Gent's, I have a 80's 629 that I just engraved. Went out to shoot it the other day and low and behold, with the rear sight bottomed out it still shoots 6 to 7 inches high at 20 yards. Does S&W offer a lower rear blade or am I just stuck? I can weld the front sight higher and reprofile, but who want's to do that on an engraved gun. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks, the toolman

You said "bottomed out"...
Don't you need to raise the rear blade to bring your POI up?
Or am I confusing my bow sights & my pistol sights again?

Move your rear sight in the direction you want the bullet to go. Raise it a few clicks and your POI will come up.

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S&W Accumulator

Per Smith & Wesson Safety & Instruction Manual, Revolvers, Modern Style - page 24:

TO MAKE A SIGHT ADJUSTMENT WITH AN ADJUSTABLE
REAR SIGHT
•   To raise the point of impact, raise the rear sight by turning the elevation screw counterclockwise one or two clicks at a time.
•  To lower the point of impact, lower the rear sight by turning the elevation screw clockwise one or two clicks at a time.

Yup... I knew I wasn't cracking up. I think.

My mistake, I should have said that with the rear sight bottomed out I was still hitting some 6 to 7 inches high than my aiming point. Sorry I misstated the problem.

Damn! That's a different problem altogether. Not one that an adjustment brain-fart can fix.

I'm sure that a lower profile rear sight can be found. If S&W doesn't stock one, try Midway or the like.
For the record, I'd first have somebody else fire the gun just to be sure it's not you (no offense). Then after the problem is confirmed, if a lower blade can't be found, I'd try to file the rear blade down before I tried to build the front sight up.

If it is that out of whack, I would be concerned that something else is wrong or off.

They make blades of different heights, and depending on what you have on there now, you might be able to get a lower one. Ideally, what you want is one that, when you shots are centered, your rear sight is more or less in the middle of its adjustment range.

There is a mathematical formula for calculating the change in blade height you need given the inches high or low and the distance.

There is a rear sight blade chart that has been posted on here before. I may have a copy of it to post. I cannot remember who posted it to give proper credit, but here it is:

Attached Images

S&W Revolver Rear Sight Assemblies Chart.jpg (107.6 KB, 129 views)

Or just swap for a taller front sight blade.
They come in various heights.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

Or just place your target on a litle mound of dirt 6-7 inches high

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Gunner, Sabot Up!

Different bullet velocity gives different POA. Faster bullets shoot lower than those at lower velocities.

Can you clarify:

- did you just get the gun, or have you owned it (since the 80's) ?

- how was the POI before you engraved it, with similar loads?

- did the engraver remove the sight(s) & possibly re-install a wrong part?

- what barrel length is it?