Factory Target Question - Late 28-2 back from Springfield

[EricR]

My late six inch 28-2 just came back from Springfield. I'd sent it in thinking a canted barrel/bent frame. Here's a picture of the target from their test firing. Other than the handgun printing good windage, is it shooting high or low? I just don't know what the point of aim relative to impact is for this.

Thanks!

[Coaltminer]

Low, depending on where held on the bull. What a nice group! Raise Rear Sight a bit if you want it higher

[EricR]

Thank you. I didn’t know which end of the target was up.

[rct269]

The group you see was likely fired from a machine rest, and is offered simply as evidence all is well. The relationship between point of aim and point of impact was/is of no moment---unless your order asked them to sight your gun in for you. Given your gun is equipped with adjustable sights, whether it's shooting high or low is also of no moment. That can be determined/corrected as required shortly after you arrive at your range.

Given proper conditions----seated, two hand hold, suitable rest and target (properly utilized), you should have your gun sighted in (and proved) with minimal fuss and bother-----------and the expenditure of no more than six rounds.

Ralph Tremaine

[EricR]

Thank you Ralph

[Marshal Kane]

Shoot your revolver two handed off the shooting bench using your target set up at a distance you feel comfortable with. As long as you can group your shots like S&W did you have a reference point from which to adjust your rear sight to move the group to the desired point on the target. The rear sight will move the group in the direction you set, e.g. move the rear sight left and the group will move to the left. Move the rear sight up and the group will move up and vice versa. That's the beauty if having an adjustable sight. Note: should your group be larger than S&W's use where most of your bullets impact as your reference point. If none of your bullets impact together, use the center of your group as a reference point. Hope this helps.

[rct269]

Marshal Kane suggests "-----using your target set up at a distance you feel comfortable with."(Post #6). That's all well and good, if you have plenty of time, plenty of ammo, and are good at arithmetic---worse yet, trigonometry. As near as I recall, one click of a sight adjustment screw provides for 1/2" of point of impact movement at 25 yards. Given the use of a range of 25 yards and a sighting in target (with its background graduated in inches), it becomes child's play to sight in your revolver: Shoot three rounds for group. Measure the distance from group center to point of aim---up/down/sideways. Adjust your sight accordingly. Prove it with three more rounds. Go home and play with your children's mother!!

Now---if your group size is such as to be measured with a yard stick, then there are other problems to be dealt with. Almost all of them will have to do with the shooter.

Ralph Tremaine

As an aside, it doesn't hurt to start off knowing your rear sight is securely attached to your gun--------it's the little screw at the front.

[EricR]

Other than my skill level for handgun shooting, I'm not sure why I had issue with this particular 28-2. For instance, for N-Frame's I have a 25-2, two 4" 28-2's, and a 29-2 that I can shoot much to my satisfaction. Likewise, I've got an assortment of J, K, and L frames that group just fine.

But now that "The Mothership" has told me I'm the problem with this six inch HP I will continue to practice as time and dollars allow. It is amazing what practice, include a LOT of snap cap work at home, will do.

[Marshal Kane]

Eric, I don't know how proficient you are with a handgun, for all I know you may be Rob Leatham's coach, but I do know if you can shoot a group and move the sight in the correct direction, you can move your group into the black of a bullseye target at any distance your shooting at within reason. Unless your group is very close to the black, don't be afraid to move the sight several clicks at a time. When I zero in with a S&W sight, I move it 3-4 clicks at a time. Don't "***** foot" around with 1-2 clicks, save that for when you're very close to the black. If you're doing things right, your group will move in the same direction that you've moved the sight. If you had shot that enclosed S&W target, your windage adjustment would be about spot on. All you would have to do is raise the rear sight for more elevation. Hope this helps

[EricR]

Yep, I'm leaving windage as is and I've already turned elevation up two clicks...and now I'll make it three lol. Just don't know how soon I'll get to range. First day back from vacation today and it's been bad. On top of that I may need to do damage assessments at my customer locations post hurricane.

[Snapping Twig]

Sometimes it's your eyes and parallax, in other words, the way you see the sights.

I recently picked up a 625-6, never fired after the factory.

It shot way low and left. I adjusted the sights till it was dead on.

When I looked at the amount of elevation I gave it I was shocked. You could drive a truck under the rear sight, so I ordered a new blade, the tallest S&W makes. Second time I've had to do this.

Bring your screwdriver with you to the range and make adjustments as you need them. Don't fear doing it.

[Bullseye 2620]

Ralph is correct. They don't index the sights on the bull. They could have been shooting at a blank sheet of paper to demonstrate group size, which looks to be under an inch at 25 yards for 5 shots. I bet that with a little judicious load selection or development you could come up with a gun/ammo combination of under 3/4 of an inch at 25 yards. Pretty sweet.

[Jack Flash]

Originally Posted by Snapping Twig

Sometimes it's your eyes and parallax, in other words, the way you see the sights.
...

Agree. Way back when, I had to adjust sights way to the left to hit center on target. Then I got new glasses and had to move the sights back to the right. Now that I've had cataract surgery, I will have to get to the range and see if the sights need adjustment yet again.

[bigggbbruce]

Originally Posted by Coaltminer

Low, depending on where held on the bull. What a nice group! Raise Rear Sight a bit if you want it higher

Yep, 6 o'clock hold. Give it a try first and go from there.

[bananaman]

Originally Posted by EricR

Other than my skill level for handgun shooting, I'm not sure why I had issue with this particular 28-2. For instance, for N-Frame's I have a 25-2, two 4" 28-2's, and a 29-2 that I can shoot much to my satisfaction. Likewise, I've got an assortment of J, K, and L frames that group just fine.

But now that "The Mothership" has told me I'm the problem with this six inch HP I will continue to practice as time and dollars allow. It is amazing what practice, include a LOT of snap cap work at home, will do.

It is a nice looking 28! You may want to try some different stocks on it (or may not) I use target stocks of some kind on all of my N frames. My no dash with Herretts on it. They are so comfy for me. Bob

[bananaman]

So simple, be everyone should have this. Bob