This has probably been addressed here but I'm clearly not intelligent enough to use the search function.

I've got a used fixed sight 317-2 Airlite that shoots 2" to the right at 7 yards. Please don't beat me up and tell me I can't shoot. So with it shooting 2" to the right at 21 feet, it's clearly no good for any kind of plinking, trail use, or well much of anything except shooting something big and close for which I've got better handguns.

My question is how do I correct this? The sight radius is about 3.6" and I calculate that I need to move the fixed front sight about .03" to the right. Can someone confirm this for me? Next question is how do I do this? Can I mill that amount from the left side of the front sight? OR do I need to mill double that amount from the sight?

Any help appreciated. Thanks and regards, Woody

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Take a kid along.

Not much you can do with fixed sights. I had a 317 for a while and I really liked it a lot but, I just could not hit anything with it, the heavy trigger combined with the light weight made it really hard to shoot. I ended up selling it. I have a M-63 that is really sweet shooting out to 25 yards. Not what you wanted to hear, I know.

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Be obscure, clearly.

My first thought was have someone else shoot a few rounds to see if they have similar point of impact issues. And then perhaps a different set of grips just in case.

I have a 617 that I have shot once. It has a Hogue finger grove monogrip on it. Great groups but all a bit to the left of my aiming point at 25ft. Moving the rear sight did not make a difference for some reason. I have not had a chance to go to the range again but on my next outing I will be trying two different grip types. One type (Pachmayr presentation grips) I have shot a lot with and consistently done well with other K frames.

And a last thought would be to try a different brand of ammo. I suspect this isn't the issue but it is something and fairly easy to do. I don't have a lot of experience myself but I have noticed in other .22LR ammo posts people swear by or at certain brands of ammo. I have purposely bought a couple of other brands from my main supply of Federal Target Grade Performance .22LR's. Just happens that I found a box of those first and Midway keeps getting them in stock versus the other reasonably priced brands.

Just a thought before drastic measures.

If the front sight (barrel) is not overtorqued to the left (clockwise from the muzzle end), a gunsmith might be able to back it out (counterclockwise) just enough so it will print to the sights. That said, I would second letting someone else shoot it from a solid rest just to be sure what you are experiencing is repeatable. Please let us know what happens.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Sconnie is bang on.

Back when I started, I was issued a M64 with Pachamyer 'Gripper' grips. Everything I shot went low and left and nothing would change it until I went with a set of presentation style grips. Then the weak link was me and not the gun.

Also, if you take a look at the threads on the M41, the guys are downright particular about the brand of .22 ammo they use. It does make a difference.

Sconnie is bang on.

Back when I started, I was issued a M64 with Pachamyer 'Gripper' grips. Everything I shot went low and left and nothing would change it until I went with a set of presentation style grips. (After that, the weak link was me and not the gun. )

Also, if you take a look at the M41 threads on the semi auto side, the guys there are downright particular about the brand of .22 ammo they use. It seems like a small thing, but it does make a difference.

Thanks for the replies. I've shot this thing enough that I know it shoots to the right, at least for me. It's a itty bitty gun and I'm not going to put super grips on it and try to shoot bug holes with it. It fits in my pocket as is and that's what I want. Yesterday, before I posted, I shot 5 cylinders with 5 different ammo, 40 shots, to get the average which I quoted of 2" to the right. No it isn't a super group partly because I was trying to maximize horizontal alignment and not worrying too much about vertical. All shots from a rest at 7 yards. Yes some ammo prob'ly shoots further out than others but even at 21 feet one would miss the end of a pop can with every shot. Well, I would!

I'm back to my question, how do I correct this? With the sights so small, I'd really like to have a little more light each side of the front sight anyway so....The sight radius is about 3.6" and I calculate that I need to move the fixed front sight about .03" to the right. Is this correct? Next question is how do I do this? Can I mill that amount from the left side of the front sight? OR do I need to mill double that amount from the sight? OR?
Thanks and regards, Woody

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Take a kid along.

I think some of these were bad from Smith...

Latest update on my 317-2 airlite

And that's not the only report of these that had to go back and were declared "unrepairable" by the factory.

I purchased a 317 with a 3 inch barrel and adjustable sights, the extra 1 inch is no problem as far as portability/concealability and the adjustable sights are worth their weight in gold.
Hitting to point of aim is so much better than "Kentucky Windage" aiming .
Mine is trouble free, you should be happy with it. Good Luck.
Gary

There is nothing you can physically do to correct it. The sights are fixed so you cannot adjust them. You have to use Kentucky Windage. If you know it is off 2" at a certain distance adjust your aim to compensate.

I have a 2" 317 that I picked up a few months back. It was made in the late 90's but was new in the box. I got a sweet deal on it, $440 out the door.

The trigger must be 13 to 15 lbs. Brutal. But it is fun as heck to shoot. I have put all kinds off ammo through it. Shorts, longs, shot shells. Works with anything. It seems to shoot to point of aim fairly well.

I just use it as a trainer for my 38/357 J Frames. It is too light to be a target gun or a real trail gun. Just a little toy that I don't take too seriously.

Gentlemen, I am not complaining about S&W quality, threatening to never buy again, etc. Nor do I really care to send it back. Heck, I bought it used many years ago off this forum, prob'ly because the original owner couldn't hit with it either. I haven't shot it much at all until recently. I like it but..........I need it to hit where I look.

Yes, mebe I'd like one with adjustable sights but this is what I have. Someone here has got to know how much I have to move the front sight without re-torquing the barrel and how I can do it. Pleeze! Thanks and regards, Woody

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Take a kid along.

See if this isn't what you are looking for - sight correction calculator:

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/lid=1...ion_Calculator

Also, ment to mention that you should NOT try to "clock" the barrel.

Paul

Woody 1,You might try a little "fine filing" in the rear sight notch. Go slow,take little and try it.Remember, the rear sight goes in the direction you want the group to move. A very little will go a loooooong way so, "cut and try, cut and try, and try before cutting any more!" You could possibly remove a little from the front sight along with the rear.
I must have finally got lucky. I've seen complaints of trigger pull, sights, etc. but my little fixed sight 317 has a great trigger and shoots to point of aim. A fair number of Rattle Snakes and Copperheads could attest to this if they hadn't died in the testing! Nick

I didn't see if this had been asked yet but, any chance this is happening while shooting with your left hand?

Or simply, are you left handed?

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Thugs that comply don’t die!

Nope, I'm not wrong handed although my wife is! I'll have her shoot it and see if it slings 'em to the left. :>) I am looking for another set of grips too. Problem is that I've moved and a lot of stuff is...well.. in yet undetermined locations. Regards, Woody

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Take a kid along.

WOODY, DO YOURSELF A BIG FAVOR, AND SELL THE GUN. DO NOT DO ANY TABLETOP BUBBA GUN SMITHING TO IT. YOU WILL DESTROY THE VALUE OF THE GUN. GET YOURSELF SOMETHING WITH ADJUSTABLE SIGHTS, AND CONSIDER THIS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE…...

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.