It's pretty easy when you understand that they are only two screws
-one going sideways (windage) and
-one going up and down(elevation)
on your back sight.
(Most front sights are for the most part- not adjustable-without replacing the front sight or sanding it down-even though they might be adjustable for side to side-doing so can make them loose-if you dont know how to fix them in place)
Just remember that a very small turn on those screws goes a long way.
You can actually see which way the screws are moving the sight by looking closely at the sights as you turn that screw.
Just be ready to put that screw right back where it was at as you do this.
Some sights have click stops that will allow you to just move the sight one click at a time.
To sight in a handgun,you'll need a box of ammo of the type that you're going to shoot on a regular basis.
You should never have to reset your sights for every time you get a different box of ammo of the same type ammo unless you are a competition shooter ( I doubt they do this either).
All your target setting shooting must be done with the pistol on a rest of some sort where you can get the exactly the same sight picture every time.
Whatever type screw your sights has make sure you use a screwdriver or allen wrench that FITS IT RIGHT.
You mangle up that screw slot and your adjustment day is OVER.
Also,the direction of the threads of a screw determine which way to will turn that screw to make an adjustment.
So if you find yourself making an adjustment and the bullet hole on target keeps going away from where you want it too more and more-by all means-turn the screw back the other way.
Anyway,start at the seven yard target mark and see where the gun is shooting.
Adjust the screw for windage-the one of the side of the sight first.
You say you are shooting left.
Then you should turn the screw on the sights an eighth of a turn clockwise(provided the sight screw is on the right side) and see where it is shooting.
Once you get the bullet hole on target inline with the bullseye,then you adjust for elevation.
Remeber,if you are getting the same sight picture every time-with quality sights-adjusting the elevation screw should not change where your gun is shooting side to side-much.
But also remember-most handguns especially semi auto ones-are not supremely accurate.
From shot to shot,you will get some change in where the bullet is going-it's should'nt be an inch this way or an inch that way at seven yards though.
If it is,you are changing your sight picture,or your gun barrel is really dirty or the ammo you're shooting may not be optimum for the gun your shooting.
Anyway back to elevation.
Again shooting from a rest with exactly the same sight picture- find out where the bullet hits on the target.
It should be inline with the bulleye now but still low.
As you say you were shooting low.
Again,small adjustments go a long way.
The rear sight elevation screw should be on the top of the rear sight body.
You want to raise that back sight to raise the front angle of the gun.
So you should do an eighth turn clockwise and see where it is shooting.
Continue adjustments until you are shooting in the bullseye.
If you take you time and have patience with yourself and the gun,it's kind of fun to watch that bullet hole go from way over here to dead on target.
Just remeber you set your sights up with a certain type of ammo-hopefully the type you will shoot most often.
If you change bullet types,weights or ammo manufacturers you may get a difference where the gun shoots but with a quality firearm and quality ammo,the change in bullet impact should be consistent and predictable.
Once you get the handgun on target at seven yards,you can move out to fifteen and farther out and do adjustments as necessary.
Most handgun and rifle sights for that matter will not last very long if you make it a habit of changing them often.
They are made to set the gun to shoot on target within the designed in capabilities of the weapon with a certain type of ammo.
Changing your sights once you have them set with the primary type of ammo your going to shoot should be the LAST thing you try to fix a targeting problem.
If I've made a mistake in this post please correct me here,I want to give as accurate a description of the process as possible.
Hope this helps,the otherTexasRich-great luck with that Smith,I'm sure you'll get her firing straight.
