I have a 25-5 made in 1988 and the front sight is to short for the .126 rear when I shoot 250 gr bullets at the speed they were intended to be shot from a 45 Colt. My question is, since the red ramp front sight is a non pinned, fully machined sight, can the mother ship install a taller red ramp front without it looking terrible? This is a 98+% gun and I don't want to ruin it. I know the factory has some good people but before I take the stocks off and surrender it, I would like to know what I'm in for. Has any body had this done? Thanks, Murf

I'm curious about the barrel length on your gun.

Groo here
What distance.
How high from POA.
Get a lower rear sight or cut yours with a file.

It's a 4" and it has a white outline rear so I'm not cutting it with a file. The loads were 7 grs of Green Dot, 7 grs of Unique, 9.5 grs of Accurate #5, all with a 252 gr Lee cast and powder coated. They are 3-4" high @ 25yds. I did not chronograph them. Admittedly they are pretty mild but the 7 grs of Green dot should have given enough speed to adjust the sights to.

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Fold up some cardboard and tape it over the front sight to make it higher. Use adhesive that will clean off. It will look like heck but shoot to POA.

I know that sounds like a cheesy solution, but when you need to alter something without altering it, that's what you are left with. I'm sympathetic to your issue and wish there was a better fix.

I have an 8 3/8" 29-2 with the same problem when I stoke it with 240 grain cast bullets over a manual-max load of HP-38. Point of impact is several inches high at 25 yards.

All is well when I drive a 185 grain jacketed bullet with a stout load of any of several slow-burning powders. I just hold the rarely-fired 29 in reserve for coyote, whitetails, or long range targets.

Do you still have room for adjustment on the rear sight? Can it go lower? Maybe get another rear sight blade and shorten it, keeping the original unaltered? Experiment with your reloads until you find something that shoots to POA?

Common problem with that model in that era. You will just need to play with different loads to get impact closer to point of aim. I went with heavier bullets in a fairly stiff load.

WILDPIG

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I think that will be the answer since the rear sight is on rock bottom. I am going to buy a 200 gr mold and run it a tad faster, well ok, more than a tad. I wanted to shoot the more traditional 250 gr load but I will have to make do with a 200....if that works.

It may work for you. I ended up shooting 270s in my 6".

WILDPIG

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I ain't from around here.

You can go with a lighter bullet our move the 250 faster. There is a local guy I use who mills the front sight off, cuts the proper groove, installs the sight, drills & pins it. Looks factory.

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Joshua 1:9

That's what I wanted to shoot in this gun but I'm afraid I would have to drive them too hard. I am going to warm the loads up a bit and see if that will do the trick, like LAH said.

I've had three Model 29-3 S&W & they all shot high. My MMC M-28 conversion to 44 Special shot high using the highest front sight & lowest rear blade available from the factory at that time. The Lyman 429421 finally hit point of aim at 25 yards when I reached 1050 FPS.

Mr. Keith handed me his 4" 44 mag & I noticed the rear sight bottomed out. I said it shoots high doesn't it. He said yes till about 75 yards. So you're in good company.

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Joshua 1:9

I use hard cast 270 SWCs and worked up cautiously with a few different powders. I ended up with H110 and running about 1100 fps in MY 6". I also learned that the books are correct. Don't try H110 too much below book max. I use a hard crimp to get good complete burn. Your 4" may work with this combination??? Or not.....

WILDPIG

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I gave the last of my H110 away. The flash, blast, and use of mag primers was enough to convince me that 2400 is enough for me, at least. Besides you really have to run the stuff at full throttle to make it work and 2400 will go down to 16 grs in a 44 with a 429421 and behave like a favorite nephew! Here is what my SRH Ruger will do with it downloaded. I am not saying that I can do it every time, but the gun is capable.

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I understand perfectly. I love 2400.

I expect my hard crimp, heavy bullet, and longer barrel helped me achieve good results. It is not violent or flashy in this revolver.

I let three friends shoot it with my reloads. They all stood on the line and shot one-hand bullseye stance. I knew then it was exactly the load I wanted.

Good shootin', by the way!

WILDPIG

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I agree wildpig, H110 is the race gas to put in a 6" or longer 44. You wouldnt believe the speed I get out of 9 1/2" SRH Ruger. Like 1485fps with a 310 gr cast bullet with a gas check and it's dead nutz accurate.

The H4227 or IMR4227 is a great powder for this type of load, too. I'm running 18gr. with 300 gr. XTP in 44 Mag. for 1050 fps. Soft recoil, super accurate.

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Groo here
This may sound strange but ,, increase your powder charge by 1/2
or 1 gr.
The bullet may be spending too long in the barrel, causing it to go high due to barrel flip.
More speed will cause the bullet to leave the barrel sooner/lower in the arc.

Groo, thanks, Ive already got them loaded with a stiffer charge. It's bound to help. Just need to get the time to get to the range.

When shooting the big bores,44 mag, 45LC, 460, 500, etc. especially with heavy bullets, you need to stretch the distance(min is 50yds and farther). Light bullets at 25yds should be fast or really slow. My max loads(24grs H110 & 240XTP) in a 10 5/8" Silhouette 29, zeroed at 50yds, will shoot about 1" or 2" high at 100yds.
jcelect

I understand you not wanting to alter your 29. I know a smith that has some front sights that are spring loaded so you can pop in what ever you sight you wish. Just mil away the old base and mount the new base. They work great.