P7M8 sights pushed a couple lines towards the right.

[ts]

I just picked up a HK P7M8 and noticed that both sights were pushed over 1-2 lines over to the right. Is this normal? The guy I got it from only put 400 rounds though it and is the original owner.

[Scooter]

Does it shoot straight? That's what matters.

[ts]

Does it shoot straight? That's what matters.

Haven't shot it yet - but undoubtedly the gun will out shoot me.

[Danner]

I've seen shooters who are cross eye dominant push their sites to the side. With a left handed person, the sites are pushed to the right. If it were my P7M8, I'd tap the sites out, apply Green Loctite and then tap them back to center. But note that the sites are directional, with the M8, they are tapped out and tapped in to the right side of the gun. Use a nylon or brass drift punch.

[ts]

I doubt the original owner moved the sights, is there any possibility of them moving on their own due to sitting in the safe? Or it coming from the factory like that?

[Scooter]

Shoot the gun first then make a determination. Centering the sights on the gun doesn't necessairly result in the gun shooting straight.

[ts]

Shoots straight - my question is why are the sights pushed to the right? It came from the factory that way?

[Scooter]

It could be a variety of reasons.

Most logical one is the sights slowly worked its way over there. The twist of the barrel tends to impart torque on the gun in a certain direction. If the sights aren't on super tight, they can work their way over there.

Or someone could have moved them. Not likely they came from the factory that way since usually the front sight would be centered and the rear offset.

Now that you have determine it does shoot straight, NOW try moving them towards center. If it doesn't shoot straight, move them back. Too many people want to fix something before they find out if it was done that way for a reason. At least now you know the gun shoot straight with the sights off. If you move both sights towards the center and the gun doesn't shoot straight, now you know why the sights were offset in the first place.

[AviatorDave]

I just picked up a HK P7M8 and noticed that both sights were pushed over 1-2 lines over to the right. Is this normal? The guy I got it from only put 400 rounds though it and is the original owner.

Both sights?

The front one is supposed to be pinned in place, only the rear one should be adjustable. That definitely doesn't sound factory.

[Scooter]

Not all front sights are pinned.

[AviatorDave]

Not all front sights are pinned.

Huh. Did not know that. Looked back in my armorer's manual, and you are correct. The parts breakdowns show the front sight pin for the P7M8, M10, and M13. But not the PSP.

Maybe there were some older P7M8s that were not pinned, but the pin is shown in the parts manual for the M8.

[Scooter]

Newer guns are not pinned.

[Ken_In_Colo]

The first time my brother fired his NIB P85, he couldn't keep it on the paper at 10yds. The rear sight was waaaay off. But that was a Ruger (the trigger pull on it $#@#ed too) and this is H&K. I would say that something misaligned them after it left the factory.

[ts]

The first time my brother fired his NIB P85, he couldn't keep it on the paper at 10yds. The rear sight was waaaay off. But that was a Ruger (the trigger pull on it $#@#ed too) and this is H&K. I would say that something misaligned them after it left the factory.

It is strange, I got it from a guy, put 400 rounds though it. Said he was original buyer and didn't touch the sights. He said it shoots straight and I agree with him, dead on. The sights are both off by the same amount.

[madmardigan]

I think you have a defective pistol. It isn't worth hardly anything but since I'm such a nice guy I'll give you 500 for it.

[Sobriquet]

Can someone explain the process of sighting in a handgun to me? I've never gotten a straight answer.

I was considering putting Heinie straight 8's on my HK45, but I've been hesitant because I don't understand how you verify accuracy. If you have them installed (my local range sells sights), do they typically use some sort of instrument to verify it's aiming true?

[AviatorDave]

Can someone explain the process of sighting in a handgun to me? I've never gotten a straight answer.

I was considering putting Heinie straight 8's on my HK45, but I've been hesitant because I don't understand how you verify accuracy. If you have them installed (my local range sells sights), do they typically use some sort of instrument to verify it's aiming true?

Ideally, you shoot it mounted in a Ransom rest. It's kind of like a vise that holds the gun. You get the sights exactly on the target and then pull the trigger so the gun is perfectly still. A lot of them even use remote triggers so the trigger pull is consistent.

I guess you could use a bore-sighter as well, but they're more for getting them in the ballpark. For example, the gun range boresighted my SR9T when I put a new scope on it. That got it within about 4", then the scope adjustments were used from there.

[Scooter]

You don't need to use a Ransom Rest. You can use a handgun rest or some sandbags. I normally shoot my handguns prone, with the butt of the gun planted on the ground. This is stable enough for me to accurate shoot past 50 yards.

Basically install the sights so they are centered on the slide. Fire a few shots, then adjust the rear sight as necessary using a punch or a sight mover.

For sighting rifles, I don't ever use a boresighter. I do own one, no clue where I last put it. Easiest way to is throw the scope on the rifle, go to 25 yard or less range. Set up a close target between 15-25 yards. Set up a bunch of sandbags. Fire ONE shot. Now arrange the sandbags so they support the rifle exactly so the crosshairs are where you were aiming to fire that one shot. Then carefully adjust the scope to move the crosshair to the hole from the first shot, do so without moving the rifle. Repeat the procedure at 100 yards. This will get your rifle zeroed in about 5 shots.

Keep It Simple, Stupid. Don't need to buy a $50-100 boresight when you can fire 5 shots and get the same result.

[AviatorDave]

I was merely using a Ransom rest as an example. The other items are requirements at the range near me. The first time you put a scope on a rifle, they require having it boresighted first. They do it for free, so it's not a big deal. Sure, there's no way they'd ever know. But they ask, so I tell them.

And they do not allow sandbags on the handgun line. No picking up brass besides your own. Nor would they allow anyone shooting prone.

Yes, they are some picky bastards. 2 seconds between shots, no FMJ on the rifle ranges, even if its a pistol caliber. If they weren't just 10 minutes from my house I'd never go there.

[Sobriquet]

Thanks for the info, guys. I'm going to wait a few months to see what sights come out for the HK45, what the general consensus is on the board, and then I'll make a decision.

I really don't mind the Superluminova on the sights, but I wish there wasn't as much space between the front post and the rear sights when they're aligned.

[abuelijah]

i assume you're going to leave the sights where they are? I would definitely think twice before doing anything to an m8 that involved a hammer. one slip and your guns value plummets.

[Hughiee]

As long as it shoots straight you shouldn't be too concerned with the placement of the front and rear sights. I own 2 P7M8's and both aim correctly but the original sights were aligned 1 to 2 lines to the right. Perhaps with more rounds, the front sight may move due to twisting as suggested by another post here. Love the P7M8!!!

Will HK produce another limited run of these guns this year? Any comments would be appreciated.