have a pusher for you to use... get it lined back up and you're GTG. Remember to sight it in using HD ammo you are planning on using if it's a HD gun... if not, use the regular range ammo you use.

If the gun is shooting where aimed with a gun-rest... then its something you're doing. Work on your sight picture, trigger control and holds, and you should be able to get it lined up.

As for cleaning... you don't need to scrub it down after every session unless you don't go offend. I shoot about once a month, which isn't all that much... and I don't clean the inside very offend. I just run a bore-snake on the barrel couple times and wipe down the outside. A little bit of oil on metal-metal contact points... and you're GTG.


~dpc

Good luck!


~dpc

[G-forceJunkie]

With proper training from good instructors. Round count that you have shot is inconsequential, if fact, if your technique is poor, all you have done is practice the wrong thing, alot. Find some good instruction, learn and focus on the 7 elements of handgun marksmenship, and practice alot with a .22lr pistol. When I was instructing, one of my most difficult tasks was getting people to relearn the basics. Years of practicing the wrong thing just gets you really good...at doing it wrong. To see improvements, i would have to convince them to take a step back, do stuff that they thought was beneath them, or that they had already done. That is a big challenge, expecially with macho men, or the "This is how I have been doing it for 30 years." guys.

I wanted to see if you guys had any tips for me shooting better. I'm ALWAYS off target down and to the left. How can i correct that?

[FuNkDrSpOt]

Are you right handed? The low and left shooting is caused by you jerking the trigger when shooting, pushing it down to the low left.

I read that. Someone posted a 'correction' wheel.

I practiced with snap caps and then went to the range again to keep a conscious eye on flinching or jerking. I made sure I had a slow, smooth, controlled motion when I pulled. I can pretty much guarantee I'm doing very little of it if at all. What's funny is my grouping on 50 rounds was 6" at 15yrds but ALWAYS to the left and down just a smidge. If my grouping was wild or if I actually hit the target more often I could see it being me.

[FuNkDrSpOt]

To the OP...

Have you try shooting the gun from a rest/sand-bag first to confirm it's not you. If you have shoot it from a gun-rest and it's still shooting to the left, then it's your sights. Most range should have a pusher for you to use... get it lined back up and you're GTG. Remember to sight it in using HD ammo you are planning on using if it's a HD gun... if not, use the regular range ammo you use.

If the gun is shooting where aimed with a gun-rest... then its something you're doing. Work on your sight picture, trigger control and holds, and you should be able to get it lined up.

As for cleaning... you don't need to scrub it down after every session unless you don't go offend. I shoot about once a month, which isn't all that much... and I don't clean the inside very offend. I just run a bore-snake on the barrel couple times and wipe down the outside. A little bit of oil on metal-metal contact points... and you're GTG.


~dpc

Good luck!


~dpc

Will HD ammo actually travel that much differently from target ammo that I'll have to readjust the sights for each?

[FuNkDrSpOt]

With proper training from good instructors. Round count that you have shot is inconsequential, if fact, if your technique is poor, all you have done is practice the wrong thing, alot. Find some good instruction, learn and focus on the 7 elements of handgun marksmenship, and practice alot with a .22lr pistol. When I was instructing, one of my most difficult tasks was getting people to relearn the basics. Years of practicing the wrong thing just gets you really good...at doing it wrong. To see improvements, i would have to convince them to take a step back, do stuff that they thought was beneath them, or that they had already done. That is a big challenge, expecially with macho men, or the "This is how I have been doing it for 30 years." guys.

I don't have a .22 so that's out the window. What makes me think it's not me or not all me is that when I shot the .45 or .40 I was dead on accurate at 15 yrds with the same type of grouping I have now, except around the center and not down and off to the left.

Are there any decently priced instructors in Sacramento you might recommend? Lord this hobby is too expensive.

[G-forceJunkie]

I'm in So Cal, so i cant recommend anyone up there. But as for a .22 pistol...it will be cheaper to buy a Ruger 22/45 for $300 and a couple bricks of .22 ammo than to practice with a 9mm due to ammo cost. Case of 9mm is what, a litte over $200? .22lr is under $40. $160 savings every 1000 rounds adds up fast.

I don't have a .22 so that's out the window. What makes me think it's not me or not all me is that when I shot the .45 or .40 I was dead on accurate at 15 yrds with the same type of grouping I have now, except around the center and not down and off to the left.

Are there any decently priced instructors in Sacramento you might recommend? Lord this hobby is too expensive.

[Craigwood]

You sprayed it inside where exactly? And did you not use a brush?

I did not mention using the brush. I sprayed the spring mechanism, and the ramp. After a field strip, I also cleaned and brushed the slide and frame slide. I did not spray nor did I brush the bore. nor the magazine. Why
When I got home, I did a more thorugh cleaning. This was the first time the gun was shot. So I expected jams. Though I do reloading I did not shoot reloads. I shot factory.

[Craigwood]

To the OP...

Have you try shooting the gun from a rest/sand-bag first to confirm it's not you. If you have shoot it from a gun-rest and it's still shooting to the left, then it's your sights. Most range should have a pusher for you to use... get it lined back up and you're GTG. Remember to sight it in using HD ammo you are planning on using if it's a HD gun... if not, use the regular range ammo you use.

If the gun is shooting where aimed with a gun-rest... then its something you're doing. Work on your sight picture, trigger control and holds, and you should be able to get it lined up.

As for cleaning... you don't need to scrub it down after every session unless you don't go offend. I shoot about once a month, which isn't all that much... and I don't clean the inside very offend. I just run a bore-snake on the barrel couple times and wipe down the outside. A little bit of oil on metal-metal contact points... and you're GTG.


~dpc

Good luck!


~dpc

Good point. I typically clean every other shooting session. And I can shoot 100 to 200 rounds per session.

[9mmepiphany]

Are there any decently priced instructors in Sacramento you might recommend?

Depends on what you consider decently priced.

I'm in the Sacto area and do most of my teaching out at SacValley...it's quieter and the light is better than other ranges in the area

I've worked with several forum members, if you are interested, send me a PM

[FuNkDrSpOt]

Depends on what you consider decently priced.

I'm in the Sacto area and do most of my teaching out at SacValley...it's quieter and the light is better than other ranges in the area

I've worked with several forum members, if you are interested, send me a PM

Where's SacValley at? So far I've mainly gone to the Cordova Shooting Range. I went to the Gun Room in Elk Grove yesterday and found that much more appealing since the distances were variable, I could check my target whenever I wanted and there wasn't a 10 min 'break' for target changes every 45 min like at Cordova.

I really think I'm going to do that sandbag thing and see if it's me or the gun. I swear it's the damn sights.

*edit* Ok after poking around with this thing I found out that they're TruGlo TFO series.