Rohrbaugh Products and Accessories => Rohrbaugh R380 => Topic started by: Lancesnarr on January 22, 2011, 10:27:06 AM
Title: R380 Shooting High
Post by: Lancesnarr on January 22, 2011, 10:27:06 AM
Hello All,
This is my second "New Topic" post, but my first under the R380 section. I purchased an R380 for my wife for Christmas. I have an R9, but the recoil was too much for her. We've gone to the range and shot her R380 twice now, putting about 100 rounds through in total. She loves it. Very smooth and easy to handle, not to mention that it's a beautiful piece.
However, it shoots about 6" high at 10'. Elevation is the only issue. It's dead on center at 6" high. My R9 on the other hand is dead on center at 10'. I have continually been amazed at the accuracy of my R9. I had hoped the R380 would be the same.
Given that the sites are fixed, is there anything that can be done to adjust for elevation? I have sent an e-mail to Rohrbaugh about this three days ago and am waiting for a reply. I had a great experience with Rohrbaugh Service when I had to send my R9 back for some warranty work when I first bought it. So, I have no doubt they will reply. I am just wondering if any of you have any suggestions for me.
My wife loves the gun. I just wish it was as accurate as my R9. Any thoughts or suggestions are appreciated.
Lance
Title: Re: R380 Shooting High
Post by: rodell on January 22, 2011, 12:17:29 PM
I'm sure the Rohrbaugh people are at the S.H.O.T show.
What ammo are you using? You may have to adjust to move the point of impact. I don't have the Rohrbaugh 380 (just the 9) but I do have other small 380's and had to try a few different loads to regulate the sights.
Title: Re: R380 Shooting High
Post by: Richard S on January 22, 2011, 03:59:48 PM
I've found this target to be help0ful on occasion:
Title: Re: R380 Shooting High
Post by: Lancesnarr on January 22, 2011, 05:36:06 PM
I shot cheap PMC Bronze and top of the line Hornady Critical Defense. Same results. I'm positive on the 6" high as I benched it up for the last couple of mags.
With my R9, it just doesn't matter what I shoot through it. It's dead accurate at 10'.
Truthfully, at 10', a 6" high shot is probably still in the kill range. But, it sure would be nice if it could be adjusted. I have no idea how that would be done on a Rohrbaugh with fixed sites.
Title: Re: R380 Shooting High
Post by: tracker on January 22, 2011, 05:48:30 PM
As Rodell says, aim six inches lower; very frustrating but effective if you have minimized other variables.
Title: Re: R380 Shooting High
Post by: Lancesnarr on January 23, 2011, 01:53:59 PM
Is it possible to raise the front site a bit by attaching a piece of sculpted material on top of the existing site? I really have no idea of how to do this. Just posing the question. But, it seems that it might be possible to tastefully extend the height of the front site with perhaps a night site material of some sort. Taking the front site up would result in aiming lower when acquiring the target.
Anybody ever tried anything like this?
Lance
Title: Re: R380 Shooting High
Post by: yankee2500 on January 23, 2011, 02:32:27 PM
Lance, I would think trying to add anything to the front sight would be difficult. First being taller could pose a snag issue. Second it would probably need to be built up with weld and ground to shape, and then require refinishing the slide, very costly and I doubt if it would be worth it. I think the factory will probably have a solution to the problem.
John
Title: Re: R380 Shooting High
Post by: DDGator on January 24, 2011, 12:55:31 PM
The entire team was at the SHOT Show all last week.
Title: Re: R380 Shooting High
Post by: Lancesnarr on January 28, 2011, 03:19:05 PM
Just spoke with Maria and have arranged to return the gun for warranty work. I'll let ya'll know how it turns out.
Title: Re: R380 Shooting High
Post by: Lancesnarr on March 03, 2011, 07:18:43 PM
R380 arrived back from Rohrbaugh Firearms yesterday. I will need to call Maria to find out what they did, as there was no letter enclosed. But, I'm looking forward to seeing how it shoots at the range - hopefully this Saturday!
Title: Re: R380 Shooting High
Post by: ccoorreeyy on March 03, 2011, 07:25:26 PM
Good luck! Let us know.
Title: Re: R380 Shooting High
Post by: tracker on March 03, 2011, 07:46:10 PM
Lancesnarr, Please don't feel like you were overlooked or given the fast shuffle. As far as I know they never put anything in writing on warranty work but the quality is there when it passes through the shop.
Title: Re: R380 Shooting High
Post by: kjtrains on March 03, 2011, 07:50:16 PM
Quote
R380 arrived back from Rohrbaugh Firearms yesterday. I will need to call Maria to find out what they did, as there was no letter enclosed. But, I'm looking forward to seeing how it shoots at the range - hopefully this Saturday!
Lance. Great that the .380 is back. Look forward to the range results.
Title: Re: R380 Shooting High
Post by: Lancesnarr on March 26, 2011, 10:34:46 AM
OK, finally had a chance to shoot the R380. Put 100 rounds through it, various ammo from Top of the Line Hornady, to PMC FMJ to Remington UMC crap.
The good news is the accuracy has improved from 6" high at 10' to 1.5" high at 10'. I shot it. My buddy who is also an Ohio certified law enforcement hand gun instructor shot it. And I benched it. Results were good, tight groups in all cases. Dead on target on the horizontal plane, and 1.5" high elevation wise.
Given the size and purpose of this little pup, I can accept that.
The bad news is that this gun was a gift to my wife, and my personal R9 is dead on at 10'. So, I have to endure the wife's never ending "how come your gun is more accurate than mine?!" Oh well, if she ever loses her temper with me I'll just know to duck!
Seriously, overall I'm pleasee. The gun did smoke stack a couple of times during the last 20 rounds or so. It was pretty dirty by then and still in the break-in phase.
Oh, I ordered and just received a special purse for conceal carry for my wife. I think she's already forgot about the gun and is obsessed with the purse! Will try to post a pic later. I also just received a pocket holster for my R9 from Jim at Hidden Holsters (hiddenholsters.net). I've very pleased with it too. I'll try to post a pic of it too under the R9 Category.
All for now.
Title: Re: R380 Shooting High
Post by: kjtrains on March 26, 2011, 10:57:57 AM
Lance. Good to hear the R380 is much better on shooting so high. Thanks for the information.
Title: Re: R380 Shooting High
Post by: Z on March 26, 2011, 11:11:58 AM
I am glad to hear the R380 is back in action! :D
Title: Re: R380 Shooting High
Post by: yankee2500 on March 26, 2011, 04:26:17 PM
LAnce, Glad the POI is closer to the POA. :D
Title: Re: R380 Shooting High
Post by: Reinz on March 28, 2011, 05:38:35 PM
I see that you mentioned brands of ammo but not bullet weight.
Try shooting the lightest bullet you can find and you see point of impact drop.
ps - the exception of course would be Cor-Bon, they run hot and loud, so recoil will still be stout and flinching with noise. May work for a man, could be difficult for a female.
Title: Re: R380 Shooting High
Post by: tracker on May 10, 2011, 11:13:56 PM
Was ist das?
Title: Re: R380 Shooting High
Post by: kjtrains on May 10, 2011, 11:16:47 PM
I dunno!
Title: Re: R380 Shooting High
Post by: Lancesnarr on May 27, 2011, 11:16:15 PM
Been traveling and busy and haven't kept up with the forum lately. But, I went shooting in the desert with some friends the other day and, amongst other firearms, took my wife's R380. It was shooting higher than I liked.
So, I took it to a proper range yesterday and benched it up. With PNC and Hornady Critical Defense it shoots 2 1/4 inches high at 10 feet. Horizontal plane is accurate.
Although this is a lot better than the 6" high that it was shooting before returning it to the factory for adjustment, I would like to have the rear sights milled to bring it closer to POA.
I'm torn, as it is a pup and I don't expect the kind of accuracy that a full size handgun should deliver, BUT, my R9 is dead on, vertical and horizontal, at 10'. In fact, my R9 is surprisingly accurate for such a small handgun.
Any thoughts? Am I being too picky?
Regarding weights and ammo types, at 10' it seems to group the same regardless of brand or weight. I suppose the important thing is where it groups with what I load it for carry purposes (or in this case, for my wife to carry), and that is Hornady Critical Defense.
Decisions! Decisions!
Title: Re: R380 Shooting High
Post by: Reinz on May 28, 2011, 02:25:37 AM
A couple of ways to look at this.
One, the R380 is an up close and personal pistol, so two inches ain't worth beans at 10 feet in 1.5 seconds with all of the excitement and all. At least for most folks.
Two, if this issue really sticks in your craw and you feel you must alter the rear sights, you do not have to mill them. That is a lot of money. Just put masking tape all around and area of the rear sights(basically the whole slide except the rear sights) and slowing file a stroke and test it out. It does not take much to get your adjustment. Keep telling yourself, "you can't put it back", so take your time with the file and be patient.
Three - tell your wife to shoot like many men shot their 44's and 45's in the old west. Aim for the groin or stomach, you'll probably shoot high due to recoil and follow up shots will be high as well which means after a few shots the threat will be stopped.