Fixed sight revolver windage adjustment--options?

[ExMachina1]

S&W fixed sight revolver here (Model 22-4).

Gun is shooting ~2" to the right of the POA @ 15 yards (and I'm a right handed shooter so any flinching on my part tends to throw rounds to the left)

To fix this, there are three solutions that come to mind:

1)rotate bbl to move front sight slightly to the right

2)have a gunsmith install a dovetail front sight

3)have a gunsmith mill out the left side of the sight channel on the top strap.

I don't particulary like option #1 b/c I know a crooked front sight will bother me. However, it's the easiest fix and sounds like something I could even try to throw back @ S&W as a warranty issue.

Thoughts?

 

[RGPM1A]

Aim approximately 2" to the left?

Sorry couldn't resist.

 

[Pisgah]

Before you do anything to it, have another experienced shooter try it. It is amazing how much nothing more than how you grip a fixed-sight gun can affect your shooting. I found long ago that any service-grip S&W revolver could be "fixed" windage-wise for me by installing a Tyler T-grip; much easier for me than the alternative fix, which was reminding myself every time to grip the gun in a way that was not natural for me.

 

[Milton]

I just went through the same problem you are having except with another make of revolver.What I would do is first shoot it,shoot it,shoot it and then shoot it some more.In my particular case as I shot the gun it slowly began to approach center hits.Also if you reload try some other loads and bullet weights.I have owned revolvers that will shoot most loads to one side but a particular load/bullet weight would shoot to the center.

 

[smokey04]

You move the REAR sight in the direction you want the group to move, Front sight moves OPPOSITE. Nick

 

[one eye joe]

Why NOT to buy a fixed sight gun.........

 

[M1Lover]

Keep in mind what fixed-sight handguns were made for. They were never intended to be Target shooters. Point blank carry gun? Perfect. For that application, you don't need nor want things like huge adjustable sights to snag on the way out. You didn't mention barrel length or ammunition utilized but 2" at 45 feet is pretty acceptable shooting IMO. Couple more feet and you should have a rifle in your hands. H.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

S&W fixed sight revolver here (Model 22-4).

Gun is shooting ~2" to the right of the POA @ 15 yards (and I'm a right handed shooter so any flinching on my part tends to throw rounds to the left)

To fix this, there are three solutions that come to mind:

1)rotate bbl to move front sight slightly to the right

2)have a gunsmith install a dovetail front sight

3)have a gunsmith mill out the left side of the sight channel on the top strap.

I don't particulary like option #1 b/c I know a crooked front sight will bother me. However, it's the easiest fix and sounds like something I could even try to throw back @ S&W as a warranty issue.

Thoughts?

The easiest and cheapest fix is to thin the front sight on the left side. Won't take much. AND........can be easily replaced.

 

[AKsRule]

The easiest and cheapest fix is to thin the front sight on the left side. Won't take much. AND........can be easily replaced.

Beat me to it.

 

[steamloco76]

My wife's 3 inch Ruger SP-101 hits nearly eight inches to the left of point of aim at 25 feet. I though it was her fault until I shot it. Also let a very experienced IPSC shooter try it and he hit way left too. We then tried three different sets of grips to no avail. Groups tightened with the better grips but didn't move toward the center. Different ammo just changed the vertical POI. I gave up and ordered Crimson Trace Laser Grips for it today, as I have too much invested in the gun to dump it.

 

[sw282]

si--------

 

[ExMachina1]

Thanks fellas. Thinning the front sight sounds like the ticket!

 

[ar15ed]

2 inches at 15 yards??? in the real world, that is a miniscule deviation. i really don't think i would permanently alter the gun.

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

Before thinning the blade, try painting the right side/edge of the front sight with whiteout. Personally though, I agree that 2" at 45 feet is nothing to worry about on a fixed sight gun.
John

 

[I'm3rd]

2 inches at 15 yards??? in the real world, that is a miniscule deviation. i really don't think i would permanently alter the gun.

Neither would I, unless I intended to use it for hunting squirrels in tall timber. Although I don't recognize that model # offhand, it may be unlikely that it will become a collector piece anytime soon, and maybe never. But even so, any detectable alteration to the original sights would probably have a negative affect on it's future value even if it's later restored as near to the original configuration as practical from a monetary standpoint. And in the final analysis, all for very little or no gain in real world practicality.

In my not-so-humble-opinion any fixed sight handgun that will put repeatable 5-shot 2" groups within 2'' of POA @ 15 yds is performing within it's design envelope. That 2" off POA should translate into approximately 3" off POA @ 25 yds, which aint all bad unless you're a gun rag writer with a hyper-inflated perception of your marksmanship skills. I strongly suspect that actual 3" or 4" groups at a range often become 1" or 1-1/4" groups in the writer's article if he thinks that a little white fib may earn him ownership of the well prepared sample gun the manufacturer loaned out to him.

 

[kraigwy]

Before we get carried away with wittleing on the front sight, try adjusting your grip.

On Pistols/Revolvers you can change the windage of the gun by sticking your finger further into or out of the trigger guard. An example if you are shooting right and want to go left, move your finger further on the trigger. If you are shooting left and want to go right, pull it out a bit.

 

[SAFireman]

babbit bar

I recall hearing about a practice that was used by the factory...when they had a fixed sight revolver that needed adjusting, they whacked it with a babbit bar right where the barrel threads into the frame...maybe one of our tenured S&W vets will chime in here and fully describe the process...I think that it very slightly tweaks the frame and 'adjusts' the POI.

Hope that helps...and don't try that at home (without professional guidance).

 

[Road Rat]

You move the REAR sight in the direction you want the group to move, Front sight moves OPPOSITE. Nick

Nick, you missed the part about FIXED SIGHTS on his gun.....

You can't MOVE anything...........

 

[Alk8944]

I recall hearing about a practice that was used by the factory...when they had a fixed sight revolver that needed adjusting, they whacked it with a babbit bar right where the barrel threads into the frame...maybe one of our tenured S&W vets will chime in here and fully describe the process...I think that it very slightly tweaks the frame and 'adjusts' the POI.

Hope that helps...and don't try that at home (without professional guidance).

It is a little more complicated than this, but it does tweak the frame slightly. It even works on adjustable sight guns to get the rear blade centered instead of way off to one side.

I sent the OP a PM last night because every time I have posted how it is done by the factory everyone wants to jump in and yell about how this would ruin the frame! As a result I rarely say anything as no one seems to understand that you learn by listening, not talking. Like I told one of the know-it-alls a while back, he better call the factory and tell them they are ruining a lot of guns!!!

 

[ExMachina1]

@Alk8944--I really appreciated your insight and it saved me a whole bunch of bother. It's off to S&W this week and we'll see what they can do. Thanks again