I've realized that, when I'm shooting for accuracy with iron sights if I don't have the "right" target, I have a very hard time repeating my sight picture and my groups suck.
Now, I've heard of people using standard irons on a carbine and shooting 1-2" groups at 100 yards. Well, if that's the case call me impressed. I certainly couldn't match that.
Today I was sighting in my new AO same plane rear apertures on a Colt R6530 and Colt MT6731. Both rifles have the standard A2 0.07" wide square front sight post. Zeroing at 50 yards, I was using an Outers 25 yard slow fire pistol target (approx. 5.45" black circle with 1.65" orange center). The best I could manage were approximately 3+" five shot groups. Of course, I was using SA M1A3 -- though I don't know how much of a difference that made. Needless to say, I was frustrated.
Then I looked at a target from three years ago. I shot it at 50 yards with my MT6731 (standard A2 rear aperture). It was an NRA 50 foot pistol target with a solid 3" black dot center. The group was a 1.75" nine shot group that was almost dead center (all black).
Seems (at least for me) that when I'm shooting for accuracy with irons, there is a balance between the target being too big/small against the front sight post. Admittedly, my iron sight shooting needs some work.
Also, when I've been shooting in the afternoons at my range, the sun is always behind me (downrange is east). This puts a little glare on the front sight post so it is never really crystal clear. Wonder if that is an issue....
Last year I worked my tail off at making myself a semi-competent pistol shot. Guess this year I need to start working on my rifle shooting.
Any suggestions, thoughts or experience that might point me in the right direction? Are there any dry fire exercises that would help me improve with irons?
And, when people are bragging about their 1-2" groups at 100 yards with irons, what are they using? Standard A2 sights against an IDPA target (which must be incredibily difficult get consistent sight pictures on) or smaller, specialty targets with NM iron sights?
TIA