Possible to adjust sights on Governor?

Vortec MAX · Oct 21, 2014

My Governor is consistently high and left with 45 Colt. The rear sight is fixed, but the front is in a dovetail. Can the front sight be replaced with a taller unit to bring the POI down a bit?

What would I use to push the front sight to the left to correct POI?

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

Mike

WR Moore · Oct 21, 2014

You push the front sight the opposite direction that you want the group to move.

A brass drift and a hammer works.

Vortec MAX · Oct 22, 2014

WR Moore said:
You push the front sight the opposite direction that you want the group to move.

A brass drift and a hammer works.

I am sitting here scratching my head on this one. Are you sure?

What about different heights of front sight blades? Would S&W have those? If not, are they available elsewhere?

I have a sight pusher for a SIG P-series, but I don't know if I can rig it to push the sight on the Governor.

I guess I could bang on it with a hammer and punch. I am just a bit squeamish about banging on it like that.

Mike

steelslaver · Oct 22, 2014

Barrel needs to be trapped when you "bang" on it with the brass drift punch and yes it needs to move in the opposite direction. If you want to move the group right the barrel needs to move right so the sight has to be moved to the left so that to center it you move barrel right. Haven't got a clue if the make a higher front sight or why they even made the Governor except that people buy them.

Standard practice to move the point of impact on fix sight guns is to strike the barrel with a heavy Babbitt bar. Tapping over a dovetailled sight is nothing.

Vortec MAX · Dec 7, 2015

I want to "revive" this post because I never got a resolution on this. I have called S&W and they do not offer different heights of front sights. I cannot find another sight with the same dovetail dimensions.

Does anyone know where I can find a taller front sight that will fit?

Thanks in advance.

Mike

steelslaver · Dec 7, 2015

Well you could silver solder a piece of stainless steel or brass to the top of the existing sight for that silver or gold bead effect or a machinist could make you one over height and you could file it down a bit at a time till it gave you the right elevation. All a machinist would need is the current sight to make a higher copy. For that mater you could make a one one yourself with Patience, a vice, caliper and some good files. Its only a small piece of steel.

Biggfoot44 · Dec 7, 2015

Or shoot a lighter weight bullet.

gnystrom · Dec 8, 2015

How much "high" is the impact?
Where are you holding on the target?
At what distance are you shooting?

steelslaver · Dec 8, 2015

Biggfoot44 said:
Or shoot a lighter weight bullet.

This is correct. A lighter bullet creates less recoil plus travel s faster spending less time in the barrel. As the gun recoils the barrel moves up. So less recoil and barrel time means lower point of impact. Also, a stiffer wrist and firmer grip will lower impact as the barrel will move up less.

My 500 has a 8 3/8 barrel and a scope. My rounds strike considerably lower on the target than my lady's do.

Vortec MAX · Dec 23, 2015

gnystrom said:
How much "high" is the impact?
Where are you holding on the target?
At what distance are you shooting?

Impacts are 2-1/8" high and 1.5" left at 10 yards. This is very consistent no matter the ammo or how heavy or light the bullets are.

I measured the stock height of the front sight to be approximately 0.15". I calculated I need a sight that is about 0.18" tall to correct point of impact to point of aim.

I hold the "standard" sight picture that I have always used. I cut the "bullseye" in half with the front sight, and of course I center the front sight in the rear notch and keep the top of the front sight even with the top of the rear.

Mike

Vortec MAX · Dec 23, 2015

steelslaver said:
This is correct. A lighter bullet creates less recoil plus travel s faster spending less time in the barrel. As the gun recoils the barrel moves up. So less recoil and barrel time means lower point of impact. Also, a stiffer wrist and firmer grip will lower impact as the barrel will move up less.

My 500 has a 8 3/8 barrel and a scope. My rounds strike considerably lower on the target than my lady's do.

I think, due to the consistency of my groupings, that I would prefer to adjust the sights rather than my grip. The ammo does not make a difference. 200 grain or 250 grain go to the same place.

I shot a 8-3/8" 500 S&W. I shot two shots through the same hole at 10 yards, centered in the bullseye. I would like to be able to at least hit near the bullseye with my Governor.

Mike

Vortec MAX · Jan 4, 2016

Nobody has a source for a different front sight? Anyone? Anyone?

Mike

gnystrom · Jan 6, 2016

No offense but I don't consider the Governor to be a target/range gun. I don't know the size of the bullseye is you are shooting at, but personally, I would just hold a bit lower. As you know a grooved rear sight picture will look totally different to nearly everyone who shoots with them. Fixing the left or right impact is easy.

Have you had anyone else confirm your impact pattern?

Vortec MAX · Jan 7, 2016

gnystrom said:
No offense but I don't consider the Governor to be a target/range gun. I don't know the size of the bullseye is you are shooting at, but personally, I would just hold a bit lower. As you know a grooved rear sight picture will look totally different to nearly everyone who shoots with them. Fixing the left or right impact is easy.

Have you had anyone else confirm your impact pattern?

No offense taken. If it had fixed front and rear like my S&W snubnose 38s, I wouldn't worry too much about it. It is the fact that it can be fixed that makes me want to fix it. And... it shoots farther away from my point of aim than my 38 snubbies.

The groups it prints are tight enough to warrant a sight adjustment if I can figure out how.

Mike

steelslaver · Jan 7, 2016

Remove the front sight and have a welder tig weld a bead down the top of the front sight blade then carefully file and sand it to match and reblue it.
If you can't find somebody to do it PM me. I can do it.

Vortec MAX · Jan 23, 2016

steelslaver said:
Remove the front sight and have a welder tig weld a bead down the top of the front sight blade then carefully file and sand it to match and reblue it.
If you can't find somebody to do it PM me. I can do it.

Can you actually weld on a night sight? I thought the heat would cause problems with the lamp vial.

Mike

steelslaver · Jan 25, 2016

Did not know you had a night sight.

Vortec MAX · Feb 10, 2016

steelslaver said:
Did not know you had a night sight.

I could be wrong, but I thought they all had a night sight in the front.

I am still trying to find a cross fit between the Governor and another pistol. Someone on here suggested that the front sight from an M&P pistol (model not specified) might be the same front sight. I would sure like to verify this and know what models use the same front sight.

Mike

Vortec MAX · Sep 16, 2016

I still have found no resolution to this issue. Does anyone know if the front sight from another S&W pistol will also fit the Governor?

Thanks in advance.

Mike

Vortec MAX · Sep 17, 2017

It's been about a year, so I guess it is time to bump this again. Anyone know if the front sight on another S&W pistol will swap out with the Governor?

Mike

Possible to adjust sights on Governor?

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