Dot drifts off center?

I start my shot process with the red dot centered in the middle of the scope and (sometimes) in the middle of the black too. However, as I increase the trigger pressure, the dot drifts to the left and when the shot finally breaks, the dot is usually at 9 o clock half way to the edge of the scope. I still hit the target, normally I shoot low 90's slow fire targets. So my questions are, first, should I be concerned about this and if yes, how do I fix it?
I tried changing my grip, stance, I do check for the natural point of aim at least twice through the slow fire string but it doesn't seem to make any difference.

Unless you have a scope with bad parallax, you should be fine shooting with the dot off center in your scope.  Low 90s in slowfire is good!

I wouldn't worry about the dot moving away from the center of the scope tube--I would only worry if the dot was moving away from the center of the target.

Maybe your grip pressure or other arm muscles are tensing when you are pressing the trigger?  Moving your head?

Sounds like your wrist is moving.  The only joint that should be moving your dot is your shoulder. Also try changing the position of the trigger finger on the trigger.

its you moving the dot or your sight moving, however the dot does not have to be centered to be accurate in a good dot

How do you tell if you have a parallax problem with a red dot?

Sometimes you can notice the dot gets wonky out near the edges--if not the only way you can tell if you have a parallax problem is if you shoot with the dot off center--especially at the same part of off-center, and the shot groups somewhere other than where the dot was, or where it shoots when it's in the middle of the tube.

farmboy wrote:How do you tell if you have a parallax problem with a red dot?

http://www.bullseyepistol.com/dotsight.htm

Oh, good article. I think it should be a must read for anyone with dot questions.

Len

Thanks JackH.  Are the larger diameter tubes  more prone to the parallax problem ?

Rob Kovach wrote:Unless you have a scope with bad parallax, you should be fine shooting with the dot off center in your scope.  Low 90s in slowfire is good!

I wouldn't worry about the dot moving away from the center of the scope tube--I would only worry if the dot was moving away from the center of the target.

Maybe your grip pressure or other arm muscles are tensing when you are pressing the trigger?  Moving your head?

Won't be good if you ever shoot iron sights like EIC or DR.

I start my shot process with the red dot centered in the middle of the scope and (sometimes) in the middle of the black too.

Why are you waiting so long?  That's when the shot should happen.

Low 90s in slowfire is good!

A Sharpshooter's view?

... Also try changing the position of the trigger finger on the trigger.

I second that.

How do you tell if you have a parallax problem with a red dot?

Set the gun on the bench with the dot on a point downrange at the distance of the target.  Look through the scope and move your head around so that the dot is in different portions of the scope.  See if it moves off the downrange point.  It will probably be different for 50 and 25 yards.

I promote keeping the dot in the center of the tube and not concerning oneself with parallax.  If you use the dot centered in the tube as a "trigger purity indicator" you know your trigger operation is good.

John Dreyer's page is a good document!  However, my personal opinion is that open sights, if seen well, are still more precise.

Ed Hall wrote:

Low 90s in slowfire is good!

A Sharpshooter's view?

Since the shortline should be all 100s that means a low 90s slowfire shooter should be shooting no worse than 2610.  Low 90s in slowfire IS good--sharpshooter or not.

Rob Kovach wrote:Since the shortline should be all 100s that means a low 90s slowfire shooter should be shooting no worse than 2610.  Low 90s in slowfire IS good--sharpshooter or not.

My comment was a bit "tongue in cheek," hence the smilie.  However, only a bit...

As a High Master, I do not subscribe to low 90 Slow Fires as good, any more than I subscribe to 275 being a good EIC score.  Those beliefs will keep you shooting low 90 Slow Fires and 275 EICs.  When I shoot high 90 Slow Fires and >285 EICs, I consider those good, but still with room for improvement.  Although I have drastically taken a fall in performance, when I was shooting High Master scores, I didn't consider 2610 good, either.  I've also never "cleaned" the entire short line, but I have shot lots of high 90s (and, a few 100s) in Slow Fire.

Be careful of your beliefs.  They can limit your achievements.

I long for the day I can look at my 2610 score and say darn!

Yeah, me too!

Over my time in BE I've observed that among shooters who have not attained a very high, (term also open to discussion) often are stronger or weaker in one phase or another. He who scores >96 may be a bit weak in sustained, usually the rapid. On the other hand, those who lose 3 or less in T-R would give his 1st born for those slows!

The few who attain both are the winners, the 2650 shooters. The true masters. And likely they look to the 2666 or 8 record @ Perry or the all time 2680 something.

As mentioned above these are observations from far below!

Ron Habegger

I'm going to chime in with what the others have said.  If you start your shot process with the dot in the middle, don't expect it to stay there.  If your dot drifts left, I would say start with your dot about 4:00 in the black about right at the 10 ring line.  As you start the squeeze allow it to drive into the X.  It helps to steer it with your mind as well.  Think X works.  (thank you Chuck)
Get to a Zins Clinic and open your mind.  Good stuff.