I'm not a very good handgun shooter, but I do love to shoot my old Model 10s. I recently bought a 3" square butt, and it hits low with 158-grain LRN service ammo. Same with my 158-grain cast SWC handloads. I use a 50-foot slow fire target at 50 feet, 6 o'clock hold from a rest, single action.
I realize these revolvers were not meant for target shooting, but they were supposed to be regulated for POI using service loads. I also realize that my lack of knowledge and experience in grip, trigger squeeze, etc. will affect POI.
Any observations or advice will be appreciated.

Not a SME, but here goes. When instructing new officers that encountered your problem, I sometimes noted that they were bringing their head down atop the firearm, i.e. like shooting "hunched-over". When I had them bring the firearm up to their eyes, in most cases the shots were more POA/POI.

I am presuming that the front sight has in no way been tampered with. If so I'm certain someone will be along who will address that.

Jm2c.

JPJ

DB: First try grouping at a closer distance, 7-10 yds. Second, continue to shoot with your HANDS on a rest. Thirdly, have a friend, who is a marksman, do the same tests. Is he/she also impacting low?
It's possible, you're dropping the front sight due to anticipated recoil.
Concentrate on the front sight so intently, that your gradual trigger pull breaks the shot like a surprise.
PM me with your results.
Hank M.

Try aiming at center of target rather than 6 oclock

Sent from my SM-N986U using Tapatalk

You're aiming low. See post#4.

BTW, AFAIK, S&W revolvers are NOT regulated. There is an intention in the design, and they may even be tested to some low standard, but they are not English double rifles. Some shoot to POA and some don't.

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Formerly Model520Fan

That is an important element in accurate shooting that isn't mentioned often enough. As an instructor for many years, I frequently found people who focused their eye on the rear sight or the target. Remember that the eye can only focus on one place at a time and in shooting, that must be the front sight. Practice this consciously until it becomes habit.

Also this:
For fixed sight S&W revolvers, the POI is calculated using a center of target hold. Aim low and you are likely to hit low using the loads you described.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Let me ask where your group actually is when aiming 6 O'Clock. Is it at the bottom of the bullseye or even lower.

Lots of good advice above; particularly on the front sight focus, but let me also suggest a heavier bullet if you handload. A 170 grain or 180 grain cast bullet may very well end up in the middle of your target. For any given pressure level, the velocity will be lower, but they will shoot higher on target than the 158 grain bullets.

I might add that when shooting for consistency or to test loads or a gun, I'm not too concerned where the group is on target. What I'm looking for is a good group. When shooting for score in a match, then they do need to go in the middle.

If you don't cast your own, Oregon Train makes a very good lead 180 grain RNFP bullet. Link: Oregon Trail Bullets

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Keep your powder dry.

All -- Many thanks for the information and the benefits from your long experience. I received a good basic education in rifle marksmanship decades ago, but have never had any handgun instruction. The front sight has not been filed. My other Model 10 has a 5" barrel, and hits low-center of the bullseye with the same ammo. I'm sure your remarks about anticipating recoil figure in to my shooting with the 3" gun. It seems to weigh about the same, but the shorter length means that I am probably moving the 3" gun more than the 5" one. Shots are stringing vertically below the bullseye, staying on the paper. This seems indicative of anticipating recoil. Thanks to all of you for taking the time to answer.

Target shooting, with target sights, uses a 6 o'clock hold, with the sights adjusted so that the bullet will hit the center of the bull. Fixed sights are generally set to use what is called the point-of-aim hold. Or, top of sights aligned to the center of the bull.

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Fight socialism. Never stop.

Rummaging in the parts box, I found a set of Wolff reduced-power springs that I had tried out in yet another M10 I had years ago. One of their curved hammer springs, and a 15-pound rebound spring. I installed them in the 3" M10, and we'll see if the reduced trigger pull plus your advice about hold makes a difference. I have similar springs in my 5" M10, and have never had a misfire in either factory or handloaded ammo.