Model 17 shooting high. What to do?

[depicts]

Sighting in my Mod 17-4 today at 25 feet. With the rear sight as low as it would go I was still hitting the target about two inches too high. (Using Winchester 333 economy bulk pack hollow points. 36 Grain @1200fps)

Can I buy rear sight blades that are lower, or should I build up the front sight?

Now I remember why this gun has been sitting in my safe for three years.

Should I try a heavier, slower load?

Thanks for any ideas.

 

[cowart]

Can I buy rear sight blades that are lower

Yes - see these (ignore the J frame models)

Brownells Search : Search Results for "sight blade" - World's Largest Supplier of Firearm Accessories, Gun Parts and Gunsmithing Tools

Gunsmithing - Shop Gunsmithing Tools & Supplies at MidwayUSA

Should I try a heavier, slower load?

Faster loads and lighter bullets strike lower

 

[alaskavett]

No, all wrong! You should sell me this "Northern Hemisphere" tuned gun. It will never shoot right till it is further north as the gravitational pull will keep the rounds on target Kyle

 

[DCWilson]

Do other people who shoot this gun get the same results you do?

Have you tried adjusting your grip so that the gun points a little lower when your wrist is in a comfortable angle to the barrel?

I was sighting in a bunch of guns today and was astonished all over again at how easy it is to change a point of impact with a modified grip, even when the sight picture appears to remain the same. At the moment of trigger release, there are things going on in your wrist, forearm and shoulder that will affect the impact point even when your eye tells you that you are perfectly aligned.

 

[scooter123]

What type of sight picture are you using? The simplest answer would be to use a different sight picture. If your using a bisecting hold, going to a lollipop hold will probably shift the POI by the amount you need to achieve a center hit.

In addition, how you control the gun during recoil can have an effect on the POI, even with a 22 LR. If you've been letting the muzzle flip free during recoil, simply firming up your hold will probably lower the impact point by some amount, perhaps enough to put your hits on center.

Finally, if you have done so, make sure that you spend some time bench rest shooting your model 17. I find it very surprizing that you have run out off adjustment range for your sights because I've never had this problem with any of my revolvers. Which would cause me to suspect that your problem might be shooter related. If it is shooter related, it is less expensive to correct poor technique than it is to correct the gun for poor technique. In addition, most shooters go through "patches" when they are either flinching or have picked up a bad habit, once they work through those issues, having a gun that was tweaked because of those problems means that it may have to be returned to it's prior state.

 

[depicts]

Thanks for the answers.

I was benchrest shooting yesterday. Using a rest and a two hand hold.

I was aiming at six oclock on a 50' standard slow fire target.

I too am surprised that I can't get enough adjustment from the rear sight, it is really down tight.

 

[tomcatt51]

Not uncommon, you just need a shorter rear or taller front blade. All of my S&W revolver have had the sight heights adjusted to allow the use of a .160 or .196 rear blade with their deeper notch. I like the sight picture with the deeper notch better and it's a real necessity if you go to a fiber optic front.

 

[scooter123]

One thought that came to mind is that a previous owner of your model 17 may have set it up for long distance shooting. If that is the case, installing a standard replacement rear sight blade, or new front sight, may take care of the problem.

I got out the rear sight assembly that I removed from my 617 no dash and measured it. From the top of the blade to the top of the leaf just in front of the blade measures 0.122 inch and the notch measures 0.076 deep. I would suggest that you try comparing your present rear sight to those measurements. If you find that it's distinctly shorter, a new rear sight blade should take care of your problem.

I also measured the height of the front sight to the best of my ability. Currently my 617 has a full length rail mounted that wraps around the front sight and that does interfere with getting a good accurate measurement. However, by using the depth probe on my calipers and subtracting the distance from the top of the rail to the top of the sight from the distance from top of the rail to the sight rib, I get a height of 0.200 inch. However, I purchased my 617 used and it was previously owned by a long distance shooter. So, it's distinctly possible that it to has been modified for long range shooting by having a shorter front sight installed. My understanding is that 0.250 inch is pretty much standard for S&W front sights, so take that 0.200 inch height with a suspicion that it's a sight intended for longer ranges. As I've only shot my 617 with a Red Dot, I cannot report how it hits with the irons installed.

The other option is to install a taller front sight. I believe that the front sight on your model 17 is pinned to the rail. If so, new sight blades are available from several sources including S&W. That will be a much cleaner installation and probably less expensive than having your current sight built up.

 

[depicts]

scooter, thank you for your in depth answer.

Thanks to all who helped me with this one. I'll have to work on it,.... or sell the gun *S*

It groups great.

 

[kscardsfan]

Are the front sights on these just pinned in place or what?

 

[tomcatt51]

I got out the rear sight assembly that I removed from my 617 no dash and measured it. From the top of the blade to the top of the leaf just in front of the blade measures 0.122 inch and the notch measures 0.076 deep. I would suggest that you try comparing your present rear sight to those measurements. If you find that it's distinctly shorter, a new rear sight blade should take care of your problem.

I also measured the height of the front sight to the best of my ability. I get a height of 0.200 inch.

You don't have the stock height sights. Stock front (6" 17 or 617) is a .168 and "the book" shows a .146 rear. My 617-1 actually came with a shorter rear blade.

The way blade height is measured is to run the blabe all the way one way or the other and to measure the blade. It will stick out farther one way (I forget which) making it easier to measure.

You do have the same heights I settled on. A .160 rear and a .200 front. I checked a .160 measured as you did. For me anyway, that combination works out just right. S&W doesn't sell a .200 patridge but a .228 can be filed down or probably used with a .196 rear. There was a (now discontinued) .200 serrated ramp.

 

[depicts]

I just got back from the range where I had two instructors shoot my 17. Guess it has nothing to do with grip or sight picture, because they were hitting high as well.

The patridge sight is pinned. I don't have the tools to measure the height of the rear sight.

Do they sell the rear sight blades in various HEIGHTS? Guess it's time to break out a few parts catalogs and settle this.

Thanks again folks. Any more ideas are still welcome, but I think It's a sight problem.

 

[depicts]

Tomcatt, if I file down the front sight I'll just shoot higher.

Maybe I can put a bead on top. *S*

 

[tomcatt51]

Tomcatt, if I file down the front sight I'll just shoot higher.

Maybe I can put a bead on top. *S*

Correct, but the next size (height) patridge (front) is a .228, that's what I refered to filing down to .200 to use with a .160 rear: "S&W doesn't sell a .200 patridge but a .228 can be filed down"

 

[depicts]

Correct, but the next size (height) patridge (front) is a .228, that's what i refered to filing down to .200 to use with a .160 rear: "S&W doesn't sell a .200 patridge but a .228 can be filed down"

Got ya! Thanks. Some days nothing gets through this squash!!!! *S*

 

[H Richard]

tomcatt51 is on the right track, and I recommend you correctly measure the rear sight blade height. (Screw it all the way to the left side so it sticks out and measure with dial caliper.) Call S&W and tell them what the sight blade height is and what you are experiencing. They will send you the correct sight blade kit, which isn't difficult to install, just a few tricks to it.

It isn't unheard of for an incorrect sight blade to be installed by the factory, I had one on a 2 1/2" Mod 19. A few thousandths of an inch on the sight blade will make quite a difference at 50 ft.

 

[mistergizmo]

If the front sight is pinned, as it was with my M16, you can get a taller sight. If not, like in my M14 which had the same problem as your M17, you can buy for under $15 a complete rear sight blade replacement with a choice of three blade heights.

I think the shortest is 0.124".

And, if that won't work, remove 0.020" from the height of your exisiting rear sight blade. If you don't screw it up, the M17 will shoot about 4 - 6 inches lower.