How to Sight in a SR9 Pistol With Adjustable Sights

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The Ruger SR9 is a polymer-frame handgun chambered in 9mm Parabellum. It is used for target practice and for home and personal defense. The gun has a capacity of 17+1, meaning the magazine holds 17 rounds plus one in the chamber. The gun is adjustable for windage and elevation. The rear sight can be raised or lowered as well as drifted left or right to move the bullet impact to coincide with point of aim.

Items you will need

  • Target

  • Flat-head screwdriver

  • 5/64-inch Allen key

  • Plastic mallet

Set up your target at the desired distance, making sure it has a safe backstop.

Shoot five slow-fire, well-aimed shots at the bull's-eye. Determine the bullets' points of impact.

If the bullets are hitting too high or too low, use the flat-head screwdriver to turn the screw in the middle of the rear sight to move it up or down. Turn the screw clockwise to raise the sight; turn it counter-clockwise to lower the sight. Raising the rear sight will raise the point of impact and lowering the sight will lower the point of impact.

If the bullets are hitting too far left or too far right of the bull's-eye, use the 5/64-inch Allen key to loosen the hex-head set screw near the front of the rear sight. Use the plastic mallet to tap the sight left or right in its dovetail. Moving the sight to the right will move point of impact right. Moving the sight to the left will move point of impact left.

Tighten the set screw, then fire another five slow, aimed shots. Keep making adjustments to the rear sight as necessary.

Tips

  • Different bullet weights and velocities will change the point of impact. For a defensive firearm, choose a defensive load that feeds and fires reliably in your gun, then adjust the sights for that particular load.
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