How to Adjust the Rear Sight When a Gun Is Shooting Too High

How to Adjust the Rear Sight When a Gun Is Shooting Too High

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For a weapon to shoot accurately, the sights must be adjusted to accommodate the shooter and the range. In most cases, the wind plays a critical part in the accuracy of a weapon at longer ranges. The elevation also plays an important part at any range and for this adjustment, many weapons have an adjustable rear sight. Adjusting the rear sight elevation up or down moves the bullet up or down on the target.

Items you will need

  • Target

Fire a group of three or four shots at your target.

Note the placement of the rounds above the bull's-eye. Place the weapon on "safe."

Adjust your rear sight down to move the bullet down onto the bull's-eye. Many rear sights are used on weapons and this adjustment may vary according to your specific weapon. Many weapons have a rotary knob with an arrow pointing to a "U" to move the round up. Sliding ladder sights are pushed forward or away from the muzzle to move the shot up or down. Slide the ladder sight toward the rear by one notch to move make the weapon shoot lower. Adjust the rotary knob down by one click to make the weapon shoot lower.

Fire another group of shots to check the adjustment. Adjust further by one click if needed or until your shots land on the bull's-eye.

Warnings

  • Never point a weapon at anything that you do not intend to shoot or kill.
  • Always place the weapon on "safe" and point the muzzle in a safe direction when making sight adjustments.

Tips

  • Learn the attributes of your sight and its adjustments. Many sights are calibrated to be adjusted by 1/8-, 1/4- or 1/2-inch at a time per audible click, or ladder-sight notch. This means that adjusting by one click or notch will move the round up or down on the target by 1/4-inch or its respective setting.
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