I am in the same boat as you. I cannot shoot my 226 Elite Dark consistently at all! When I first got it new, it shot 8" low at 5 yards every time. Sent it back to Sig and they put a shorter front sight on in. Now, depending on the day of the week, I can shoot it better. I hear you with the love hate relationship, but the gun is just too damn sexy to hate for very long!