A Change In Tastes

[Whit]

Waaaay back in the 60's when I became a municipal police officer in southeast Texas, the vast majority of officers carried S&W revolvers with the Model 19 being prevelant. Whichever model was in the holster, most were adjustable sight revolvers. This was true of not only our department, but the nearby cities, county Sherrif's deputies and the DPS troopers. I would not have thought of carrying a fixed sighted revolver.

Fast forward to present day and things have changed with me. While I still own adjustable sighted revolvers, I have come to appreciate the utility of models like 10, 13, 64, and 65. Were adjustable sights necessary back in the day? Probably not. Perhaps it was more of a style thing than a need. Many officers were not gun guys nor were they particularly shooters who would take the time to go to the range to adjust their sights to the load they were issued/carried. So the fixed sight revolvers would have served them well.

In my old age I have come to appreciated the fixed sighted Smiths. Is there anyone else who has come around to the same conclusion or perhaps those who were smarter and more perceptive than I and have always appreciated the fixed sighted revolvers? At least I came around to see the light…even if I am a little late.

 

[bigmoose]

I have a model 36 snubbie that serves as an excellent EDC gun. No sights needed for its intended use and circumstances. I had a Model 10 (4") that shot to point of aim just as well as some of my adjustable sight guns.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Back in the Day all the Cool Kids wanted a K-frame .357 in the "Combat Magnum" vs a plain jane "M&P" in .38.


Per the SCS&W......

Model 19 .357 magnum was introduced in 1955 as the "Combat Magnum"
it quickly became the gold standard in Service holsters that allowed .357 ammo ..... and even in a lot of holsters restricted to .38spl. often with .38/44 , +P or +P+ ammo.

Model 13 .357 wasn't introduced until 1974
The Model 65 .357 was introduced 1972

Model K-38 "Combat Masterpiece" 1949-57 then Model 15 after 57.

M&Ps in .38 go back to 1900................


All that said; my first gun was a 4" heavy Barrel Model 10; and I've had a 3" 65 since 1986.

 

[GSP Fan]

I have more revolvers with adjustable sights than fixed sights. That being said I've never adjusted any of the sights as they shoot to point of aim.
It's kinda like rifle scopes with the variable models being more prevalent that fixed power. How many times have you been out hunting and cranked your scope up to 9X or more? I find I leave mine at 4X or 6X if I'm out west.

 

[Retired W4]

Even though the 13, 520, 58's ( and SS guns) were produced well after Whit's early days in LE, I remain a big fan of those fixed sight magnums. Every thing you need and nothing you don't.

 

[tops]

I think K and N frame, 4 in. with half moon front sight and tapered barrel are the best looking pistols S&W has ever made. If they shoot to point of aim I don't see why adj. sights are necessary. Larry

 

[lawandorder]

I am right there with you. My taste changed the same way.

 

[Ameshawki]

Casual observation is this tended to be regional. It seems most of the larger eastern departments were fixed sights. In the midwest, my turf, probably adjustable. West coast I can't say, tho it seems most of the larger departments were adjustable. The feds were all over the place.

In my personal collection I own far more fixed sights but that's because I mostly collect Model Tens and their relatives.

 

[Speedo2]

I guess that I'm an outlier; I prefer adjustable sighted S&W's. I mostly punch paper between 15 and 25 yards and as a reloader I'm subject to the whims of sales availability for powder & projectiles. Not every load shoots to the same POA. However, my CCW's are all fixed sight guns; either J-frame revolvers, or semis. -S2

 

[petemacmahon]

YUP - I took the same path. I just had to have adjustable sights, but most of my use in the beginning was hunting and target shooting. I didn't even think that those old fixed sight guns looked good.

As I started carrying revolvers for EDC back in 1998 I started my switch over to DAO and then found my way to fixed sight K-Frames. Now, unless I'm hunting, I very seldom carry any adjustable sight revolvers. It's almost 100% fixed sight DAO for me. I've even taken to shooting all my adjustable sight guns DAO and I now hunt that way too.

BTW - You want a hunting challenge? Try DAO hunting!

For me, I can also say in the beginning - it had to be full underlug as I thought those pencil barrels looked dumb. But once again, something happened along the way and I now love the classic look. A full underlug longer than 5 inches looks dumb to me now. Go figure

 

[UncleEd]

Never a LEO so in that regard
I don't, can't have an opinion.

But over the yeers I've liked
both fixed and adjustable
sighted Smiths.

For all practical purposes, the
adjustable sights are not only
very rugged but when screwed
down are pretty much "fixed"
sights.

Yet if a a pet load
tends to display its own
"peronsality," a bit of tweeking
fixes that with an adjustable.

I've noted that after market
fixed sights are available for
such guns as the S&W Carry
Comp so there's that option.

When Ruger introduced its
Match Champion, it was a fixed
sighted gun. But the company
quickly offered an adjustable
set of sights to meet market
demands.

In the end within reasonable
"combat" distances, I'm not sure
it matters which type of sight
is on the handgun.

 

[Walter Rego]

If I plan on shooting a gun with a "standard" load, as in a 158 gr. LRN .38 Special or a 158 gr. .357 for example, fixed sights which are usually regulated to that "standard" load are just fine with me. I love M&P's, Model 10's, Model 13's and Model 65's that fit that role.

If I plan on shooting a variety of ammo, like anything from 148 gr. wadcutters in .38 cases up to full power .357's, then adjustable sights are just what the doctor ordered. As in my Model 19 or Model 27.

I do have to say that there is something very classic or business-like in a fixed sight revolver that appeals to me.

I have an Old Model Ruger Single Six with fixed sights and an Old Model Ruger Super Single Six with adjustable sights. Both guns have dual cylinders in .22 LR/.22 WMR. Considering the wide variety of bullet weights and velocities available in those two calibers, the Super Single Six wins hand down. With the Single Six, I am limited quite a bit by ammunition that shoots to point of aim with those fixed sights but within those limits both guns are accurate and a lot of fun to shoot.

 

[StrawHat]

My carry revolvers are usually fixed sighted, Model 22-4. Once in a while my Model 625 Mountain Gun or my Foothills Revolver make an appearance but not nearly as often.

My woods walking revolver, when not a Model 22-4, is usually a Model 1950 (Army or Target) or the Model 25-2.

In 45 ACP, fixed sights are tops, 10 to 6.

Kevin

 

[Muley Gil]

Most of my duty revolvers had adjustable rear sights. My duty semi autos mostly had fixed rear sights.

 

[John Patrick]

I really appreciate the all business look of the fixed sight revolvers. Without adjustable sights, tall front ramps and under lugs the look sleek.

However, my modest herd is about 2:1 in favor of adjustable sights.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Target shooters never seem to have taken to fixed sights. As a pop song from 1971 or so "When you're hot you're hot, and when you're not, you're not!" If they are dead on for you, great, if not.... Skeeter Skelton wrote that fixed sighted revolvers always shot to the left for him,Charlie Askins said when the Border Patrol adopted the Colt New Service he made a tool to adjust the front sight blades though he gave no details. Massad Ayoob wrote about using shim gauges to determine elevation settings, recall one gun writer said he used clear nail polish to keep adjustable sights in place. Ed McGivern used adjustable sight revolvers.

 

[Llance]

My "hunting guns" are all adjustable sights but my home protection and EDC's are fixed. In the 7yds of most combat shooting there is no advantage to an adjustable sight, and you are not going to take the time to take carefull aim.

In my view if you have not mastered point shooting you may have already lost the gun fight. I don't care if you take the stance so often being taught today or you're one of us old dogs that still uses a one hand hold, if you can point and shoot and hit the target of a torso you have likely mastered the point and shoot. When I do it from the waist, I'm shooting low and a bit to the left, so I practice shooting a bit high and right which puts the bullets centered but a bit low. Regardless of where my bullets hit, they are all in a group that can be covered with the palm of your hand.

 

[pawncop]

An excellent post.

After reading, I checked my records and the vast majority of my 38 special sidearms are fixed sights, and the majority of my .357 sidearms are adjustable.

My self loading sidearms are about 50 - 50.

When carrying a revolver back in the day, it was a .357 and rarely did I ever readjust the sights.

 

[max503]

I have a 36 and a 638, both fixed sight - but given the choice I will always choose adjustable sights. But that's just me.

 

[rubiranch]

I am not a "shooter", more like a plinker.

This was the first time I ever shot my Model 58.
I have no idea where the first round went.
But it obviously didn't hit the target.



And that was at 100 ft.

I prefer fixed sights because I never have to adjust them.