The front sight on my 627 PC I picked up yesterday seems a bit off in looking at it, not quite centered on the barrel. I just got the gun and everything else seems perfect. Should I shoot it first to see if this is going to affect its accuracy? And if so what it the best way to slide the sight? Looking from the grip to the tip of the barrel it needs to go to the left just a bit to be perfect center in the mount. Other than that the gun is really nice and after cleaning the factory test powder off, it is really impressive. The timing and trigger action seems really good, no flaws in machining or on top strap. The ejector and everything else seems perfect. Just the little red ramp sight being not quite center is all. So shoot first or adjust it to center now, and what is the best way to move it, or should it be done by a gunsmith? And while I am here does anyone know if the barrel is a one piece or two piece, it is hard to tell from just looking at it.
Thanks,

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Craig

Pics would be quite helpful.

1) Is the front sight mounted in a dovetail? If so it whould be rather easy for a gunsmith to tap it to center.

2) Is the rear sight adjustable? If it's not, you should spend some time benchrest shooting before doing anything to the front sight.

3) The 2 piece barrels are pretty easy to spot if you know what to look for. On the 2 piece barrels they will have a perfectly round flange (or cap, both are adequate descriptions) at the muzzle end of the barrel shroud with a distinct parting line beneath that round flange (or cap).

BTW, my 620 has a 2 piece barrel and the flange (or cap) is 0.744 inch in diameter and a thickness at the outer edge of about 1/16 inch. It also has a recessed crown. I've managed to shoot a 1.75 inch group at 35 yards from a sandbag rest with it and I'm not that good a shot. I expect that a real bullseye shooter with better release skills and eyes could have grouped it at 3/4 inch or less at that distance. Ultimately, IMO the 620 is capable of sub 1 inch groups at 50 yards and if I lay off the caffiene and work on my release skills I may one day do that. To be blunt, the 2 piece barrels are much more accurate than the older 1 piece barrels, so if it does have a 2 piece barrel you just might want to consider mounting optics on your new gun. In my case I have a J Point reflex on the 620 and love it, however for 50 yard shooting I'll probably have to mount a scope on it.

My 627 PC is exhibiting exactly the same issue, if such can be called an issue.
Yes, the sight is dovetailed, on a one-piece barrel.
I just shot mine, and had to mess with the rear sight a bit to center everything.
If you feel compelled to adjust the front, tap it with either wood or stout plactic, never metal on metal. (You can rap a wood dowel with a hammer, for instance) Remember this is an $1100 retail firearm

Use a good brass punch and hammer to mover it. You don't want to scare the metal. I just replaced my stock sight with a fiber optic from Williams. They fit right in if you get the .340 sight.

Thanks Anton
I know it is that is why I am asking it took too long to save and pinch pennies to get it. I sure appreciate the info on yours. I think I will shoot it and see it I have to move it, and if so I will find a competent gunsmith to do it. Other than that issue, they are sure really nice guns though..... whew can't wait to take her out!

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Craig

Thanks AZ shooter if you have a picture of that sight I would like to see how it looks.

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Craig

Just wanted to give ya a thumbs up on receiving your 627, Magnum Man. Hope you get the sight prob worked out easily and soon. Mebbe try thet hammer thing last.

Just drift the site where you need it. Seems funny that a PC pistol would need a front site moved. So much for the extra money When a Sigma is dead on at 25 yards.

But don't feel bad. My nicke-98 Sigma was spot on. My M&P .45 needed a drift but the wifes and my new revolvers need no work done.

When I get a new gun (any kind of new gun) with adjustable sights I always make sure the sights are visually centered over the bore, or centered in their range of adjustment. Most will then be right on for windage. In your case, I would tap the front sight as close to center as possible using some kind of material that is softer than steel. Brass, wood or plastic will suffice. Just make sure the frame is secured. I use a vise with lots of padding. I prefer to have the front sight centered and adjust using the rear. Dovetail installation just makes it easier for me to change that front sight if I don't like it.

Dave Sinko

While drifting the sight with a hammer and non-marring drift has been around for a long, long time, there are better ways. My favorite is to use a sight drift tool by Williams. It is a screw type vise that allows dovetailed sights of all types (or at least the great majority of them) to be gently and precisely pushed left or right as needed. I does not work in all situations such as on some semi-autos where the slide is too wide, but in most cases it allows you to adjust the windage to exactly where it's needed without leaving marks on even the most delicate surface. See the following site (Williams Ramp-Type Front Sight Pusher - MidwayUSA).
Keith

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Keith Herrington

Where are the pictures at??????????????????????????????

I bought my 2 5/8" PC627 UDR in early April - didn't notice the as-delivered off centered front sight. I stopped by the range with some mild 'clipped 125gr 920 fps JHPs in .357M brass. I figured the elevation would be off - but I wasn't prepared for the windage adjustment. When I cleaned it that night - with my readers on - I noted the offset dovetailed front sight. I claim my giddiness/excitement at finally getting a 'Bloodwork' gun for missing the offset initially - and chasing it with the rear sight! I wouldn't use my Williams front sight pusher, as it is steel edged - preferring some small blocks of wood, a dowel, and a brass hammer. I eyeballed it to center - recentered the rear sight by eyeball, too. The next trip, it was only one click off - not bad!

Many of them were just not as carefully centered as they should have been - not awe-inspiring for an MSRP $1,185 revolver. Of course, neither is the fit of the Eagle boot grips, the gap on the front due to their being designed for smaller radii curves in the earlier, '98 and earlier, N-frames. Currently made grips fit fine - those are either old stock - or made to fit '98 and earlier N-frames. Any way you cut it, a PC gun shouldn't go out the door with grips fitting that poorly. I returned the grips - they sent me another pair with the same fit problem. E-mails, letter, and phone calls resulted in a FEDEX return for the replacement - then one for the gun! I just put some other grips on it (Ahrends Retro Targets shown below!).



I thought about buying another one - I really like it. The one in stock at the pusher has the same poorly fitted grips. Everyone they have received has been that way, mine being the first. Still, a neat firearm - and only $24 more than the 327NG - and 10 oz heavier. The PC627 also comes moonclip ready - an extravagant bedside gun!

Stainz

Hi Stainz
How hard did you have to tap it to get it moved?
Thanks, I will PM you.

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Craig

I picked one up a couple weeks ago and it had many issues. I returned it in hopes of finding another less dismal in QC.

Anyway here is a pic of the off-center front sight. The least of the issues the poor runt had.

Attached Images

sight.jpg (24.6 KB, 98 views)

I recentered mine using a 3/8" maple dowel, two grip blanks of mahogany to support the sight base, and a shop towel/rag under the the remainder of the revolver as it rested on a hardboard covered wood bench. Repeated light taps with a 4 oz tack hammer convinced it to move - it took longer to write this than it did to find the stuff and do that. I should have noticed it in my inspection - but the glee over such a purchase clouded my vision... and my readers were in the Jeep.

I was so disgusted with my UDR purchase last April... so disgusted... that I bought another new one last week! I actually saw the gap in the grips - didn't care - I have some rounded Ahrends and another set of retro targets to try on it. Great trigger - and - made me look - the sight is centered! Don't ask me what I said good-bye to in order to fund this second one...

About the Williams sight shover - it's metal posts can mar a sight - and it is quite effective, if you have three hands - or a gun vise. I've used mine several times... on $200 .22LR rifles - not on a $1185 MSRP revolver - not me!

Congrats to the OP - you'll love the UDR!

Stainz