Changing Point of Aim.

[Bigtanker]

I recently acquired a 3913 and love the gun. But I have one little problem. The factory sights are set up for a "point of impact" hold. The front sight blade covers the actual point of impact of the bullet. I prefer the 6 O'clock hold where the bullet impacts at the top of the front sight blade.

The sights are factory 3 dot.

What are my options? I would like to put night sights on eventually. Is the adjustable sights my only way to go? If I go with a non-adjustable set, is there a way I can get the 6 O'clock hold?

This is my EDC.

 

[Bartman3562]

They make several different heights of front site. Go one size shorter, or change to the night sites and see if that does it.

 

[Bigtanker]

They make several different heights of front site. Go one size shorter, or change to the night sites and see if that does it.

Who carries these? Brownells or S&W directly?

 

[Hill_Country]

Have you tried different bullet weights to see how that changes the POI?

 

[timn8er]

Bigtanker, the front sight for your 3913 shows to be a .204, which I think is one of the shorter front sights. The S&W part # is 109070000. its currently on back order. I'm not sure what sight you would need.

 

[Pisgah]

They make several different heights of front site. Go one size shorter...QUOTE]

Or find a higher rear.

 

[growr]

I fail to understand why you would want a 6 o'lock target hold/ point of aim/impact on a defensive firearm.....center of mass makes much more sense to me....as I am sure that it did for S&W when they first designed the 3913 ( which I also carry daily). and all other defensive handguns.

Randy

 

[WR Moore]

At exactly what range are you experiencing this issue and what part of the front sight do you refer to: top of the blade or dot?

Pistol sights are generally set to produce an impact at the top of the front sight or slightly above at between 50 and 75 feet, depending upon ammunition, sight alignment, grip and trigger stroke. Since the bullet starts out below the top of the sight, it's going to remain there for awhile before it rises above the bore line.

BTW, if you're going for night sights, the general preference is to have the bullet hit where the dot on the front sight is (or just very slightly above it). After all, in the dark, you're unlikely to see the top of the front sight. My personal preference is for a front night sight only. Brownells does carry these as a separate item in stock height for many pistols-look in the factory parts section.

S&W generally has an assortment of front sight heights. Not sure about Brownells. You might also try Novaks Gun Shop, they were making the sights for S&W for quite awhile.

 

[Road Rat]

As said above: What weight bullets are you using?

Have you tried others?

Changing ammunition is less expensive than changing sights!!

 

[Bigtanker]

I ran 100 rounds of my carry ammo which is 135 gr. critical duty, non +p. I also ran 150 rounds of 115 fmj. Both put the bullet impact about 4 inches low @ 7-13 yards.

I know that this will not matter much in a typical self defense fight. But all of my carry guns in the past have had the sight picture that I prefer. That is what I want this gun to have.

Thanks to all who recommended fixes with the shorter front sight.

I have been looking at the Novak sights. The adjustable night sights seem to be what I want.

 

[gboling]

I was issued a model 14 and became used to adjustable sights.
I put adjustable sights on all my semi autos.

 

[handgunner356]

I prefer a Bullseye/6 O'clock hold also and usually swap out for a shorter front sight on my guns. Novaks make fronts for 3rd generation guns down to .190" and maybe shorter. You might want to try 124gr or 147gr ammo which should print higher. I don't like having to go to adjustables on a CCW but there are some out there that are more snag proof than others.

 

[mitchjt]

When measuring the height, is it the total height of the front sight or just the post?

 

[handgunner356]

It includes the dovetail and is somewhat hard to measure but most of the compacts had .204-.220" sights, full size I've seen .214-.245".

 

[yeti]

First, figure out how much you need to lower that front sight:

Sight plane distance (in inches) X POI off from desired at a given range ( in inches) ÷ range used in POI testing (in inches) = amount to change front sight (in inches).

So...if you are 4" low at 10 yrds:

5.5" (factory sighted 3913) X 4" = 22 ÷ 360" = .061" that you need to lower your front sight by.

Got a file?

 

[waldengr]

First, figure out how much you need to lower that front sight:

Sight plane distance (in inches) X POI off from desired at a given range ( in inches) ÷ range used in POI testing (in inches) = amount to change front sight (in inches).

So...if you are 4" low at 10 yrds:

5.5" (factory sighted 3913) X 4" = 22 ÷ 360" = .061" that you need to lower your front sight by.

Got a file?

hi,
i don't have enough experience to know if adjusting the sights will be helpful, but your explanation for determining adjustment was really good. thanx

 

[yeti]

Glad you found it helpful, Waldengr.

 

[vigil617]

It includes the dovetail and is somewhat hard to measure but most of the compacts had .204-.220" sights, full size I've seen .214-.245".

Wow. That's only ten-thousandths to twenty-five thousandths of an inch. By comparision, 1/64th of an inch is fifteen thousandths. Impossible to measure accurately without a micrometer, which not many of us have lying around at home, though not expensive to acquire (a no-frills one, that is) if you'll be using it now and then.