why are 686 front sights taller than rear?

jim-ben · Dec 24, 2013

I am fairly new to revolvers, and recently acquired a 686 4" and a 686 5" TALO. On both the front sight is noticeably taller than rear sights. This much different than on my Sigs and Glocks, which have all sights at same heights.
I have only shot the 686 once so far, but did not really focus on the difference in height.
Is there a reason for this difference?
I notice the red plastic insert in about at the same height as rear sight, but there is still more front sight even taller.
I searched this forum for some hint, but I did not find any discussion. Is this due to revolvers shoots lower than autos??
When it warms up, I'll head out to the range with a bunch of ammo and see if I can figure it out, but I'm sure that someone on this forum already has the answer.
Thanks and Merry Christmas.

Neumann · Dec 24, 2013

It's not just revolvers. If you put a pistol on a flat surface, you'll notice the slide is not parallel.

Due to recoil, the gun rises about 1/32" in 6" before the bullet leaves the muzzle. That varies, of course, with the gun, ammunition and shooter. Revolvers are going to recoil more than pistols, because the slide absorbs some recoil. (It's not the tilting barrel when unlocked. In a pistol, the barrel remains locked up and parallel until well after the bullet leaves the muzzle and the pressure is reduced.)

You notice it even more in a rifle, where the dwell time in the barrel often affects the POI more than recoil at moderate range. A slower bullet tends to shoot higher than a faster bullet at moderate range, before bullet drop takes over.

Alk8944 · Dec 24, 2013

All handguns have front sights that are higher relative to the center-line of the bore than the rear sight. Because you can see all components of a revolver this is obvious. Your Glock, and most automatics, are the same. It is because the barrel is concealed within the slide it isn't obvious. If you really look you can see that the barrel in an automatic does point down relative to the exterior of the slide and sights.

Neumann's answer is basically correct, however the dynamics are hardly as easily quantified as he states. The gun does start to recoil the nano-second that the bullet starts out of the case. As I am sure you realize, upward rotation of the gun is one component of recoil. By the time the bullet exits the muzzle the center-line of the bore is pointed slightly above the line of sight, where it started significantly below before the gun was fired.

jim-ben · Dec 24, 2013

Thanks much.
You both just saved me a box or two of ammunition, I have never really considered the orientation of the barrel in an auto pistol -- just assumed parallel.
Now for some nice weather.....

Dstyles75 · Dec 24, 2013

Regarding semi-autos, you really notice the barrel to slide orientation when a suppressor is attached. It almost looks there's something wrong with the gun.

Neumann · Dec 24, 2013

Alk8944 said:
All handguns have front sights that are higher relative to the center-line of the bore than the rear sight. Because you can see all components of a revolver this is obvious. Your Glock, and most automatics, are the same. It is because the barrel is concealed within the slide it isn't obvious. If you really look you can see that the barrel in an automatic does point down relative to the exterior of the slide and sights.

Neumann's answer is basically correct, however the dynamics are hardly as easily quantified as he states. The gun does start to recoil the nano-second that the bullet starts out of the case. As I am sure you realize, upward rotation of the gun is one component of recoil. By the time the bullet exits the muzzle the center-line of the bore is pointed slightly above the line of sight, where it started significantly below before the gun was fired.

I didn't mean to imply the bullet was thrown upward. The main factor is where the barrel is pointed at the time the bullet leaves the muzzle.

The POI is affected by the muzzle rise, and negatively by the bullet drop. For a .44 Magnum carbine, the POI is about 4" higher at 100 yards for a 300 grain bullet than for a 240 grain bullet, even though both have comparable energy and recoil over 20 grains or so of 2400. The bullet drop is about 50% greater for the heavy but slower 300 gr projectile.

why are 686 front sights taller than rear?

jim-ben

Neumann

Member

Alk8944

US Veteran

jim-ben

Dstyles75

Member

Neumann

Member

Similar threads

Latest posts