P17 hits high(no worries) and left (big worry)

[jessehh]

Was at the range today and shot my P17 for the first time. I was shooting 180 gr Remington store bought rounds to function test her and to get an idea of where I was hitting. At 50 yds I was 4" high and 3" left. I drifted the front sight and repeated. 3 more shots in the same spot. I really drifted it about 1/16" and repeated with same results. For shits and giggles I drifted it 1/8" and hit in the same spot again. Is there something I am missing or forgetting to look at. I mean the groups were 1.5"x1.5" and I was actually happy with that, but no matter what I do to the front sight it hits in the same spot.
Other data would be shooting off a rest and had shot my No1Mk111* to 1" groups at 50 yards and had sighted in my two .22's to nice tight little groups. I had the range officer watch to see if I was flintching and he said no.
Any ideas would be most helpful.
Thanks,
jesse

Information

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[browningautorifle]

Is the barrel hard up against part of the wood? Is the barrel bent? I had an M1 that shot like that and it was bent way back where it's thickest in the barrel. I had to make up a straightness gauge and bend it back with a hydraulic press. Maybe?? Is there a ring in the last inch of barrel?

[hi-revr]

Any chance you centered the two outer front posts in your sight alignment? A few weeks ago I zeroed mine for the first time. I had to really think about the sights after drifting the front way left.

[jessehh]

I have shot Garands, No4's, and AR's so I think the sighting wouldn't be a problem...but maybe it was. Might have been frustrated and thought I had a good sight picture.
I will take her apart and look for any bends or contact with the wood. I would think that if the wood is touching I should carefully sand it down.

[Patrick Chadwick]

I would think that if the wood is touching I should carefully sand it down.

Maybe you need this?

Attachment 45479

"Patrick's Patent Channel Router"

Actually, just a Stanley round rasp blade jammed onto a slice of wood of your choice. Vary the thickness of the slice to vary the radius of the blade. The cheapest channel router you can get and, because of its length, very effective for removing high spots without going to the other extreme and producing depressions. Avoids the rounding off of the channel top edges that is likely to occur with sanding. Get yours now!

[Patrick Chadwick]

I really drifted it about 1/16" and repeated with same results. For shits and giggles I drifted it 1/8" and hit in the same spot again. Is there something I am missing or forgetting to look at. I mean the groups were 1.5"x1.5" and I was actually happy with that, but no matter what I do to the front sight it hits in the same spot.

A total drift of 3/16 and a sight radius of 32" (check that) shifts the POA by about 9" (relative to the barrel center line) at 50 yards. If the POI didn't move, then I agree with hi-revr that you may have been aiming with the foresight protector ear instead of the foresight blade. Especially as the grouping was OK.

Apart from that, if the rifle is not centered on the target with the blade within about 1/16 of the barrel center line, then I would certainly check for barrel distortion, channel contact etc. But since the grouping is fine, the trouble will be something curable.

[jessehh]

Thanks for the input guys, I think I will strip her down in the morning and see if I can find any contact points.

[jessehh]

Well I took her apart and found that the barrel was touching up near the front of the stock. I took the wood down until I could pass two paper thicknesses down the barrel without touching ( do I need to do more?). When fully assembled the end of the barrel has slight play in all directions. I hope this fixes my problem. I put the front sight back in it's original position and will repeat sighting in again. Thanks for the help guys.

[Patrick Chadwick]

I took the wood down until I could pass two paper thicknesses down the barrel without touching ( do I need to do more?).

That could (should?) be sufficient. Depends on the paper, of course! Give it a try!

[browningautorifle]

Before you shoot though...clean the bore and check the last two inches at the muzzle for a ring. I had a Krag that would group perfectly at 100,(saucer size) but 3 ft to 10 oclock. I found a small bulge at the front sight base. Sends the bullet off like magic...you did look to check for no bend? They can be small...