I've found pistols don't have much difference in point of impact.

But do revolvers have pretty big differences with different weight bullets and loads? I'm considering changing my adjustable into fixed, but want to load it with heavy cast bullets in woods and lighter hollowpoints in the city.

Should I just keep them adjustable?

Yes, revolvers can have significant changes with bullet weight and velocity. I suspect the range of weights and powder charges that will reliably cycle a semi-auto handgun probably limits how different loads will print to an extent. A revolver will "cycle" anything that makes it out the muzzle...

Before the sight conversion, why not try both proposed loads at various distances? It may surprise you how much (or little) the POI changes and you can decide on the sight swap accordingly.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Heavier bullets will impact higher on the target due to the fact they recoil more, and spend a bit more time in the barrel because they are slightly slower than a lighter bullet. The lighter bullet gets out a millisecond faster and recoils a bit less, so it's not as effected by the muzzle rise of the recoil. At least that's the theory.

I noticed quite a bit of difference in a model 64, between the 110gr./130gr. load and the 158gr. stuff. The light stuff shoots a noticeable amount lower, even at under 50 feet.

I would characterize the difference as small -- I have seen MAYBE 1.5" to 2" @ 25 yards from a 125 to a 158 .38/357 in my guns. In some revolvers, especially those with shorter barrels, there is hardly any difference. My .44 (a 5" 629) shoots 285 grainers maybe 2 inches higher than 200 grainers.

I think you would find that, generally, revolvers are no different than pistols in this regard. My H&K .40 shoots 180s MAYBE 2" higher than 135s.

Whatever you decide to do with the sights, you’ll most likely sight your revolver in with load you use most often and use “Kentucky Windage” for the others, like I suspect the rest of us do.
Even with the most user friendly adjustable sights made, I cannot imagine anyone (other than some very dedicated competition shooters) going through the sighting-in process every time they switch to a different load.

Personally, I practice with 148gr LWC, 158gr LSWC or 158gr LRN in my short barrel .38Spl revolvers and carry 135gr SB +P GDHPs.
The POI vs POA stays well within a MOBG (Minute of Bad Guy) out to 25Yds, so they more or less shoot where I point them at self defense distances.

On the other hand, you may have stumbled on a justifiable need to buy another revolver.

John

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Age + Treachery = JohnnieB

The only revolvers I currently use are snubbies. They are short range handguns for me. I'm not a good enough shot with them to really tell much difference in POI. As long as I can keep five quick shots within the central or head area of a B-27 target out to about 10 yards or so, I'm fine with POI. That's within my zone of operator error.

I also agree on the Kentucky windage philosophy. If you're a good shot and can group your hits tightly, you can pretty much be sure where the hits will land. Then you can adjust your POA to the POI.

Youu must be shooting at short range.
My .45 1911 requires 3 clicks down at 25yds going from 200gr to 230gr.
My model 686 is about the same going from 125gr to 158gr.

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Science plus Art

The principal reason that revolvers show a greater difference in POI than autos with different bullet weights is the higher bore axis of revolvers. If you're comparing an auto with a high boreline, like an HK or one of the older Smith autos (pre-M&P) you'll see that there is less difference between the revolver and the auto. When you go to really heavy-for-caliber bullets in a revolver, like 180s in a .357 or 300s or 320s in a .44, you may see a huge difference. With my .44 Mountain Guns, I can crank the rear sight all the way down, and 300-grainers still hit 6" or so above POA at 25 yards.