Why do most S&W revolvers have adjustable rear sights?

wellthought1 · Jul 12, 2019

This may sound like a dumb question, but, why do most S&W revolvers have adjustable rear sights? The barrel should be straight; thus, any bullets should fly straight. Now, I can understand up/down. Different bullet weights and loads fall differently.

ken158 · Jul 12, 2019

You answered your question... different ammo with different velocities require adjustable sights for best accuracy.

smithman · Jul 12, 2019

I will not see and interpret the sights the same as you in many cases. That will cause the same gun to hit different points of impact for different people. Thus, adjustable sights.

Kurusu · Jul 12, 2019

The truth?

Your eyes lie to you all the time.

Differences in clarity (sunny or overcast), the side from which the light comes. Are factors that will change your apparent aiming point because the sight picture suffers from optical illusions.

Add to that. Different loads with different velocities and different bullet weights. Shooting at different distances. It's almost a miracle one can hit anything at all.

Ackley1952 · Jul 12, 2019

“Most” they made an awful lot of model 10’s

Muss Muggins · Jul 12, 2019

My input is that most of my S&W revolvers have fixed sights . . .

delcrossv · Jul 12, 2019

I could easily imagine someone in the 1930's asking "why do most S&W's have fixed sights ".

Marshal Tom · Jul 12, 2019

some prefer adjustable sights so that they can tailor the load to the occasion. Others like the fixed sight for the fact that they may not snag as much in the draw process of the fact that some feel that adjustable sights are far more fragile and prone to breakage or misalignment because they can move. except for snubbys I like adjustable sights so that I can tailor them for the various loads that I decide to shoot rather then having to hold according to the point of impact, point of aim for the load I choose to shoot at the given time.

HOUSTON RICK · Jul 12, 2019

"why do most S&W revolvers have adjustable rear sights?"

So that you can adjust them when you want to.

cgt4570 · Jul 12, 2019

"Why do most S&W revolvers have adjustable rear sights?"

Because in the famous words of Col. Townsend:

"Only accurate guns are interesting!"

wrangler5 · Jul 12, 2019

Muss Muggins said:
My input is that most of my S&W revolvers have fixed sights . . .

+1. All of my center fire S&W revolvers have fixed sights, as does my only S&W automatic. Only the 22/32 Kit Gun (I know it has a number, but that's how I've always thought of it) has adjustables - and I'm not sure I've ever actually adjusted 'em.

schutz5 · Jul 12, 2019

"Why do most S&W revolvers have adjustable rear sights?"

---glad they do !... 25 yds, 50 yds.. farther...

DonD · Jul 12, 2019

Why??? Because they're simply necessary. They've been necessary for most of the 20th century and on for most all firearms.

They remain because they work and that's it. Don

bigwheelzip · Jul 12, 2019

wellthought1 said:
The barrel should be straight; thus, any bullets should fly straight.

It's a far more extensive mathematical formula than making a straight barrel. The gun is an assembly of parts. Each feature on every part is produced to a plus/minus dimensional tolerance. As these individual parts are assembled, the dimensional tolerance variations stack up, slightly changing the geometry of the finished assembly.

Greater parts and assembly accuracy is always possible, but it's more time consuming and costly than can be justified in selling a firearm at these price points. Adding an adjustable sight is more cost effective.

Krogen · Jul 12, 2019

Not sure I can top the previous replies, but I'll take a crack at it anyway. There are so many variables that confound the shooter who's trying to hit that dang target. Not only the gun's variables, but distance to target, velocity, bullet weight, the lighting, the shooter's eyes and the shooter's grip.

Grip is perhaps the hardest to control consistently. Hold tighter, the gun shoots low, hold looser, it shoots high. Shift your hand to the right and the gun torques and goes left or right depending on the twist. Get a little more or less finger on the trigger, it goes left or right. Maybe your a leftie and things are different than for righties.

As another poster said above, it's amazing we can hit anything. Adjustable sights give the shooter a chance at compensating for all those variables.

So..... Why do so many S&Ws have adjustable sights? Might be that they just don't want to deal with customers saying the gun doesn't shoot to point of aim.

fishwishin · Jul 12, 2019

Some good points made here. I think another factor is when you think about it most guns that are sold are not sold to die hard shooters/users of the gun. For most buyers they are relatively inexperienced and they are drawn more to the features of the gun instead of the functionality of it. I think most buyers feel the adjustable sights are a feature that makes the gun superior (“oh wow, that model 15 has to be better that that model 10”), so a lot of inexperienced consumer dollars go that route. S&W simply follows the demand of those who want features like this.

Peak53 · Jul 13, 2019

All of the above AND they are easier to see

Biggfoot44 · Jul 13, 2019

Peak53 mostly beat me to it . Even if you don't regularly adjust them , adjustable sights give good sight pictures .

( Even though I dispute the * most * , particularly if you're talking production numberd .)

Sevastopol · Jul 13, 2019

cgt4570 said:
"Why do most S&W revolvers have adjustable rear sights?"

Because in the famous words of Col. Townsend:

"Only accurate guns are interesting!"

This is likely the best answer.

Ashlander · Jul 13, 2019

I have always thought they put adjustable sights on their revolvers so they wouldn't have to regulate them at the factory. I like my model 64s and 65s and my J-frames precisely because I can count on them to give me accuracy "out-of-box", while adjustable sights - I have to adjust them.

Of course, if I have to pick fleas off a cat, adjustable sights are nice, but for hitting bad guys across a room, fixed sights work rather well -- and they don't bark your elbows in the holster.

Why do most S&W revolvers have adjustable rear sights?

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